[gailtate]

Utah is always a terrible match-up for Stanford because Utah always has 25 year olds playing in the trenches, and Stanford doesn't usually have difference making athletes on offense.  You need big plays to beat Utah because when they have a rare defensive breakdown, you need to make them pay with big plays.  Stanford's grind it out offense has no trench advantage over Utah, and its skill players are not big play threats in part because they aren't dominant athletes, and in part because Stanford doesn't scheme big plays very often or particularly well.

Perfect description of this year's team. And, barring a jaw-dropping reversal in form, next year's.

[gailtate]

Utah is always a terrible match-up for Stanford because Utah always has 25 year olds playing in the trenches, and Stanford doesn't usually have difference making athletes on offense.  You need big plays to beat Utah because when they have a rare defensive breakdown, you need to make them pay with big plays.  Stanford's grind it out offense has no trench advantage over Utah, and its skill players are not big play threats in part because they aren't dominant athletes, and in part because Stanford doesn't scheme big plays very often or particularly well.

Perfect description of this year's team. And, barring a jaw-dropping reversal in form, next year's.