Stanford needs a win this week. Falling 58-7 to Notre Dame and losing its second straight game, the program is eager to get into the win column this week against Elon and save its season.

Stanford has not made an appearance in a bowl game since 2018, so a victory this week digs it out of its 2-4 hole. Elon is an FCS school, and while it has had a competitive season, the Cardinal should definitely win this game on paper. 

The Cardinal enter this week as the heavy favorites but still need to play their best brand of football. Elon has some playmakers that Stanford needs to contain. Playing in front of their home fans, the Cardinal need a good crowd to raise the energy for an otherwise deflated program.

Can Stanford get back into the win column ahead of a tough game against NC State next week? Here is everything you need to know leading up to Stanford's matchup against Elon.

When: Saturday, Oct. 17, 4:30 p.m. (PT)

Where: Stanford Stadium, Stanford, CA.

How to Watch: ACC Network X

Spread: Stanford (-35.5)

Moneyline: Stanford (-1000), Elon (+3000)

Total: O/U 56.5

*Betting odds provided by Vegas Insider and are used here as a reference point, not betting advice*

WR JonAnthony Hall

Hall joined Stanford ahead of last season with lofty expectations. A former four-star recruit, he was supposed to bring star presence to a revamped receiver room. Instead, he played in one game before missing the rest of his true freshman season with an injury. Hall has had an up-and-down start to this season, registering 81 receiving yards in Week 0 but staying relatively quiet since. 

He has eight catches for 153 yards through six games, but this week is the chance for him to really break out. Hall just needs to get the ball and seize the opportunities that he gets. If he can, it will give him more confidence heading into the final stretch of the season.

TE Benji Blackburn

Blackburn is one of the more experienced offensive players, but he spent the first two seasons of his career as the backup to Sam Roush. Now that Roush is in the NFL, Blackburn's time to shine is now.

Blackburn has 23 catches for 186 yards and a touchdown in six games this season, playing his best game against Miami, where he caught seven passes for 52 yards. Last week against Notre Dame, he caught his first touchdown of the season.

Blackburn has yet to truly leave his mark, but a game like this is the perfect chance to do just that. Stanford's offense has been stagnant in recent weeks, and if he can have a good game, it can open it up more and give the program more options moving forward, especially when those other tough games come along.

LB Sam Mattingly

Mattingly started his career primarily on special teams, but finally received the chance to show what he can do at linebacker last season. This year he has taken a big step forward. Registering a career high of 35 tackles already, he broke out against Notre Dame, leading all Stanford players with 11 tackles, including seven solo tackles.

Matt Rose finished with over 100 tackles last season, the first Stanford player to do that in over a decade, cementing himself as the face of the linebacking corps. But Mattingly's big game last week puts him on the other team's radar, and if he continues to play at a high level, Stanford's linebacker room is now a bit scarier.

QB Brady Stober

Elon is a weird team when it comes to quarterbacks. This season alone, there have been three starters — Stober, Elijah Guttman and TJ Crews IV. It is not clear who the main starter will be against Stanford, but Stober had the most opportunities in Elon's most recent game against Wofford.

None of the quarterbacks have truly dazzled, but it can be hard to gameplan for when you don't know who is starting. Stanford needs to be prepared for whatever is coming.

RB Kamerin McDowell-Moore

Elon's offense is one-dimensional, and McDowell-Moore is the reason why. In seven games this season, he has registered 137 carries for 916 yards and six touchdowns, while averaging 6.7 yards per carry.

Stanford has struggled to contain the run, and even though McDowell-Moore has not played Power Four competition this season, he is fully capable of giving the Cardinal problems. Stanford needs to stop the run to win this game, which means keeping McDowell-Moore at bay.

LB Brodie Carroll

Carroll broke out as an FCS star last season after finishing with 103 tackles and is continuing to play at a high level this season. So far, he has 69 total tackles and has put together three games of 10 or more tackles. Carroll flies to the ball, and with Stanford looking to utilize the run game more, expect him to be involved in every play.

Stanford 42, Elon 7

Stanford has suffered two blowout defeats in consecutive weeks. That can do a number to a program in terms of confidence. But this week is Stanford's turn to earn a blowout win of its own. 

Elon is a competitive FCS program, but it has not played a Power Four team all season. Stanford, while deep in a rebuild, is still more established and a better team overall. If it plays its best brand of football, it absolutely is the better team.

Stanford is dug deep into a hole at 2-4, but a win this week would not only get it back into the win column but also bring a massive momentum boost. With NC State next week, a win this week is vital. That is why Stanford will come out focused and firing en route to the win.