Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
The Oregon Ducks may be the favorites to win the PAC-12 this season, but the Stanford Cardinal will be one the teams best equipped to compete against the Ducks in 2013. Andrew Luck’s successor at quarterback, Kevin Hogan, will be the deciding factor on whether or not Stanford can once again win the PAC-12 and go to a BCS game.
Stanford did not lose any games in 2012 that Hogan started. He came into the team midway through the season and succeeded almost immediately. Hogan is extremely efficient and moves his feet well in the pocket, something that NFL scouts have already begun admiring him for. Stanford is a defensive-minded team and his efficiency is key to their success.
However, he was only sacked 11 times last year. His offensive line is giving him all the time in the world, so he needs to produce even more. His stats look good on paper, but he still hasn’t thrown for more than 300 yards in a game during in his short college career.
He will have to push his limits if Stanford is to have a good enough season to go to a National Championship game. It will be impossible to win against teams as talented as the UCLA Bruins, the Oregon State Beavers and the Ducks unless he can pull out a few spectacular games in 2013.
Hogan led the Cardinal to a win in the PAC-12 Championship game as well as a win in the Rose Bowl last season. Expect him to have that kind of success once again in 2013.
Taylor Sturm is an SEC Basketball Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @TSturmRS or add him to your network on Google.
