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Rivalry

The Big Game

vs.

California vs. Stanford. First played in 1892; the results here start in 1918.

Stanford leads 54–45–6 in the Big Game through 2025. Stanford won the last meeting, 31–10, in 2025.

All-time54–45–6Stanford's record, 105 meetings since 1918
Last 105–5Stanford's record
Since 200014–12Stanford's record
Current streak1Stanford win
First meeting1892per the schools

Who's won the Big Game lately?

  1. 2016Stanford45–31
  2. 2017Stanford17–14
  3. 2018Stanford23–13
  4. 2019California24–20
  5. 2020Stanford24–23
  6. 2021California41–11
  7. 2022California27–20
  8. 2023California27–15
  9. 2024California24–21
  10. 2025Stanford31–10

Stanford won the last one, in 2025. Over the last 10 meetings, it's even, 5–5.

What's the Big Game trophy?

Stanford Axe: an axe head mounted on a large wooden plaque with the scores of past Big Games, awarded to the winner since 1933.

How did the Big Game start?

Stanford beat Cal 14-10 on March 19, 1892, in a game that started late because Stanford's student manager, Herbert Hoover, forgot the ball. The Axe started as a Stanford yell prop in 1899 until Cal students grabbed it at a baseball game and kept it in Berkeley for 31 years, until a group of Stanford students known as the "Immortal 21" took it back in 1930. Since 1933 it's gone to the Big Game winner, and in a tie it stays with the holder. The 1982 game ended with "The Play," a five-lateral kickoff return through the Stanford band that beat John Elway's team 25-20, and when Stanford holds the Axe it changes that score on the plaque to 20-19 Stanford.

What are the most famous Big Game games?

  • 1892: Hoover forgets the ballStanford won the first Big Game 14-10 after a late start caused by student manager Herbert Hoover forgetting the ball.
  • 1982: The PlayCal used five laterals on the final kickoff, and Kevin Moen scored through the Stanford band, running into a trombonist, for a 25-20 win.Final: California 25–20
  • 1990: The PaybackStanford won with a walk-off field goal eight years after The Play.Final: Stanford 27–25

How has the Big Game series swung?

