Stanford will end the 2025 season Saturday with what appears to be its toughest test.
Fresh off reclaiming the Axe in a dominant 31–10 win over Cal, the Cardinal (4-7) will host No. 9 Notre Dame at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN. The Fighting Irish (9-2) have won nine games in a row and almost certainly has to beat Stanford to remain in the hunt for a spot in the College Football Playoff.
Stanford interim coach Frank Reich said that the opportunity is exactly the kind of test he envisioned when general manager Andrew Luck convinced him to come for one season.
“When I put the tape on yesterday, I was like ‘Wow,’” Reich said. “This is the real deal. This looks like the best team we’ve played all year. … It’s an opportunity to measure our program against someone like that.”
Stanford’s defense is coming off its most dominant showing of the season, scoring two defensive touchdowns and holding Cal to just 10 points. Linebacker Matt Rose, who recorded 14 tackles, a TFL, and a sack, said the performance was the product of complete cohesion.
California wide receiver Jacob De Jesus (21) cannot hold onto a pass as he is hit by Stanford safety Jay Green (5) during the first quarter of the 128th Big Game, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025 in Stanford, Calif. (D. Ross Cameron for the Bay Area News Group)“I thought all 11 across the board were executing,” Rose said. “Our coaches put a good game plan together, and our D-linemen did a great job being aggressive. The O-linemen really weren’t getting to me at all.”
Rose has been one of the breakout players of the year, going from a rotational contributor to one of the ACC’s leading tacklers.
“Being kind of a bench rotation player the past couple years, finally getting the chance,” Rose said. “I’m just super grateful I was able to take advantage of it.”
He’s also fully aware of the challenge Notre Dame presents, particularly with running back Jeremiah Love, who is third in the FBS in rushing yards (1,306) and rushing touchdowns (17) and will be looking to make one final statement with the Heisman Trophy voters.
Related Articles
Stanford’s takeaways spark Big Game surprise Big Game: Stanford’s defense rises to occasion as Cardinal stuns rival Cal Stanford veterans hope to get first Big Game win over Cal in Reich’s lone season With $50 million in hand and a president who cares, Stanford GM Andrew Luck prepares to hire a coach and elevate the program Stanford’s late Elijah Brown-led rally falls short in 20-15 loss at North Carolina“It’s physicality,” Rose said. “That’s something we’re already talking about early in the week. If we bring that physicality, be gap-sound, and work together like last week, we’re excited to show what we can do.”
Stanford’s offense has been dramatically better at home, and running back Micah Ford has been central to that surge. Ford is coming off a 150-yard performance in the Big Game, and his physicality – along with the return of star right guard Simione Pale — seemed to wear Cal down in the second half.
“I knew if we just kept at it — kept putting the same intensity out there — they’d eventually break,” Ford said. “Things started to slow down, and I was seeing the field really well.”
Ford knows Notre Dame’s defense presents a much tougher test.
Stanford running back Micah Ford (20) breaks a big gainer against California during the third quarter of the 128th Big Game, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025 in Stanford, Calif. (D. Ross Cameron for the Bay Area News Group)“They’re 13th in the country against the run,” he said. “We’ve just got to attack what they give us. Don’t try to do too much—trust the coaches, trust the players around you, and execute.”
Related Articles
Hotline picks: Arizona covers, USC struggles and the hidden meaning in the 2025 edition of the Oregon-Washington rivalry Holy Score: Is BYU getting a raw deal in CFP rankings? Not necessarily Chris Bell, Dai Dai Ames lead Cal Bears past No. 18 UCLA 80-72 in Empire Classic championship game Cal GM Ron Rivera explains what he wants in next football coach and how the search will proceed Pac-12 bowls: CFP format saga continues; USC to Alamo, Utah to Las VegasAgainst one of the nation’s most opportunistic defenses – Notre Dame scored two defensive touchdowns last week against Syracuse before its offense even took the field — Reich emphasized staying ahead of the chains.
“You don’t want to get in third and long against this team,” he said. “We’ve got to be efficient on first and second down. Mix run and pass. Play smart football early and stay in it.”
The Cardinal carried different motivations into the season finale. For Ford, it’s the chance to win the Legends Trophy that goes to the winner in this annual rivalry. For Rose, whose grandfather played for Notre Dame, the game holds special meaning for his family.
For Reich, this will be his final game as Stanford coach, though he wasn’t looking ahead yet.
“The only plans I’m making,” Reich said, “are how to make a first down against Notre Dame.”
Hence then, the article about reich savors stanford s opportunity against no 9 notre dame in season finale was published today ( ) and is available on mercury news ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Reich savors Stanford’s ‘opportunity’ against No. 9 Notre Dame in season finale )
Also on site :
- Teens arrested after large disturbance, multiple fights at Joliet mall
- The Starmer regime is turning Britain into a police state
- Reported tornado rips roofs off multiple homes in central Illinois