US LBM Coaches Poll No. 3 Notre Dame, straight up undefeated at 5-0, is gearing up to battle Stanford this weekend, who’s currently sitting at a 2-3 record. What’s wild is this marks the first time first-year Cardinal head coach Tavita Pritchard actually faces the Irish from the sideline, and trust me, he’s got some history with them.
From Cardinal QB to NFL OROY Whisperer, Then Back Home
Pritchard’s journey is kinda nuts. He was Stanford’s starting quarterback from 2007 to 2009, part of the Cardinal crew from 2006 to 2009. Then he bounced around on their coaching staff from 2011 to 2017, doing pretty much everything: defensive assistant, running backs coach, QB/receiver coach, and even offensive coordinator, totally locked in on the QBs. But get this, he dipped out to become the quarterback coach for the Washington Commanders, where he guided Jayden Daniels to NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2024. After one more season in D.C. in 2025, BAM, he’s back at Stanford as the head man. Seriously, talk about a homecoming!
Can Pritchard Flip His Personal Script Against the Irish?
Here’s the kicker: Pritchard’s never coached against Notre Dame, but his playing career tells a different story. The guy went 0-2 against them as a player! We’re talking losses of 21-14 in 2007 and 28-21 in 2008. His combined stats in those two games? 28-of-42 on completions for 284 yards, two touchdowns, but also five interceptions. Ouch. Now, the Irish have dominated the series overall, 24-14, and they’ve won three in a row against Stanford, including a monster 49-20 beatdown last November. Meanwhile, Stanford just got crushed 57-3 by Wake Forest last weekend, while Notre Dame is fresh off a 37-26 victory over North Carolina. So, yeah, this is a huge uphill climb for Pritchard and the Cardinal.
So, get your popcorn ready for Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET on NBC. This isn’t just about rankings or records. It’s about whether Tavita Pritchard can rewrite his personal history against Notre Dame and snag a massive win for his 2-3 Stanford squad, or if the undefeated Irish just keep on rolling. You know he’s gonna be looking for redemption.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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