When fifth-year starting center Levi Rogers hobbled off the field against Virginia Tech just seven minutes into the second quarter, the Stanford football offense immediately felt the gravity of the situation. His return, supported by crutches and a hefty boot, deflated the team. The offense, already trailing by a touchdown with Virginia Tech advancing down the field, found itself without its linchpin. Without a straightforward replacement, junior starting left guard Jake Maikkula quickly adapted, stepping in under center to lead the struggling offensive line.

“It’s definitely different. I mean, you have to be vocal. You have to know the play super well,” Maikkula said. “Especially when you’re the center, you’re the one calling it out and making sure everyone’s on the same page.”

Despite the unexpected turn of events, Maikkula was no stranger to playing different positions on the line, which prepared him for the moment — even if the circumstances were less than ideal.

“Last season, I started a few games at right guard. Then, I moved to left guard,” Maikkula said. “I started this season out at left guard, and then, you know, just in practice, kind of all along, I’ve been taking some center reps.”

Growing up in a sports-oriented family, the pressure of the moment was nothing new for Maikkula. His father’s background as a college football player laid the groundwork for a life steeped in athletics, where competition and camaraderie were the norm. His parents would often take them to baseball games.

“I also got into collecting sports memorabilia, autographs and what not,” Maikkula said. “Even in college, that’s something that I’m still into.”

With the absence of Rogers, Maikkula is now counted on to be the leader on the offensive line. The unit, however, has been struggling. Last week, quarterback Ashton Daniels led the offense in rushing yards while the next-best rusher could only manage a scant 34 yards. After a rocky start, falling behind 14-0 by the end of the first quarter, the Cardinal mounted a comeback of sorts, driving down the field to erase the deficit. Yet, that spark quickly fizzled, resulting in only one more touchdown for the rest of the game. With the line allowing six sacks against SMU, two against Wake Forest and three against NC State, the inconsistency has become a significant hurdle for the offense.

“There’s always things you can blame, but at the end of the day, you know, you just kind of got to go out and do your job to the best of your ability, and just do your best, and good things will happen,” Maikkula said. “I try my best to be a student of the game, watching the film on opposing players and myself before games to figure out the best way to dominate.”

Now, with six consecutive losses weighing heavily on the team’s morale, Stanford heads into its bye week looking to improve game plan execution across the board. The improvements they make will immediately be tested coming out of the bye as the Cardinal will welcome No. 25 Louisville to Stanford Stadium on Nov. 16.

For Maikkula, the last few weeks have not just been about him stepping in for Rogers; it’s about embodying the spirit of Stanford football.

“I chose Stanford because Stanford represents greatness,” Maikkula said. “This is a place I know I’ll be pushed to my maximum potential to succeed.”