Cal–USC football rivalry

Cal–USC football rivalry
Name	Cal–USC
First meeting	November 14, 1915
Meetings total	112
Series	USC leads, 72–33–5
Current streak	USC, 1 (2023)
Largest victory	USC, 55–0 (1929)
Longest win streak	USC, 14 (2004–2017)

Cal–USC football rivalry. The gridiron competition between the University of California, Berkeley Golden Bears and the University of Southern California Trojans is one of the most enduring and historically significant series on the West Coast. First contested in 1915, the rivalry has featured legendary coaches, Heisman Trophy winners, and numerous games with conference and national implications. The series, which USC leads decisively, is a cornerstone of college football history in California.

History

The rivalry began on November 14, 1915, with a 28–10 victory for the Trojans at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Early contests were dominated by coaches like Howard Jones at USC and Andy Smith at California, whose "Wonder Teams" of the early 1920s claimed a Rose Bowl victory. The series intensified with the rise of the Pacific Coast Conference, a precursor to the Pacific-12 Conference. Figures such as John McKay, John Robinson, and Pete Carroll built USC into a national power, while Cal experienced resurgences under Pappy Waldorf and later Jeff Tedford. The annual game became a key fixture in determining the Pac-12 champion, especially before the conference's expansion and divisional realignment.

Notable games

Several contests stand out for their drama and consequence. The 2003 Cal victory in triple overtime at California Memorial Stadium, led by quarterback Aaron Rodgers, snapped a 30-year losing streak in Los Angeles. The 2004 meeting, a 23–17 USC win, preserved the top-ranked Trojans' eventual national championship season. In 1951, the infamous "Wrong Way" play occurred when Cal's Roy Riegels recovered a fumble and ran toward his own end zone in the Rose Bowl. The 1963 game featured a thrilling 14–0 Cal upset of No. 4 USC. More recently, the 2018 clash saw a last-second field goal by Cal's Greg Thomas to secure a 15–14 victory, ending USC's 14-game series winning streak.

Game results

USC holds a commanding lead in the series, 72–33–5, through the 2023 season. The longest winning streak belongs to the Trojans, who won 14 consecutive meetings from 2004 to 2017. The largest margin of victory was a 55–0 shutout by USC in 1929. Games have been played primarily at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and California Memorial Stadium, with occasional neutral-site contests like the 2011 game at AT&T Park during stadium renovations. The rivalry has been a near-annual event since 1926, interrupted only by World War II cancellations in 1943 and 1944.

Trophies and traditions

Unlike many classic rivalries, the Cal–USC series has no official trophy. The primary tradition is the competition for the Victory Bell, though that trophy is contested between USC and UCLA. The game often features the spirited participation of the Cal Band and the USC Trojan Marching Band. The Stanford Axe and Stanford rivalry remains the primary trophy game for Cal, while USC focuses on the Victory Bell and Notre Dame rivalry. The clash is instead defined by its deep historical roots and the high stakes of Pac-12 play.

Cultural impact

The rivalry reflects the broader cultural and academic contrasts between Northern and Southern California, pitting the public University of California system's flagship campus against a major private research university. It has been a featured broadcast on networks like ABC, Fox, and ESPN. Notable alumni from both schools, including NFL stars like Aaron Rodgers, Marshawn Lynch, Ronnie Lott, and Marcus Allen, have played pivotal roles in the series. The game is a major event on the social calendars of alumni associations in the San Francisco Bay Area and Greater Los Angeles, reinforcing regional identities within the state.

Future of the rivalry

The future of the series is uncertain due to the impending dissolution of the Pacific-12 Conference and the move of both schools to the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2024. While the ACC has indicated a commitment to preserving key West Coast rivalries, the frequency of meetings may decrease without a shared conference division. The continuation of the annual game will depend on the scheduling priorities of the expanded Atlantic Coast Conference and the willingness of both athletic departments, led by directors like Jennifer Cohen at USC and Jim Knowlton at Cal, to maintain the historic tradition amid new geographic and logistical challenges.

Category:College football rivalries in the United States Category:California Golden Bears football Category:USC Trojans football Category:Sports in Los Angeles Category:Sports in the San Francisco Bay Area