Let’s go big picture, briefly, at the start …

I have been asked a few times about Stanford’s prospects for reaching the playoff as a two-loss Pac-12 champ, if the Cardinal runs the table.

Best guess: It can’t be ruled out because of the quality wins Stanford would collect down the stretch (thus far, it doesn’t have much on that front). Related Articles My AP top-25 ballot: Alabama edges TCU for No. 1, USC climbs (the Trojans’ resume is better than you think)

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But it also seems highly unlikely and would require complete chaos in other conferences.

Also, it would require Stanford to, you know, run the table:

at No. 15 Washington State

vs. No. 12 Washington

vs. Cal

vs. No. 13 Notre Dame

vs. No. 11 USC (presumed Pac-12 title game)

That’s some serious SOS, and a two-loss team will make the playoff, perhaps even this season.

But will the first 2-L come from the Pac-12 and not the SEC or Big Ten?

And will the first 2-L have on its resume a loss to the Mountain West?

I’m skeptical.

We’ll revisit, if necessary, after the Washington schools back-to-back.

Result: Beat Oregon 49-7

Grade: A-

Comment: An A-level performance in every respect, save one: The opponent.

Without Justin Herbert, Oregon has zero passing game. It has a decent rushing attack and no passing game and a solid defense that’s greatly undermined by the lack of a passing game.

Did I mention the lack of a passing game?

In two starts (Stanford and Washington State), true freshman Braxton Burmeister has one touchdown and four interceptions. The Ducks have scored 17 points and given up 82.

We’ll hold off on handing Stanford a grade of A/A+ until it beats a complete team.

*** The primary reason I’m highly skeptical of the Cardinal running the table:

National ranking in rushing yards allowed per game: 100th

National ranking in rushing yards allowed per attempt: 113th

National ranking in rushing yards allowed on third down: 109th.

Which brings us to …

National ranking in third-down defense: 112th (44.8 percent conversions)

Stanford’s best teams have been stout against the run and efficient on third down.

This team is neither.

*** Bryce Love pace update:

He had one carry in the second half and still finished with 147 yards.

Let’s assume he will be healthy for Oregon State in 10 days — the abbreviated bye week couldn’t have come at a better time in that regard — and game out the remainder of his season.

If Love continues his current pace of 198 yards per game through the final five, he will top 2,000 yards.

That’s potentially important in the Heisman campaign, because it’s a number that registers with, and impresses, voters. Even the ones that don’t ever see him play.

In terms of the NCAA record — Barry Sanders’ single-season rushing mark — Love would need two more games (the Pac-12 championship and a bowl). Even then, he’d have to increase the per-game clip by approximately seven yards.

The Sander record is incredible: He not only averaged 240 yards per game, but his rushing total (2,628) does not include 222 yards in the Holiday Bowl, because postseason play wasn’t included in statistics back then. Get Pac-12 Conference news in your inbox with the Pac-12 Hotline newsletter Sign Up

*** Last on Love:

Stanford unveiled its Heisman campaign for the junior, with the hashtag #HeismanLove.

It’s a far better hashtag than the #WildCaff used for Christian McCaffrey, and the campaign is starting earlier.

The Cardinal typically has waited until November to roll out the publicity carpet.

Love has a better-than-decent chance to reach New York, but winning the Heisman will be … well, any Stanford fan knows the recent history.

He must continue unleashing big runs, especially in the spotlight games: Washington, on a Friday night, and Notre Dame, on Thanksgiving Saturday.

*** Somewhat quietly, Keller Chryst had one of his best games Saturday, completing 15-of-21 passes for 181 yards and three touchdowns, plus one interception.

It’s tough to extrapolate, because Oregon’s defense is mediocre — not nearly as good as the defenses Chryst will face in November.

But he seems to be seeing the field a bit better each week.

Oh, that was Chryst’s 12th career start — essentially, he has finished one full season.

Next up: Bye, then at Oregon State

The matchup: Favorable, to the extreme.

The Beavers are a mess. They lost their coach and have lost every game against FBS competition.

Only once have they come close to winning, in fact: Saturday against Colorado, which has plenty of issues of its own.

The Cardinal will be heavily favored and should win handily even if it’s not crisp. Maybe it takes three quarters, or three-and-a-half. But a loss in Corvallis would be shocking..

The Thursday slot works well for the Cardinal from the preparation standpoint:

Stanford will have two extra days before the stretch run begins with the showdown in Pullman.

And if you’re wondering:

Washington State hosts Colorado this week, then visits Arizona on the 28th.

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