The Stanford Cardinal football statistical leaders are individual statistical leaders of the Stanford Cardinal football program in various categories, including passing, rushing, receiving, total offense, all-purpose yardage, defensive stats, and kicking. Within those areas, the lists identify single-game, single-season, and career leaders. Since the 2024 season, the Cardinal has represented Stanford University in the NCAA Division I FBS Atlantic Coast Conference.
Although Stanford began competing in intercollegiate football in 1891, the school's official record book generally does not lists players from before the 1940s, as records from before this year are often incomplete and inconsistent.
These lists are dominated by more recent players for several reasons: Since the 1940s, seasons have increased from 10 games to 11 and then 12 games in length. The NCAA didn't allow freshmen to play varsity football until 1972 (with the exception of the World War II years), allowing players to have four-year careers. Bowl games only began counting toward single-season and career statistics in 2002. Stanford has played in a bowl game 10 times since this decision, allowing players in these years (2009 through 2017) an extra game to accumulate statistics. The Pac-12 Conference, in which Stanford competed from 1919 to 2023, held a championship game from 2011 until that conference's effective demise after the 2023 season. Stanford appeared in that game four times. Similarly, the ACC has held its own championship game since 2015, giving future Stanford teams a chance for another extra game. Since 2018, players have been allowed to participate in as many as four games in a redshirt season; previously, playing in even one game "burned" the redshirt. Since 2024, postseason games have not counted against the four-game limit. These changes to redshirt rules have given very recent players several extra games to accumulate statistics. Due to COVID-19 disruptions, the NCAA did not count the 2020 season against the eligibility of any football player, giving all players active in that season five years of eligibility instead of the normal four. The top nine seasons in Stanford history in both total offensive yards and points scored have all come since 1999.
These lists are updated through the end of the 2025 season.
Passing Passing yards
+ Career 1 Steve Stenstrom10,9111991 1992 1993 1994 2 Andrew Luck9,4302009 2010 2011 3 Kevin Hogan9,3852012 2013 2014 2015 4 John Elway9,3491979 1980 1981 1982 5 Jim Plunkett7,8091968 1969 1970 6 John Paye7,6691983 1984 1985 1986 7 Todd Husak6,8341996 1997 1998 1999 8 Guy Benjamin6,2151974 1975 1976 1977 9 K. J. Costello6,1512017 2018 2019 10 Trent Edwards5,4432003 2004 2005 2006
+ Single season1Steve Stenstrom3,62719932K. J. Costello3,54020183Andrew Luck3,51720114Andrew Luck3,33820105John Elway3,24219826Steve Dils3,15319787Todd Husak3,09219988Jim Plunkett2,98019709Tanner McKee2,947202210Todd Husak2,9461999
+ Single game1Davis Mills5042019 Washington State2Todd Husak4501998 Oregon State3Ben Gulbranson4442025 San Jose State4Steve Dils4301978 Washington State5Davis Mills4282020 UCLA6Andrew Luck4232009 Arizona7Todd Husak4191998 UCLA8John Elway4181981 Purdue9John Paye4081985 OregonSteve Stenstrom4081994 UCLA
Passing touchdowns
+ Career1Andrew Luck822009 2010 20112John Elway771979 1980 1981 19823Kevin Hogan752012 2013 2014 20154Steve Stenstrom741991 1992 1993 19945Jim Plunkett531968 1969 1970 19716K. J. Costello492017 2018 2019 7Guy Benjamin481974 1975 1976 19778Todd Husak411996 1997 1998 19999John Paye381983 1984 1985 198610Trent Edwards362003 2004 2005 2006
+ Single season1Andrew Luck3720112Andrew Luck3220103K. J. Costello2920184John Elway271980Steve Stenstrom271993Kevin Hogan2720157Steve Dils2519788John Elway2419829Guy Benjamin22197710Jim Plunkett201969John Elway201981Kevin Hogan202013
+ Single game1John Elway61980 Oregon State2Mike Boryla51973 Washington StateSteve Dils51978 Washington StateJohn Elway51980 Washington StateJohn Elway51982 Oregon StateSteve Stenstrom51993 ColoradoJoe Borchard51999 UCLAKevin Hogan52013 CaliforniaK. J. Costello52018 UCLA 10 28 times by 14 players 4 Most recent:Ashton Daniels, 2023 vs. Colorado
Rushing Rushing yards
+ Career 1 Stepfan Taylor4,3002009 2010 2011 2012 2 Darrin Nelson4,1691977 1978 1980 1981 3 Christian McCaffrey3,922 2014 2015 2016 4 Bryce Love 3,865 2015 2016 2017 2018 5 Toby Gerhart3,522 2006 2007 2008 2009 6 Brad Muster 3,010 1984 1985 1986 1987 7 Anthony Bookman2,6721994 1995 1996 1997 8 Mike Mitchell2,5501993 1994 1995 1996 1997 9 Tyler Gaffney2,5002009 2010 2011 2013 10 Glyn Milburn2,2521990 1991 1992
