STANFORD, Calif. -- At the height of its powers, roughly a decade ago, the Stanford-Oregon football game was a major sporting event. It didn't just resonate on the West Coast; it was one of the most meaningful games on the college football calendar.
Stanford had inexplicably morphed into a bully under Jim Harbaugh and David Shaw, while Chip Kelly revolutionized offensive football at Oregon, fielding some of the most explosive teams the sport had ever seen. From 2010 to 2014, each version carried national title implications. Usually played in November, there were multiple Heisman Trophy candidates, several future NFL stars and the game day atmospheres reflected those stakes.