[terry]

Has Stanford ever opened the season with a marquee opponent?

Some high-profile opening games:

1970 -- at #4 Arkansas. We won, starting our Rose Bowl run.
1973-76 -- Penn State, which was ranked in the top 10 all four years. We lost all four (three on the road).
1978, 1983-84 -- Oklahoma, which was ranked #4, #2, and #16. We lost all three (two at home).
1988 -- #6 U,S,C. We lost, 24-20.
1990 -- at #6 Colorado. We lost on an egregious bad call. Bienemy clearly fumbled before he crossed the goal line.
1991 -- #4 Washington. We lost.
1992 -- #7 Texas A&M, in Anaheim. The first game of Walsh's return. We lost 10-7.

[terry]

Has Stanford ever opened the season with a marquee opponent?

Some high-profile opening games:

1970 -- at #4 Arkansas. We won, starting our Rose Bowl run.
1973-76 -- Penn State, which was ranked in the top 10 all four years. We lost all four (three on the road).
1978, 1983-84 -- Oklahoma, which was ranked #4, #2, and #16. We lost all three (two at home).
1988 -- #6 U,S,C. We lost, 24-20.
1990 -- at #6 Colorado. We lost on an egregious bad call. Bienemy clearly fumbled before he crossed the goal line.
1991 -- #4 Washington. We lost.
1992 -- #7 Texas A&M, in Anaheim. The first game of Walsh's return. We lost 10-7.