At face value, the numbers aren’t impressive: Kevin Hogan completed just seven passes for 96 yards in Stanford’s 35-22 rivalry win against California on Nov. 21, once again taking a backseat in the Cardinal’s offense to sophomore running back Christian McCaffrey, the resident Heisman Trophy contender.
It took a Stanford quarterback — Andrew Luck, the predecessor, the superstar — to properly gauge Hogan’s production. Hogan played a phenomenal game, Luck said to David Shaw, when the two spoke on the phone last week. He got us in the right plays. He scrambled when he needed to. He put us in manageable third downs. He managed third-down conversions. I am so proud of the way he played, Luck told his former coach.
It’s been three years since Hogan led Stanford to the Rose Bowl as Luck’s successor. Two years since he did it again. Next weekend, Hogan and the Cardinal will face Southern California for the Pac-12 Conference championship, eyeing a third conference crown and third Rose Bowl in his illustrious, impressive, ignored college career.
Maybe Luck’s shadow was too broad for any quarterback to escape, even one like Hogan who holds the program record for career victories. Maybe, in the era of 500-yard games and 40-plus touchdowns, Hogan’s numbers don’t stand out on a national scale. Maybe Hogan is too much like Shaw: stoic, quiet, workmanlike, intentionally unexciting, undeniably productive.
Maybe it took a win against Notre Dame to highlight what’s been hiding in plain sight: The Mount Rushmore of Stanford quarterbacks — Jim Plunkett, John Elway, Luck — has another member.
“There’s no question about it,” Shaw told USA TODAY Sports. “He has the most wins for a quarterback. Three Pac-12 championship games. Two Rose Bowls, hopefully going on a third. He’s in the top however many in yards, in completion percentage, he’s in the top two with (Luck) in quarterback rating. There’s no question about it.
“To the naked eye sometimes, with all the spread offense that’s out there and all the yards … I understand when someone looks past him. But there’s a reason why the NFL scouts right now are coming by and saying, ‘Wow, he’s good.’ Because he’s playing an NFL game right now.”
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In a must-win game for Stanford’s hopes for the College Football Playoff — still alive, if in need of assistance — Hogan had as many touchdowns, four, as incomplete passes. He completed throws to eight different receivers. Notre Dame’s defensive front challenged Stanford’s protection; Hogan, drilled throughout the week of practice, was up to the challenge.
After a Notre Dame touchdown gave the Fighting Irish the lead, 36-35, with 30 seconds left, McCaffrey returned the ensuing kickoff 26 yards to Stanford’s own 27-yard line. Waiting on the field for the offense, he spotted Hogan jogging in from the sideline and felt … what? Relief, McCaffrey said. Confidence. Yeah, confidence. Complete and utter confidence in my quarterback.
Four plays later — with none bigger than Hogan’s 27-yard completion to wide receiver Devin Cajuste — Stanford kicker Conrad Ukropina hit a 44-yard field goal as time expired. Hogan never blinked, McCaffrey said.
“The guy’s unbelievable,” he said. “I’ve never seen a leader like him. He does so many great things for this offense, for this program, for this school. When I look at a leader, when I look at somebody I want to look up to, it’s guys like Kevin Hogan. We’re so lucky as Stanford football players to have that guy as our quarterback.”
Minutes later, an emotional Shaw handed Hogan the game ball in Stanford’s locker room. Thanks, Hogan said. We’ve got to play the Trojans next week.
Eyes ahead, always looking forward, in true Stanford style. But this one meant more. The worst game of Hogan’s career came in last year’s loss to Notre Dame. His father, who passed away last December after a prolonged battle with colon cancer, graduated from Notre Dame. Hogan grew up a fan of the Fighting Irish, idolizing Joe Montana, Brady Quinn and Notre Dame quarterbacks.
“It was very emotional,” said Hogan. “I just tried to take it all in and enjoy it. I knew it was going to be that way. It’s awesome to just kind of put it all together.”
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Here’s 60 minutes’ worth of evidence. Stanford doesn’t always need Hogan to take control of the offense, but the Cardinal need Hogan, period. Can teammates picture this team — or the previous three teams — without Hogan? Think about the two trips to the Rose Bowl, wide receiver Devin Cajuste said. This year’s game against USC. Tonight. “I don’t really know what else to say.”
Said linebacker Blake Martinez, “He’s one of the greatest quarterbacks I’ve ever seen. He’s one of the best leaders. He’s a champion.”
In different ways, along a different path, Hogan has carved out a legacy in Luck’s shadow — but there are similarities. Years ago, Shaw and his staff would invent scenarios to challenge Luck during practice; Shaw followed a coaching tip passed along by then-Oakland Raiders Coach Jon Gruden, who spoke of how he’d test quarterback Rich Gannon during drills.
Great players need to be challenged, Shaw learned. So the coaching staff presents Hogan with different looks. Different protection schemes. Different alignment. They load his plate because he can take it, Shaw said.
“By pushing himself, he’s pushing the offense,” he said. “Because we’re keeping him challenged and he’s challenging everyone else.”
Luck was the star. Hogan’s a character actor — but no less irreplaceable.
Yet Luck — and Plunkett and Elway before him — was a living legend; his legacy was written in real time, live and in person, during his three seasons as Stanford’s starting quarterback. In comparison, Hogan’s career seems more likely to be honored with the benefit of hindsight, long after he’s left the program. Saturday night won’t change that, but it’s a start.
Next comes USC, the Cardinal’s downstate rival. At the very least, a victory sends Stanford back to the Rose Bowl. At best, Stanford wins and one of Clemson or Alabama loses. In that case, Hogan’s career gets a potential one-game extension — first a spot in one of two national semifinals, then a trip to the championship game.
McCaffrey is the more likely recipient of national praise should these Playoff hopes come together during the next week, and rightfully so: The sophomore crossed 3,000 yards of all-purpose yardage, the third-most in Football Bowl Subdivision history, in the win against Notre Dame.
That should make McCaffrey a Heisman finalist. Luck, four years ago, was the last Stanford player to come under such close Heisman scrutiny. McCaffrey is a generational talent — deserving of such praise, with current production dwarfed only by his bright future.
Yet this is Hogan’s team, and that’s what will be remembered. His legacy still needs a final chapter, but it’s secure.
“He’s still the centerpiece,” Shaw said. “Christian is phenomenal. Offensive line guys are great. Tight ends and receivers are making plays. Kevin’s the straw that stirs the drink.”
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