Stanford Football and Its Best Bowl Scenarios

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The Stanford Cardinal will be competing in a bowl game for the second year in a row after the 2011 college football regular season comes to an end. The question is which bowl game will they be playing in.

After a brilliant start to the season, Stanford has stumbled a bit in recent weeks. Two weeks ago, the Cardinal suffered their first loss to the Pac-12 rival Oregon Ducks.

Their next game saw Stanford hosting the California Golden Bears and stumbling a bit.

However, despite their recent poor form, the Cardinal still have an extremely outside opportunity at making the BCS title game.

The following scenarios are all possibilities. Some of them may be highly unlikely, but nonetheless they are all possibilities.  

Rose Bowl vs. Michigan State

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It would be fantastic to see the Stanford Cardinal in the Rose Bowl. The grandfather of the bowl games, the Rose Bowl is the most prestigious bowl there is. 

Each year, the champions of the Pac-12 and Big 10 face off in the Rose Bowl. It appears as though the Big 10 Champions this year will be the Michigan State Spartans. 

In order for this to become a real possibility, the Oregon Ducks will have to lose their final home game against in-state rival Oregon State. 

If the Ducks are handed this unlikely loss, Stanford will then have to win the Pac-12 championship game. If it accomplishes that, it will be representing the Pac-12 in the Rose Bowl. 

Sugar Bowl vs. Houston

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The Houston Cougars have quietly gone undefeated in 2011. Case Keenum has had a fantastic season and has helped his team gain BCS notoriety. 

For this game to take place, Houston cannot stumble in its last game of the season this weekend against Tulsa.

Oregon would have to beat Oregon State, but Stanford also must win in order to keep its BCS ranking high.

Stanford would be a great test against the undefeated Cowboys, and it is a game that every college football fan would tune in to watch.  

Orange Bowl vs. Virginia Tech

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Who could forget Stanford's complete annihilation of Virginia Tech in last year's Orange Bowl? In fact, I'm convinced that the Stanford Cardinal were the best college football team at the end of last season.

It would be fantastic to see a rematch of last year's game. Virginia Tech is currently ranked one place ahead of Stanford in the latest BCS rankings.

Stanford won that game 40-12, and Andrew Luck had a superb performance. It would only be fitting for Andrew Luck to finish his college career in a similar fashion.

A rematch against Virginia Tech is a great, realistic possibility that would make Cardinal fans very happy.   

BCS Title Game vs. LSU

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I'll admit this one is a long shot, but it is still a possibility. However, a lot has to happen for this to become a reality. 

First, Alabama has to lose to Auburn. LSU has to beat Arkansas, which we all have to assume will happen anyways. 

Oklahoma State would have to lose to Oklahoma, which isn't a huge ask. The huge ask is Virginia Tech losing to Virginia. 

Finally, Stanford has to win when it takes on Notre Dame. 

If all of these things happen, Stanford could legitimately find itself in a title game. 

Most Likely Scenario

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If the current BCS rankings hold, then it looks like the Stanford Cardinal will take on Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl. 

The only thing aside from a loss in the BCS top four that could put this in jeopardy would be Oregon losing to Oregon State.

If the Beavers pull off the upset, the Cardinal will then go to the Pac-12 championship game and that will screw this whole thing up.

But that is an extremely unlikely situation and it appears as though Virginia Tech and Stanford will be pitted against each other once again in bowl season.