Stanford may be going into its toughest game of the season without its starting quarterback.
Redshirt freshman Elijah Brown met with reporters on Tuesday, a sign that he could be making his first start of the season when Stanford visits No. 9 Miami on Saturday (4 p.m., ESPN) as a 30.5-point underdog.
Ben Gulbranson, who won a position battle over Brown in fall camp, injured his knee in Saturday’s 20-13 win over Florida State. Gulbranson needed to be helped off the field after being sacked in the second quarter. Brown then made his season debut and was steady as the Cardinal finished off the upset, completing 6 of 12 passes for 71 yards.
“I think just keeping a level head and just staying the course is the key to that win,” Brown said. “I had a lot of help over the week, just picking Ben’s brain on what kind of looks we’re getting and where I should go with the ball.”
A two-time state champion at Mater Dei, Brown led a 94-yard touchdown drive in the third quarter, but Stanford was held to 25 yards on four fourth-quarter possessions as it barely held on for the win.
Brown said it was a question for the coaches when asked if he was starting Saturday. Interim coach Frank Reich did not provide an update on Gulbranson’s health at Monday’s weekly press conference.
“You know, if I have something, I’m not afraid to give it to you guys,” Reich said. “But as of right now, I’m really not prepared with anything.”
Whoever starts will face a Miami defense that allows the fewest points in the ACC (15.3). The Hurricanes are coming off a loss to Louisville, but already have wins over Notre Dame, Florida and South Florida.
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Gulbranson didn’t crack 200 passing yards in any of his first three games after transferring in from Oregon State, but he threw for 1,008 yards, 5 touchdowns and 1 interception in the next three games before facing FSU.
Brown started one game last season, completing 16 of 32 passes for 153 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions and was sacked five times in a 40-10 loss to an SMU team that made the College Football Playoff.
“Obviously, last year when I got in, it didn’t really go our way,” Brown said. “But you just have to keep moving forward, keep playing the next play, and stay the course.”
