Stanford #1?

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Last season, Stanford won the Rose Bowl for the first time in 41 years.

It might seem like sacrilege to compare Stanford to Alabama, until you actually do it. Although it is true Alabama has won two straight Bowl Championship Series titles, it's also true the Crimson Tide needed luck both seasons just to get to the game.

Alabama's record the last three years is 35-5. Stanford's record the last three years is 35-5.

Alabama has beaten Notre Dame once in that span. Stanford has beaten Notre Dame twice.

Alabama's quarterback, AJ McCarron, suffered only one defeat last season. Quarterback Kevin Hogan was undefeated, 5-0, as Stanford's starter.

"I think our quarterback is a budding superstar," Shaw said at Pac-12 media day.

What about the schedule?

By the time this season ends Alabama will have played five lower-division opponents the last four years compared with none for Stanford.

As for the tough SEC, Alabama during the regular season will play two teams ranked in the Associated Press preseason top 25, Texas A&M and Louisiana State.

Stanford plays five: UCLA, Oregon State, Oregon, USC and Notre Dame.

Stanford is built more like Alabama than any team outside, or inside, the SEC. The Cardinal's offensive line this season may be as good as Alabama's was in 2012.

Alabama's defense gave up only 10.9 points per game last season, but Stanford's gave up only 17.2. (Note: Two of Alabama's four shutouts came against Western Carolina and Western Kentucky.)

There are certainly no guarantees in college football. Stanford could make good on this hunch, or lose its opener to San Jose State. No team plays Stanford any tougher than the Spartans, who boast a potential first-round draft pick in quarterback David Fales.

What can't be calculated is the "been there" factor between Alabama and Stanford.

You know the Crimson Tide won't wilt. Or will it?

The last time Alabama was preseason No. 1, in 2010, the Crimson Tide finished with three losses.

You say, why Stanford? We say, why not?

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