[Farm93]

If you understand the justifications for no Big Game on Thanksgiving week, then the Big Game almost has to be the one that is moved often in an effort to spread the Pac-12's best programming options away from each other.  Stanford probably is the program impacted most by Thanksgiving since almost every other school's students live close enough to the campus to come back on Saturday and even be back with the family that evening.

The road bias is annoying, but also not unexpected.  It happens.  This year Stanford basically could have played 5 of the last 6 games at home (if they beat Oregon and then hosted the Pac-12 championship game).  So if 5 of 6 is possible that way, it should be not come as a surprise that it could go the other way too.

The early bye is frustrating, especially after three home games.  And yet, if the new QB could benefit from a week of reflection to address some early season problem then early will be nice.  It is also not a terrible thing to have a bunch of time before going to UW.  It is not terrible to play UW in September.  And because it is a Thursday game Stanford also gets extra time to prepare for UofA.  Since UW and UofA are likely to be near Stanford's level of play, the extra time may just be the thing that gives Stanford two Ws.

UCLA on the Saturday after Thanksgiving in LA is probably good for Stanford.  A lot of the Stanford students that will not be on campus, will be in LA.  So LA in some ways is OK.  Also, playing important conference games on The Farm that weekend almost creates a neutral venue feel without the students, so if 5 conference games are going to be away games that is not a bad option.

Not the best schedule for a run at a national championship, but the back half is loaded with winnable games to could elevate Stanford's appeal to the mid-tier Pac-12 bowls.

[Farm93]

If you understand the justifications for no Big Game on Thanksgiving week, then the Big Game almost has to be the one that is moved often in an effort to spread the Pac-12's best programming options away from each other.  Stanford probably is the program impacted most by Thanksgiving since almost every other school's students live close enough to the campus to come back on Saturday and even be back with the family that evening.

The road bias is annoying, but also not unexpected.  It happens.  This year Stanford basically could have played 5 of the last 6 games at home (if they beat Oregon and then hosted the Pac-12 championship game).  So if 5 of 6 is possible that way, it should be not come as a surprise that it could go the other way too.

The early bye is frustrating, especially after three home games.  And yet, if the new QB could benefit from a week of reflection to address some early season problem then early will be nice.  It is also not a terrible thing to have a bunch of time before going to UW.  It is not terrible to play UW in September.  And because it is a Thursday game Stanford also gets extra time to prepare for UofA.  Since UW and UofA are likely to be near Stanford's level of play, the extra time may just be the thing that gives Stanford two Ws.

UCLA on the Saturday after Thanksgiving in LA is probably good for Stanford.  A lot of the Stanford students that will not be on campus, will be in LA.  So LA in some ways is OK.  Also, playing important conference games on The Farm that weekend almost creates a neutral venue feel without the students, so if 5 conference games are going to be away games that is not a bad option.

Not the best schedule for a run at a national championship, but the back half is loaded with winnable games to could elevate Stanford's appeal to the mid-tier Pac-12 bowls.