GAME INFORMATION
Colgate vs Stanford
Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. (PT)
Stanford Stadium, Stanford, Calif.
 
HOW TO FOLLOW
Watch | Pac-12 Network
Listen | The Varsity Network
Live Stats | ColgateAthletics.com
 
HAMILTON – Goodbye 2021, hello 2022. 
 
After shocking the Patriot League with a second-place finish last season, Colgate Football has no plans of slowing down any time soon.
 
With 24 new student-athletes on the roster, and some new faces on the coaching staff, the Raiders are ready for the fresh start that comes with a new season.
 
OFFENSE
Colgate returns seven starters on offense, including senior wide receiver Garrett Oakey, who enters his fifth year with the Raiders. Oakey is 19 receptions away from reaching the program's top 10 in receptions. Oakey has led the Raiders in receptions for the past three seasons.
 
"Our receiving room is really unique," said Fred '50 and Marilyn Dunlap Head Football Coach Stan Dakosty. "Garrett Oakey is a gritty kid, plays tough, a really good athlete, but he'll make plays.
 
"A couple of underclassmen are working their way up the depth chart, and we have freshmen who came in this year that will have an impact this season in the receiving room as well."
 
An experienced veteran of the offensive line, A.J. DeSantis was the sole Raider to be named Preseason All-League honors. DeSantis helped the Raiders have the second most rushing yards (1,732) in the league last season.  
 
"We lost five o-linemen to graduation, but we really like our offensive line."
 
After quite the finish to his first year, quarterback Michael Brescia looks to gain on the momentum he finished last season with. Brescia was named the 2021 Patriot League Rookie of the Year after finishing second in the league in rushing touchdowns (9), third in total touchdowns (11), and third in rushing yards (568). Brescia was recently named a team captain along with senior linebacker J.C. Gaughan on Monday.
 
"The way we've always been as a program the last decade or so is our quarterbacks have been effective in the run game. Michael Brescia has always had a great arm. It's just a matter of him making all the throws and letting him be the complete quarterback."
 
DEFENSE
Though the Raiders might have lost a few starters to graduation, the future is still very bright for the Raiders' defense. With the return of five defensive starters, the opportunities have arrived for current players on the roster.  
 
"Our defensive line is probably our most talented position. If everyone is healthy, we have a pretty deep room there."
 
Junior K2 Dickens was a breakout star on the defensive line for the Raiders last season, being named to the 2021 Patriot League Second Team Defense. 
 
"Owen Goss can play five positions for us," said Dakosty. "We have him at corner boundary to start the season, but he played safety last year. He has a high ceiling and the mentality and confidence to keep going after it no matter what."
 
Goss recorded 28 solo tackles, eight assists, and one solo tackle for a loss of two yards for the Raiders last season.  
 
SPECIAL TEAMS
Sophomore placekicker Spencer Biscoe and sophomore punter Shelby Pruett lead the special teams unit for the Raiders. Biscoe made five-of-six field goal attempts last season, while Pruett had 55 punts for 1,976 yards.
 
Colgate's squad features 23 seniors, 26 juniors, 19 sophomores, and 23 freshmen this season.  
 
SCHEDULE OUTLOOK
The Raiders stay on the road for two more games after the showdown with Stanford, returning home for the Patriot League opener against Holy Cross on Homecoming and Hall of Honor Weekend, Sept. 24. In-state rival Cornell, makes the trip to Hamilton before the Raiders make a quick trip to Army on Oct. 15. Colgate returns home two more times this season with the last home game being highlighted by Senior Day on Nov. 5. The Raiders finish the season on the road, closing out the regular season at Fordham on Nov. 19.
 
"We're excited to start off with a power five team and then another FBS team midway through. We have league opponents early on. It's always a challenge here. We never shy away from a challenge from a scheduling standpoint. Our guys know what is at stake when you put on a Colgate helmet.
 
"We're on the hunt to get back to what we want to be. It's an exciting thing to be around a bunch of guys that are rallying around that one goal and working hard to get it done."
 
HOW TO WATCH
Depending on your provider, there are multiple ways to access this game, but the simplest way is to watch via the Pac-12 Now app. As a Pac-12 Networks subscriber, you can login to the Pac-12 Now app, available on Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, as well as for iOS or Android devices or on Pac-12.com/now, with your TV provider login credentials to watch all Pac-12 Networks channels and content, in HD.