The Stanford Cardinal are playing for a berth in the Pac-12 Championship game this weekend, but they will have to face UCLA without senior defensive tackle Terrence Stephens. Stanford confirmed reports that Stephens will miss Saturday's game as he tends to a personal matter, according to a report from The Stanford Daily.

Stephens, who has started seven games this season, is one of the main cogs along a stout Stanford defensive line. The Cardinal are currently second in the country in rush defense, allowing just 71.3 rushing yards per game. Stephens absence could be a big loss for Stanford as the Cardinal face the Pac-12's second-leading rusher Johnathan Franklin. Franklin has rushed for 1,441 yards this season while averaging 6.3 yards per attempt.

If the Cardinal knock off the Bruins, or the Oregon Ducks lose to Oregon State, Stanford will host UCLA in the Pac-12 Championship game. Junior defensive tackle David Parry is expected to replace Stephens in the starting lineup.