+ Single season 1 Bryce Love 2,118 2017 2 Christian McCaffrey2,0192015 3 Toby Gerhart1,8712009 4 Tyler Gaffney1,7092013 5 Christian McCaffrey1,6032016 6 Stepfan Taylor1,5302012 7 Stepfan Taylor1,3302011 8 Tommy Vardell1,1881991 9 Darrin Nelson1,1611978 10 Stepfan Taylor1,1372010
+ Single game 1 Bryce Love 301 2017 Arizona State 2 Christian McCaffrey2842016 California 3 Bryce Love 263 2017 UCLA 4 Christian McCaffrey2432015 UCLA 5 Toby Gerhart2232009 Oregon 6 Jon Volpe2201988 Washington 7 Darrin Nelson2111977 San Jose State 8 Lou Valli2091956 California 9 Christian McCaffrey2072015 USCPac-12 Football Championship Game 10 Christian McCaffrey2062015 Oregon State
Rushing touchdowns
+ Career1Toby Gerhart442006 2007 2008 20092Stepfan Taylor402009 2010 2011 20123Tommy Vardell391988 1989 1990 19914Tyler Gaffney332009 2010 2011 20135 Bryce Love 30 2015 2016 2017 20186Brad Muster281984 1985 1986 19877 Remound Wright 26 2012 2013 2014 2015 8 Darrin Nelson 24 1977 1978 1980 1981 Kerry Carter 24 1999 2000 2001 2002 Cameron Scarlett 24 2016 2017 2018 2019
+ Single season1Toby Gerhart2820092Tommy Vardell2219913Tyler Gaffney212013 4 Bryce Love 19 2017 5 Toby Gerhart 15 2008 Stepfan Taylor 15 2010 7 Tommy Vardell141990 8 Brad Muster131986 9 Stepfan Taylor132012 Christian McCaffrey 13 2016 Remound Wright 13 2015
+ Single game1Darrin Nelson41981 Oregon StateTommy Vardell41990 Notre DameKerry Carter42000 USCKerry Carter42001 OregonToby Gerhart42008 Washington StateToby Gerhart42009 CaliforniaStepfan Taylor42010 ArizonaRemound Wright42014 CaliforniaChristian McCaffrey42015 UCLA
Receiving Receptions
+ Career1Troy Walters2481996 1997 1998 19992DeRonnie Pitts2281997 1998 1999 20003Darrin Nelson2231977 1978 1980 19814Brad Muster1981984 1985 1986 19875Ty Montgomery1722011 2012 2013 20146Mark Bradford1692003 2004 2005 20067Vincent White1621979 1980 1981 19828Jeff James1581984 1985 1986 19879Justin Armour1561991 1992 1993 199410Ken Margerum1461977 1978 1979 1980Ed McCaffrey1461986 1987 1989 1990Chris Walsh1461988 1989 1990 1991Glyn Milburn1461990 1991 1992Brian Manning1461993 1994 1995 1996
+ Single season1Troy Walters8619972Brad Muster7819853Troy Walters771999DeRonnie Pitts7720005DeRonnie Pitts7419986Gene Washington711968Chris Walsh7119918Zach Ertz6920129Vincent White68198210Darrin Nelson671981Justin Armour671994
+ Single game1Simi Fehoko162020 UCLA2Eric Cross141972 Hawai’iVincent White141982 UCLABrad Muster141985 OregonJim Price141989 Notre Dame6Gene Washington131968 UCLADarrin Nelson131981 Ohio StateTroy Walters131997 OregonDeRonnie Pitts132000 USCElic Ayomanor132023 ColoradoEmmett Mosley V132024 Louisville
Receiving yards
+ Career1Troy Walters4,0471996 1997 1998 19992DeRonnie Pitts3,0231997 1998 1999 20003Ken Margerum2,5171977 1978 1979 19804Justin Armour2,4911991 1992 1993 19945Darrin Nelson2,4691977 1978 1980 19816Mark Bradford2,4312003 2004 2005 2006 20077Brian Manning2,3651993 1994 1995 19968Ed McCaffrey2,3331986 1987 1989 19909Jeff James2,3061984 1985 1986 198710Emile Harry2,2701981 1982 1983 1984
+ Single season1Troy Walters1,50819992Troy Walters1,20619973Gene Washington1,11719684Justin Armour1,09219945J. J. Arcega-Whiteside1,05920186Ken Margerum1,02919787Mark Harris1,02119958Elic Ayomanor1,01320239DeRonnie Pitts1,012199810James Lofton1,0101977
+ Single game 1 Elic Ayomanor2942023 Colorado 2 Troy Walters2781999 UCLA 3 Darrin Nelson2371981 Arizona State 4 Simi Fehoko2302020 UCLA 5 J. J. Arcega-Whiteside 226 2018 San Diego State 6 Justin Armour2201994 UCLA 7 Troy Walters2091997 USC 8 Troy Walters1921998 UCLA James Lofton1921977 Washington 10 Mark Harris1891993 Oregon
Receiving touchdowns
+ Career1Ken Margerum321977 1978 1979 19802 J. J. Arcega-Whiteside 28 2016 2017 20183Troy Walters261996 1997 1998 19994DeRonnie Pitts241997 1998 1999 2000 5 Justin Armour 20 1991 1992 1993 1994 6 Tony Hill 18 1973 1974 1975 1976Vincent White181979 1980 1981 1982Coby Fleener182008 2009 2010 2011James Lofton181975 1976 1977Darrin Nelson181977 1978 1980 1981
+ Single season1James Lofton141977 J. J. Arcega-Whiteside 14 20183Ken Margerum111978Ken Margerum1119805Ken Margerum101979Troy Walters101999Coby Fleener102011Ty Montgomery1020139Eric Cross91972Doug Baldwin92010 J. J. Arcega-Whiteside 9 2017
+ Single game1Ken Margerum41980 Oregon StateTy Montgomery42013 California
Total offense Total offense is the sum of passing and rushing statistics. It does not include receiving or returns.
