Evans Hall, Cal Football Stats & Analysis: Grade Inflation At Stanford
But in this case Cal got some help
Using the latest available data, in 2005 the mean GPA in Berkeley was a B+ 3.24 while as Stanford had a whopping mean GPA of a B+/A- 3.55. Considering the trends going either way, Cal holding steady in the 3.2 range between 2003-2014 after growing from a 3.0 in the 70s, while Stanford’s mean GPA has grown decade to decade and year to year where their higher shelf starting at a whopping 3.37 in 1973.
Needless to say: Stanford has a history of inflating grades and for the first time in a long time, Cal has been the beneficiary of it.
With this performance Cal played a good offensive and defense game. These lines are now national medians over the same period of time which means the quadrants have a more national feel to them. It is quite intriguing how Stanford is the opposite of Oregon for Cal. With 5 of the games falling into the Good offense category, 5 into the good defense category and 3 of them being in both.
The only time we have done poorly was in 2017, and 2019 and the last one it is on the borderline.
On a year by year basis Stanford has not been able to really stop the Cal with 2018 being the first good defensive game and us staying roughly in that area. Truly embodying the Stanford ethos of uplifting grades.
Stanford did one thing very well: they contained the Cal run game to small gains with most of the game.
The passing percentages are skewed by the low volume of catches. Note the lack of explosives past the 20 yard line and the 20 yard bump is the last run of the game. But Jaydn overall kept running and kept grinding out runs.
Stanford was able to hold him to to his worst game on a per run basis but was also unable to stop him from getting some positive yards. It was a “You need 3 yards, I will give you 4; you need 5 yards, I will give you 4” game. I think this contributed to Mendoza’s good game through the air. Especially on 1st downs and on 3rd and < 10.
Stanford was contained on the offense with an exception of the singular huge play for the TD and Daniels’ runs. Overall it was a decent performance by the defense but nothing earth shattering. We did what we needed to do against a bad offense.
Yet due to the gauntlet from earlier this season and some defensive failures we’re still struggling. We faced the following ranked SP+ Offenses:
#1 Oregon,
#3 USC,
#4 Washington,
#16 Oregon State,
#32 WSU
While the other teams we faced and did decently against are:
#35 N. Texas,
#64 Auburn,
#100 Stanford,
#106 Arizona State
The only team we weren’t able to contain on offense despite their lower rating was #57 Utah. Which was a trend busting failure.
We’re going to face UCLA that with the turmoil at QB sport the #46 offense in the country. What will it mean? We either will be able to manage them like we did against Auburn or will be in a shootout like against WSU.
Overall, good game by both sides of the ball. Just enough to be above average but if we’re to become bowl eligible: this ain’t enough.