Has the Demise of the Stanford Cardinal’s Pac-12 Reign Begun?

Jan 1, 2014; Pasadena, CA, USA; Stanford Cardinal coach David Shaw gestures during the 100th Rose Bowl against the Michigan State Spartans. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The Stanford Cardinal have reigned the Pac-12 waters for two seasons in a row but this is a difficult stretch they will have to out-dual if they are to make it three straight conference championships.

I’ve been saying since the end of the season that the Pac-12 will look much different next year. A surprise Washington State Cougar team returns nearly all its offensive starters while team after team in the North loses key components; Sankey and ASJ at Washington, Cooks and Crichton at Oregon State, Thomas and a few others at Oregon, even Cal loses some junior players you never thought would try and get drafted after that dismal season of wreckage (you can see a full list of Pac-12 North juniors entering the draft here) But the most intriguing losses come at Stanford.

It’s all begun with their defensive coordinator heading to Vandy:

Keep a close eye out Pac-12 fans, especially if you route for or against the Cardinal. This has nothing to do with the Rose Bowl loss to Michigan State. David Shaw is still high on the hiring list around the country in both the college and pro game and with their ridiculous senior class out of the mix and now their DC gone, are primed for a fall next season even without Shaw leaving.

They’ll reload perhaps but how quickly and with how many bullets? History tells us Stanford can’t stay at the top very long but just how far can they fall? And don’t get mad at me mr. generic Card-fan, you know in your heart this is true.