STANFORD – Stanford’s 49-20 loss to No. 9 Notre Dame on Saturday night served as a harsh reminder of just how far the Cardinal must climb to compete again with college football’s elite.

But for the first time in years, the season came to a close with something Stanford has long been seeking: clear signs of progress.

The Cardinal ended the 2025 season at 4-8, their highest win total since 2020 and the program’s first year-over-year improvement since 2015. They reclaimed the Stanford Axe for the first time in five years, posted a winning home record for the first time since 2018, and fielded a defense that produced its best statistical season in nearly a decade.

The year was hardly transformational. But in an era defined by Stanford struggling to adapt to the new college football landscap

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