Where Stanford Cardinal coach Troy Taylor ranks among ACC coaches

With the Stanford Cardinal experiencing so many changes in terms of their current rebuild, they are also navigating a move to the ACC thanks to conference realignment.

Following the collapse of the Pac-12, Stanford and Cal were the final two programs to leave what is now being called the Pac-2. Instead of playing programs in Oregon or Los Angeles, they are now conference foes with teams in Florida and North Carolina. There are also some proven coaches in the ACC that Troy Taylor is now in conversations with, and while he proved his offensive prowess at Sacramento State, there is still more room to grow in Palo Alto for Taylor.

In a recent ranking of the coaches in the ACC, On3's Jesse Simonton tabbed Taylor as the No. 15 coach in the conference, one spot below Cal's Justin Wilcox.

The only two coaches that ranked below Taylor were Tonny Elliot at Virginia and Fran Brown at Syracuse. In Taylor's defense, Simotnon did acknowledge the severe disadvantages Taylor dealt with in year one like lack of scholarship players and experience, but did harp on the transfer portal issues.

Taylor has already shown he is willing to use the portal, but it is more so the academic restrictions that the university has that are holding him back in that aspect. The second-year head coach has already acknowledged that this roster will be rebuilt via recruiting, and he isn't shy about playing freshmen if they earn the snaps. Heading into year two, Stanford goes from the least experienced team in the Power 5 to No. 37 in the country in 2024 in terms of returning production.

It's not to say that they will be contending for an ACC title next season, but they finally have players with starting experience and an influx of young talent. Look for Stanford to take a step forward, just maybe not as big as fans would hope.