The Zeitgeist List · rivalries
Big Game
See both programs’ full 91-year Zeitgeist History, side by side →2 players crossed straight to the rival since 2021 — the turncoat ledger →
Stanford leads the all-time series 54–45–6. They've met 105 times since 1918. Stanford once took 9 straight.
Stature & the series, 1918–2025
Both programs’ standing over time in their colors, with every meeting beneath — read down to see who was bigger and who won.
all-time
54–45–6
Stanford leads
streak
1
Stanford in a row
longest run
9
Stanford
biggest win
67
California, 1918
first met
1918
105 meetings
biggest crowd
57,857
2018
The coaching duels
John Ralston vs Ray Willsey6–2
Chuck Taylor vs Pappy Waldorf1–4–1
David Shaw vs Justin Wilcox3–3
Jack Christiansen vs Mike White3–2
Tyrone Willingham vs Tom Holmoe5–0
Tiny Thornhill vs Stub Allison0–4
The draft ledger
Every NFL Draft pick either program has produced since the modern era began, decade by decade.
draft picks
164–132
Stanford leads
1st-rounders
19–21
since
1967
first CFBD-carried draft class
1960s7–2
1970s24–12
1980s18–15
1990s26–27
2000s30–35
2010s42–28
2020s17–13
Best picks, either side
1971Jim Plunkett QuarterbackRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
1983John Elway QuarterbackRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
2012Andrew Luck QuarterbackRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
1975Steve Bartkowski QuarterbackRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
1972Sherman White Defensive EndRd 1, pick 2#2 overall
1976Chuck Muncie Running BackRd 1, pick 3#3 overall
Recent meetings
2025Stanford31–10
2024California24–21
2023California27–15
2022California27–20
2021California41–11
2020Stanford24–23
2019California24–20
2018Stanford23–13
2017Stanford17–14
2016Stanford45–31
2015Stanford35–22
2014Stanford38–17
2013Stanford63–13
2012Stanford21–3