565628281918: California 67–01919: California 14–101920: California 38–01921: California 42–71922: California 28–01923: California 9–01924: tie, 20–201925: Stanford 27–141926: Stanford 41–61927: Stanford 13–61928: tie, 13–131929: Stanford 21–61930: Stanford 41–01931: California 6–01932: tie, 0–01933: Stanford 7–31934: Stanford 9–71935: Stanford 13–01936: California 20–01937: California 13–01938: California 6–01939: California 32–141940: Stanford 13–71941: California 16–01942: Stanford 26–71946: Stanford 25–61947: California 21–181948: California 7–61949: California 33–141950: tie, 7–71951: California 20–71952: California 26–01953: tie, 21–211954: California 28–201955: Stanford 19–01956: California 20–181957: Stanford 14–121958: California 16–151959: California 20–171960: California 21–101961: Stanford 20–71962: Stanford 30–131963: Stanford 28–171964: Stanford 21–31965: Stanford 9–71966: Stanford 13–71967: California 26–31968: Stanford 20–01969: Stanford 29–281970: California 22–141971: Stanford 14–01972: California 24–211973: Stanford 26–171974: Stanford 22–201975: California 48–151976: Stanford 27–241977: Stanford 21–31978: Stanford 30–101979: California 21–141980: California 28–231981: Stanford 42–211982: California 25–201983: California 27–181984: Stanford 27–101985: Stanford 24–221986: California 17–111987: Stanford 31–71988: tie, 19–191989: Stanford 24–141990: Stanford 27–251991: Stanford 38–211992: Stanford 41–211993: California 46–171994: California 24–231995: Stanford 29–241996: Stanford 42–211997: Stanford 21–201998: Stanford 10–31999: Stanford 31–132000: Stanford 36–302001: Stanford 35–282002: California 30–72003: California 28–162004: California 41–62005: California 27–32006: California 26–172007: Stanford 20–132008: California 37–162009: California 34–282010: Stanford 48–142011: Stanford 31–282012: Stanford 21–32013: Stanford 63–132014: Stanford 38–172015: Stanford 35–222016: Stanford 45–312017: Stanford 17–142018: Stanford 23–132019: California 24–202020: Stanford 24–232021: California 41–112022: California 27–202023: California 27–152024: California 24–212025: Stanford 31–10192019401960198020002020 California won ↑Stanford won ↓ 565628281918: California 67–01919: California 14–101920: California 38–01921: California 42–71922: California 28–01923: California 9–01924: tie, 20–201925: Stanford 27–141926: Stanford 41–61927: Stanford 13–61928: tie, 13–131929: Stanford 21–61930: Stanford 41–01931: California 6–01932: tie, 0–01933: Stanford 7–31934: Stanford 9–71935: Stanford 13–01936: California 20–01937: California 13–01938: California 6–01939: California 32–141940: Stanford 13–71941: California 16–01942: Stanford 26–71946: Stanford 25–61947: California 21–181948: California 7–61949: California 33–141950: tie, 7–71951: California 20–71952: California 26–01953: tie, 21–211954: California 28–201955: Stanford 19–01956: California 20–181957: Stanford 14–121958: California 16–151959: California 20–171960: California 21–101961: Stanford 20–71962: Stanford 30–131963: Stanford 28–171964: Stanford 21–31965: Stanford 9–71966: Stanford 13–71967: California 26–31968: Stanford 20–01969: Stanford 29–281970: California 22–141971: Stanford 14–01972: California 24–211973: Stanford 26–171974: Stanford 22–201975: California 48–151976: Stanford 27–241977: Stanford 21–31978: Stanford 30–101979: California 21–141980: California 28–231981: Stanford 42–211982: California 25–201983: California 27–181984: Stanford 27–101985: Stanford 24–221986: California 17–111987: Stanford 31–71988: tie, 19–191989: Stanford 24–141990: Stanford 27–251991: Stanford 38–211992: Stanford 41–211993: California 46–171994: California 24–231995: Stanford 29–241996: Stanford 42–211997: Stanford 21–201998: Stanford 10–31999: Stanford 31–132000: Stanford 36–302001: Stanford 35–282002: California 30–72003: California 28–162004: California 41–62005: California 27–32006: California 26–172007: Stanford 20–132008: California 37–162009: California 34–282010: Stanford 48–142011: Stanford 31–282012: Stanford 21–32013: Stanford 63–132014: Stanford 38–172015: Stanford 35–222016: Stanford 45–312017: Stanford 17–142018: Stanford 23–132019: California 24–202020: Stanford 24–232021: California 41–112022: California 27–202023: California 27–152024: California 24–212025: Stanford 31–10192019602000 California won ↑Stanford won ↓

Each bar is one meeting. Bars above the line are California wins and bars below it are Stanford wins; the taller the bar, the bigger the margin (bars stop at 56 points). Over the last 10 meetings the two have split, 5–5. The widest margins are California 67–0 in 1918 and Stanford 63–13 in 2013.

How do California and Stanford compare this season?

CaliforniaStanfordSP+ overall101st112thSP+ offense101st106thSP+ defense103rd114thSuccess rate130th73rdSuccess rate allowed95th103rdExplosive play rate128th101stBig Uglies: offensive line132nd72ndBig Uglies: defensive front126th136thTakeaways a game82nd121stGiveaways a game39th31st1st (best)138th

California is the better team this season by SP+ (101st to 112th), and it's ahead on 6 of these 10 stats. Each row is one stat: the dots are each team's national rank out of 138, printed by the dot, and further left is better.

National rankCaliforniaStanford
SP+ overall101st112th
SP+ offense101st106th
SP+ defense103rd114th
Success rate130th73rd
Success rate allowed95th103rd
Explosive play rate128th101st
Big Uglies: offensive line132nd72nd
Big Uglies: defensive front126th136th
Takeaways a game82nd121st
Giveaways a game39th31st

Compare them on 75+ stats in the head-to-head

What are the records in the Big Game?

