STANFORD — Stanford interim coach Frank Reich said that Ben Gulbranson’s experience played a significant role in winning the starting quarterback job heading into the season opener Saturday at Hawaii.
Gulbranson, who made 11 starts and appeared in 18 games while at Oregon State for five seasons, transferred to Stanford after spring camp.
He beat out redshirt freshman Elijah Brown, a highly touted recruit from Santa Ana’s Mater Dei High who played in three games for the Cardinal last season.
“Ben just did a really good job with the whole thing, good command and mastery of the offense,” Reich said. “A really accurate passer, strong-armed guy that could get the ball to all parts of the field. I thought he had good command and control of decision-making, a good poise in the pocket. So he really showed a lot of positive attributes that we’re looking for.”
Gulbranson made his first college start for Oregon State at Stanford Stadium, throwing a 56-yard touchdown pass with 13 seconds left in a 28-27 win in 2022. He wound up going 7-1 as a starter that year, recording 14 total TDs and being named MVP in the Beavers’ Las Vegas Bowl win over Florida.
Gulbranson also started the final four games for Oregon State last season, completing 61 percent of his passes for 943 yards, four TDs and four interceptions.
But the Beavers landed top QB transfer Maalik Murphy in the offseason, which led to Gulbranson transferring in search of playing time.
Gulbranson, a Ventura County native, said he was first approached by Stanford GM Andrew Luck, and the opportunity to be coached by two longtime NFL QBs in Luck and Reich made it an easy sell.
“Just trying to learn as much as I can from those guys,” Gulbranson said. “Obviously NFL guys that have seen so much football and have learned so much, and they are just great teachers. They always have something new that I’ve never even really thought about or heard about, and it’s really great having them.”
Gulbranson said the biggest challenge has been learning the playbook. But the player nicknamed “Dr. Ben” at Oregon State — because he wants to attend medical school after football — appears to be a quick learner.
Ben Gulbranson is the starting quarterback for the Stanford Cardinal in 2025 after transferring from Oregon State. Photo courtesy of Stanford Athletics / Lily Friebel
Senior outside linebacker Taverua Tafiti said Gulbranson’s presence was what stood out the most.
“I actually met Ben before camp even started, and just talked to him. Very wholesome guy,” Tafiti said. “But when you see him in the huddle, he takes the role of a leader in that huddle. He takes real pride in the unit.”
Gulbranson will lead a very inexperienced offensive unit – the Cardinal is one of four FBS teams not to return a player who rushed for a touchdown last season, and one of two teams whose returning players have combined for fewer than two receptions. The offensive line also has two transfer starters in left tackle Niki Prongos (UCLA) and left guard Nick Fattig (Texas Tech).
Considering all of the uncertainty on offense, it seems Gulbranson’s experience won out over Brown’s potential.
“That has nothing to do with a lack of confidence in Elijah,” Reich said. “(Elijah) is a really good player. He’s had a phenomenal camp. Like was mentioned earlier, Ben’s experience probably gave him the edge in the long run, but we’re super excited about Elijah and the rest of the group.”
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Redshirt sophomore Dylan Rizk, who made three starts for Central Florida last year, was also in the mix heading into the spring.
Though this is the first time he enters the season as the starter, Gulbranson said his mentality hasn’t changed. He looks forward to taking advantage of his sixth and final year on the field.
“Trying to make the most of it,” Gulbranson said. “And just do my best each and every day.”