A win is a win, but it certainly was not the way head coach David Shaw drew it up. A 24-point favorite going in to the game, Stanford (6-2, 4-1 Pac-12) escaped with an unconvincing 24-17 victory over a scrappy Washington State (2-6, 0-5) team that refused to quit.
No. 17 Stanford took it down to the wire, but stopped Washington State on the goal line on the final drive of the game to keeps its Pac-12 hopes alive with a 24-17 win.
Rejuvenated by a 21-3 defensive domination of Cal last weekend, No. 17 Stanford (5-2, 3-1 Pac-12) will play host to Washington State (2-5, 0-4) in its second straight Pac-12 North matchup tomorrow afternoon.
Washington State comes into town this weekend before the Card takes a road trip to Colorado. These next two opponents are the worst in the Pac-12, and it just makes me want to see Power all the more.
Washington State hiring Mike Leach and Arizona hiring Rich Rodriguez is about to make the Pac-12 a whole lot more fun.