Stanford Destroys Notre Dame, Goes 4 and 0, First TIme Since 1986

The Stanford Cardinal Football Team is as dominant as their commercials would imply. It's not just that they're 4 and 0, and for the first time since 1986, but how they got there, by destroying their opponents. The latest victim: The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame.

Stanford spanked Notre Dame 37 to 16, causing the Irish to lose their third straight game under new coach Brian Kelly and causing Irish fans to worry.

Over at Irish Envy forum, ND die-hards picked Stanford as a team the Irish could beat. It didn't happen. Later, the same Irish Envy Forum followers said Stanford was "for real" while licking their wounds over the butt kicking their team took.

Indeed, it's the same one Wake Forest, UCLA, and Sacrament State got.

Stanford has an average of 51.7 points per game scored, versus 13.7 points given up. Moreover, they've done it through the air and on the ground, and not in spectacular fashion ranking 47th and 15th in passing and rushing respectively. It's the Stanford Defense that's the difference.

Before the Notre Dame game, Stanford ranked third in the Pac-10 in total defense and second in pass defense. The difference is new Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio. His version of the 3-4 is less "pure" in its format than the standard 34 defensive alignment, and gets more pressure on the offensive line both against runs and passes.

Can Stanford Go Undefeated?

The question on the minds of college football fans now is can Stanford go undefeated? As long as there's Cal and the Big Game, the answer is no.