Biggest California win
1918, 67–0
Biggest Stanford win
2013, 63–13
Longest streaks
California, 6 straight (1918–1923); Stanford, 9 straight (2010–2018)
Most points
California, 67 in 1918
Ties
6

Who has the most yards in the Big Game?

Best single gameMost in the series
PassingDavis Webb (California), 393 passing yards in 2016, with 2 TDsChase Garbers (California), 883 passing yards in 4 games (2018–2021)
RushingChristian McCaffrey (Stanford), 284 rushing yards in 2016, with 3 TDsChristian McCaffrey (Stanford), 495 rushing yards in 3 games (2014–2016)
ReceivingTy Montgomery (Stanford), 160 receiving yards in 2013, with 4 TDsTrond Grizzell (California), 310 receiving yards in 3 games (2023–2025)

From the box scores of the 22 meetings since 2004 on CollegeFootballData.com. Older games don't have player stats.

Big Game results: every game since 1918

YearWinnerScoreHome
2025Stanford31–10Stanford
2024California24–21California
2023California27–15Stanford
2022California27–20California
2021California41–11Stanford
2020Stanford24–23California
2019California24–20Stanford
2018Stanford23–13California
2017Stanford17–14Stanford
2016Stanford45–31California
2015Stanford35–22Stanford
2014Stanford38–17California
2013Stanford63–13Stanford
2012Stanford21–3California
2011Stanford31–28Stanford
2010Stanford48–14California
2009California34–28Stanford
2008California37–16California
2007Stanford20–13Stanford
2006California26–17California
2005California27–3Stanford
2004California41–6California
2003California28–16Stanford
2002California30–7California
2001Stanford35–28Stanford
2000Stanford36–30California
1999Stanford31–13Stanford
1998Stanford10–3California
1997Stanford21–20Stanford
1996Stanford42–21California
1995Stanford29–24Stanford
1994California24–23California
1993California46–17Stanford
1992Stanford41–21California
1991Stanford38–21Stanford
1990Stanford27–25California
1989Stanford24–14Stanford
1988Tie19–19Stanford
1987Stanford31–7Stanford
1986California17–11California
1985Stanford24–22Stanford
1984Stanford27–10California
1983California27–18Stanford
1982California25–20California
1981Stanford42–21Stanford
1980California28–23California
1979California21–14Stanford
1978Stanford30–10California
1977Stanford21–3Stanford
1976Stanford27–24California
1975California48–15Stanford
1974Stanford22–20California
1973Stanford26–17Stanford
1972California24–21California
1971Stanford14–0Stanford
1970California22–14California
1969Stanford29–28Stanford
1968Stanford20–0California
1967California26–3Stanford
1966Stanford13–7California
1965Stanford9–7Stanford
1964Stanford21–3California
1963Stanford28–17Stanford
1962Stanford30–13California
1961Stanford20–7Stanford
1960California21–10California
1959California20–17Stanford
1958California16–15California
1957Stanford14–12Stanford
1956California20–18California
1955Stanford19–0Stanford
1954California28–20California
1953Tie21–21California
1952California26–0California
1951California20–7Stanford
1950Tie7–7Stanford
1949California33–14Stanford
1948California7–6California
1947California21–18Stanford
1946Stanford25–6California
1942Stanford26–7California
1941California16–0Stanford
1940Stanford13–7California
1939California32–14Stanford
1938California6–0California
1937California13–0Stanford
1936California20–0California
1935Stanford13–0Stanford
1934Stanford9–7California
1933Stanford7–3Stanford
1932Tie0–0Stanford
1931California6–0Stanford
1930Stanford41–0California
1929Stanford21–6Stanford
1928Tie13–13Stanford
1927Stanford13–6Stanford
1926Stanford41–6California
1925Stanford27–14Stanford
1924Tie20–20Stanford
1923California9–0California
1922California28–0Stanford
1921California42–7Stanford
1920California38–0California
1919California14–10Stanford
1918California67–0California

Results from CollegeFootballData.com. The schools' official series records can differ by a game or two (vacated wins, disputed early games).

Questions about the Big Game

Who leads the Big Game series?

Stanford leads 54–45–6 through the 2025 game, with 6 ties, in the 105 meetings on record since 1918.

