Us recruiting in California has been a joke. Stanford has little traction if they don't win. In California, it's all USC/UCLA now. If we had been picking up Cali recruits like we have been Texas than it wouldn't be an issue. I don't see longterm success with Stanford's program. Yes, they have gave us tough games. They play their best against us like every other team. They rode the momentum from the Harbaugh years and now they will come back to life.
We have 3 principal players from CA, Redfield, Schmidt, and Carlisle. Three from a state is good. But then there's also ESB and possibly his brothers.
ND recruits nationally and competes with Stanfordnationally for the same pool of academically qualified athletes that can thrive in ND's academic environment.