Total offense yards
+ Career1Kevin Hogan10,634 2012 2013 2014 20152Andrew Luck10,387 2009 2010 20113Steve Stenstrom10,179 1991 1992 1993 19944John Elway9,070 1979 1980 1981 19825Jim Plunkett8,178 1968 1969 19706John Paye7,539 1983 1984 1985 19867Todd Husak6,680 1996 1997 1998 19998K. J. Costello6,2412017 2018 20199Guy Benjamin6,043 1974 1975 1976 197710Trent Edwards5,642 2003 2004 2005 2006
+ Single season1Andrew Luck3,791 20102Andrew Luck3,667 20113Steve Stenstrom3,398 19934Kevin Hogan3,203 20155Jim Plunkett3,189 19706John Elway3,104 19827Kevin Hogan3,087 20148Steve Dils3,033 19789Todd Husak3,026 199810Kevin Hogan2,985 2013
+ Single game1Davis Mills4912019 Washington State2Ashton Daniels4482023 Washington3Todd Husak4471998 Oregon State4Andrew Luck4432009 Arizona5Davis Mills4402020 UCLA6Steve Dils4381978 Washington State7Ashton Daniels4352023 Colorado8Todd Husak4281998 UCLA9John Elway4181982 Ohio StateJohn Paye4181985 San Diego State
Total touchdowns
+ Career1Kevin Hogan90 2012 2013 2014 20152Andrew Luck89 2009 2010 20113John Elway82 1979 1980 1981 19824Steve Stenstrom77 1991 1992 1993 19945Jim Plunkett63 1968 1969 19706Guy Benjamin55 1974 1975 1976 19777K. J. Costello522017 2018 20198John Paye47 1983 1984 1985 19869Toby Gerhart45 2006 2007 2008 200910Todd Husak44 1996 1997 1998 1999
+ Single season1Andrew Luck39 20112Andrew Luck35 20103Kevin Hogan33 20154John Elway31 19805Toby Gerhart29 20096Steve Stenstrom27 19937Steve Dils26 19788Guy Benjamin24 19779John Elway24 198210Kevin Hogan24 2014
+ Single game1John Elway61980 Washington StateJohn Elway61980 Oregon State
All-purpose yardage All-purpose yardage is the sum of all yards credited to a player who is in possession of the ball. It includes rushing, receiving, and returns, but does not include passing.
Statistics are from the 2018 Stanford football record book, and will be updated if necessary to reflect results from the 2018 season. The record book lists only the top six single-game performers.
+ Career 1 Darrin Nelson 7,120 1977 1978 1980 1981 2 Christian McCaffrey 6,987 2014 2015 2016 3 Glyn Milburn 6,146 1990 1991 1992 4 Troy Walters 5,515 1996 1997 1998 1999 5 Ty Montgomery 5,190 2011 2012 2013 2014 6 Stepfan Taylor 5,095 2009 2010 2011 2012 7 Brad Muster 5,095 1984 1985 1986 1987 8 Vincent White 4,662 1979 1980 1981 1982 9 Anthony Bookman 4,072 1994 1995 1996 1997 10 Toby Gerhart 3,917 2006 2007 2008 2009
+ Single season 1 Christian McCaffrey 3,864 2015 2 Christian McCaffrey 2,327 2016 3 Glyn Milburn 2,234 1992 4 Glyn Milburn 2,222 1990 5 Ty Montgomery 2,208 2013 6 Bryce Love 2,151 2017 7 Toby Gerhart 2,028 2009 8 Darrin Nelson 1,998 1981 9 Troy Walters 1,929 1999 10 Chris Owusu 1,915 2009