Stanford (2-3, 1-1 ACC) erased a 12-point fourth-quarter deficit and scored a go-ahead touchdown with 19 seconds left to beat San José State (1-3, 0-0 MW) 30-29 on Saturday night at Stanford Stadium, securing the program’s first 2-0 home start since 2018.
Down 26-14 early in the fourth, redshirt senior quarterback Ben Gulbranson led three straight scoring drives: a 14-yard touchdown to redshirt sophomore receiver Myles Libman, a 36-yard field goal from fifth-year player Emmet Kenney and the game-winner, a 1-yard plunge by junior running back Sedrick Irvin after a fourth-and-10 conversion kept the final march alive. On the critical snap, San José State brought pressure, and Gulbranson drilled a 34-yard strike to junior receiver Caden High to the Spartans’ 25-yard line. Three plays later, Irvin scored behind a surge from the offensive line to cap the 80-yard drive.
“I thought the defense was playing extremely well in the second half,” interim head coach Frank Reich said, explaining why he settled for a field goal earlier in the quarter to make it a one-score game.
“It was fourth and too many yards… and down by eight, that was the right move.” He added that the fourth-and-10 call — anticipating a blitz-zero look — “worked exactly how we wanted,” praising Gulbranson’s poise and the protection that bought the play.
Although the game was decided by a one-yard run, it was an explosive passing night on both sides. Gulbranson posted career highs, with 444 yards on 29 of 43 passing with two touchdowns and no interceptions, while SJSU’s Walker Eget threw for 473 yards and three scores. Stanford leaned on its receivers to offset an underwhelming run game (37 rushing yards): senior wide receiver CJ Williams caught 12 passes for 138 yards, High added 110 yards on five receptions and Libman and senior tight end Sam Roush contributed 57 yards and two touchdown receptions. For the Spartans, Danny Scudero (11 for 135, two TDs), Kyri Shoels (10 for 147, TD) and Leland Smith (6 for 101) all topped 100 reception yards.
Irvin’s final carry may have been just a single yard, but it was the night’s defining moment.
“That was the best one-yard carry in my life,” Irvin said. “One thing we always talk about is not having any quit. We are going to fight for four quarters regardless of what the scoreboard says. I think everybody knew what the mindset was coming out of halftime. We knew we had to fight to win.”
Stanford’s defense delivered the last stand. After Irvin’s touchdown, San José State crossed midfield before redshirt junior safety Jay Green broke up a deep shot down the right sideline and the Cardinal bled the final seconds to seal it.
“What a massive play by Jay,” Reich said. “That could be the play of the game.”
The Stanford defense overcame an ejection for targeting of senior linebacker Matt Rose, one of the team’s top tacklers, leaning on a next-man-up approach to steady the second-half effort.
Missed opportunities for the Spartans decided this game. San José State led 20-14 at halftime and 26-14 in the opening minute of the fourth on Eget’s third touchdown pass. The Spartans outgained Stanford 525-481 and were sharper on third down (4-of-12 vs. 3-of-13) but missed two field goals and failed to produce a takeaway.
Stanford, meanwhile, committed 11 penalties for 95 yards yet played turnover-free after halftime and won the explosive-play battle in the fourth quarter, highlighted by the Gulbranson-to-High fourth-down conversion.
Gulbranson said the crucial throw was well-rehearsed in practice.
“I really got to give all the credit to the coaching staff,” Gulbranson said. “They put together a great plan for us, and we just went out there and executed it. They thought we were going to get a look like that in that situation, and we practiced that way.”
As for the unbeaten start at home, the Oregon State transfer kept it cool: “I’m just taking it game by game, trying to go 1-0 each week at Stanford. It’s a fun stadium to play at for sure.”
Reich emphasized what the back-to-back home wins mean as Stanford reshapes its identity.
“To have two big wins at home is a good statement to make,” Reich said. “We’re going to be tough to beat at home.”
Up next, Stanford enters a bye week before traveling to Dallas to face SMU (2-2, 0-0 ACC) on Saturday, Oct. 11 at Gerald J. Ford Stadium, the Cardinal’s third-ever matchup against the Mustangs. Time for kick-off has yet to be announced.