SRR Series: Stanford vs. California (The Big Game)

Historical Significance of the Rivalry

The Stanford vs. California rivalry, commonly known as "The Big Game," is one of the oldest and most storied rivalries in college football, dating back to March 19, 1892 (March 19th is my birthday!). The inaugural match saw Stanford edge out California with a score of 14-10, and since then, the rivalry has blossomed into a fierce annual contest that captures the attention of fans across the nation.

The rivalry is not just a battle for football supremacy; it symbolizes the longstanding competition between two of California's premier academic institutions, located just 45 minutes apart in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The term "Big Game" was coined by the turn of the century, and the rivalry has evolved through various historical contexts, including the "Thanksgiving Day Disaster" in 1900, which resulted in the tragic deaths of 22 spectators. The rivalry has also seen interruptions, notably from 1906 to 1914 when both schools temporarily switched to rugby due to safety concerns surrounding football.