Who won the last Big Game?

Stanford beat California 31–10 on Nov 23, 2025 at Stanford Stadium.

When was the first Big Game?

1892, by the schools' count. Our game-by-game results start in 1918.

What's the trophy for the Big Game?

Stanford Axe: an axe head mounted on a large wooden plaque with the scores of past Big Games, awarded to the winner since 1933.

What's the biggest win in the Big Game?

California won by 67 in 1918, 67–0. Stanford won by 50 in 2013, 63–13.

What's the longest winning streak in the Big Game?

Stanford won 9 straight from 2010 to 2018. California won 6 straight from 1918 to 1923.

Who has won the Big Game lately?

Stanford won the last one, in 2025. Over the last 10 meetings, it's even, 5–5.

Who has the most passing yards in a Big Game game?

Davis Webb (California), 393 passing yards in 2016, with 2 TDs, the most in one game since 2004. The most in the series: Chase Garbers (California), 883 passing yards in 4 games (2018–2021).

Who has the most rushing yards in a Big Game game?

Christian McCaffrey (Stanford), 284 rushing yards in 2016, with 3 TDs, the most in one game since 2004. The most in the series: Christian McCaffrey (Stanford), 495 rushing yards in 3 games (2014–2016).

Who has the most receiving yards in a Big Game game?

Ty Montgomery (Stanford), 160 receiving yards in 2013, with 4 TDs, the most in one game since 2004. The most in the series: Trond Grizzell (California), 310 receiving yards in 3 games (2023–2025).

What is the Big Game?

The Big Game is the California–Stanford rivalry, first played in 1892. Stanford leads 54–45–6 through 2025, and the winner takes home the Stanford Axe.

What happened in the 1892 Big Game?

Hoover forgets the ball: Stanford won the first Big Game 14-10 after a late start caused by student manager Herbert Hoover forgetting the ball.

What happened in the 1982 Big Game?

The Play: Cal used five laterals on the final kickoff, and Kevin Moen scored through the Stanford band, running into a trombonist, for a 25-20 win. Final: California 25–20.

What happened in the 1990 Big Game?

The Payback: Stanford won with a walk-off field goal eight years after The Play. Final: Stanford 27–25.

Where can I watch California vs. Stanford, and what time is it?

Stanford at California, Saturday, November 21, time to be announced, at California Memorial Stadium. The TV network hasn't been announced yet.

When and where is the 2026 Big Game?

Stanford at California, Saturday, November 21, time to be announced, at California Memorial Stadium.

California vs. Stanford prediction: who will win in 2026?

SP+ projects California 30–25, about a 64% chance to win. The projection uses this season's ratings and updates every week.

What was the score of the last California vs. Stanford game?

Stanford won 31–10 on Nov 23, 2025.

What's the California vs. Stanford record in the last 10 years?

California is 5–4 in the 9 meetings since 2016.

California vs. Stanford player stats: who starred in the 2025 game?

For Stanford, Elijah Brown threw for 123 yards and 1 TD; Micah Ford ran for 150 yards and 1 TD; CJ Williams had 76 receiving yards and 1 TD. For California, Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele threw for 269 yards; Kendrick Raphael ran for 47 yards; Trond Grizzell had 104 receiving yards.

Who won the 2025 Big Game?

Stanford beat California 31–10 on Nov 23, 2025 at Stanford Stadium.

Who won the 2024 Big Game?

California beat Stanford 24–21 on Nov 23, 2024 at California Memorial Stadium.

Who won the 2023 Big Game?

California beat Stanford 27–15 on Nov 18, 2023 at Stanford Stadium.

Who won the 2022 Big Game?

California beat Stanford 27–20 on Nov 19, 2022 at California Memorial Stadium.

Who won the 2021 Big Game?

California beat Stanford 41–11 on Nov 21, 2021 at Stanford Stadium.

When was the last time California won the Big Game?

2024, 24–21. Stanford has won all 1 meetings since.

When was the last time Stanford won the Big Game?

2025, 31–10, the most recent meeting.

Related

History and trophy sources: en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org, stanforddaily.com.

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