The Zeitgeist List · Rivalries

Big Game

Stanford66-51-11California
Regional Program I#71 of 138–Regional Program I#74 of 138–
See both programs’ full 91-year Zeitgeist History, side by side →
Next meeting: Sat Nov 21 · time TBA, 17 days away.

2 players crossed straight to the rival since 2021 — the turncoat ledger →

Stanford leads the all-time series 66-51-11. They've met 128 times since 1892. Stanford once took 9 straight.

Current season

Vegas win totals and transfer-portal swing right now, plus what fans are actually saying — not history, this year.

Stanford
Win total
3.5
Vegas over/under
Transfer portal
-13
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: -22
What fans are saying · player performance
One fan believes Andrew Luck could improve the team's offense
We might’ve actually had a chance to win this with Andrew luck in there at qb
Verified verbatim
California
Win total
4.5
Vegas over/under
Transfer portal
+1
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: -8
What fans are saying · player performance
One fan believes the team's scoring output is too low
hard to see us scoring 3 pts with how our offense has looked...
Verified verbatim

Stature & the series, 1892–2025

Both programs’ standing over time, each line named at its end, with every meeting beneath — read down to see who was bigger and who won. (Stature is each program’s season-by-season standing on the Zeitgeist List, 1936–present — one score blending on-field performance, program achievement, and roster talent.)

program stature over timeStanfordCaliforniaevery meeting (bar height = margin; dark: Stanford won, gray: California won)1900192019401960198020002020

The identity war

California has been the more pass-heavy program more often than not.

Across 23 seasons of real play-level data (2004–2026), Stanford led 7 and California led 16.

more passmore runStanfordCalifornia2004200620082010201220142016201820202022202420262013California 24.7 ptsStanford won 63-132016California 23.2 ptsStanford won 45-312004Stanford 14.3 ptsCalifornia won 41-6
Source team_season_stats (CFBD season totals) · pass rate = passAttempts ÷ (passAttempts + rushingAttempts)

The biggest win was Stanford by 50 in 2013. The biggest crowd, 72,516, was in 2006.

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
StanfordCalifornia
1960s7-2
1970s24-12
1980s18-15
1990s26-27
2000s30-35
2010s42-28
2020s17-13

Best picks, either side

1971Jim Plunkett Quarterback · New England PatriotsRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
1983John Elway Quarterback · Baltimore ColtsRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
2012Andrew Luck Quarterback · Indianapolis ColtsRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
2016Jared Goff Quarterback · Los Angeles RamsRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
1975Steve Bartkowski Quarterback · Atlanta FalconsRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
1972Sherman White Defensive End · Cincinnati BengalsRd 1, pick 2#2 overall
2017Solomon Thomas Defensive Tackle · San Francisco 49ersRd 1, pick 3#3 overall
1976Chuck Muncie Running Back · New Orleans SaintsRd 1, pick 3#3 overall

Recent meetings

Gate premium

Stanford1.38×its own average home crowd
California1.34×its own average home crowd
2025Stanford31-10California — California routed by 21
2024California24-21
2023California27-15
2022California27-20
2021California41-11
2020Stanford24-23California — decided by 1
2019California24-20
2018Stanford23-13
2017Stanford17-14California — decided by 3
2016Stanford45-31
2015Stanford35-22
2014Stanford38-17
2013Stanford63-13
2012Stanford21-3

Every meeting since 2018, play by play

Each line is Stanford’s chance to win through that meeting. Stanford is 0-3 in the meetings since 2018 that were still close in the fourth quarter.

2025Stanford 31-10Stanford won 31-10 vs California. Chance to win started at 49%, low 28%, high better than 99%.Steady
2024California 24-21Stanford lost 21-24 at California. Chance to win started at 17%, low 17%, high 94%.Steady
2023California 27-15Stanford lost 15-27 vs California. Chance to win started at 28%, low 1%, high 39%.Busy
2022California 27-20Stanford lost 20-27 at California. Chance to win started at 39%, low under 1%, high 90%.Quiet
2021California 41-11Stanford lost 11-41 vs California. Chance to win started at 46%, low under 1%, high 55%.
2020Stanford 24-23Stanford won 24-23 at California. Chance to win started at 48%, low 27%, high better than 99%.
2019California 24-20Stanford lost 20-24 vs California. Chance to win started at 57%, low under 1%, high 84%.
2018Stanford 23-13Stanford won 23-13 at California. Chance to win started at 63%, low 60%, high 99%.
Read a quote from each meeting
  • 2025
    “Having Andrew interviewed during that play might be my favorite moment of the season lol”
    A Stanford fan

Meetings with their own story page

11 meetings in our archive, 2015 to 2025.