UCLA–USC rivalry

UCLA-USC football game at the Rose Bowl; the 2008 edition marked a return to the tradition of both teams wearing home jerseys

USC UCLA Lexus Gauntlet.

The UCLA–USC rivalry is the college rivalry between two universities located in Los Angeles, California: the University of California, Los Angeles and the University of Southern California.

The athletic competition rivalry between the two schools is among the more notable in NCAA Division I sports because both schools are located within the same city. The campuses are only 12 miles apart. The sheer proximity of both alumni and students, and the likelihood of encountering each other and interacting on a daily basis make this one of the most intense college rivalries in the United States.

Athletic rivalry

USC is recognized as consistently being one of the top football programs in the nation, while UCLA is recognized as consistently being one of the top basketball programs in the nation. However, a somewhat rare confluence of events occurred in 1954, which began with USC in a Final Four appearance in the 1954 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament and ended with UCLA winning their only NCAA Division I-A national football championship.

UCLA and USC's flags fly side by side at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Both schools also are successful in many "non-revenue" sports. Both have had success in track and field, water polo, tennis, and women's basketball. By May 2011, UCLA had won 107 NCAA team championships and 128 total National Championships, which is more than any other college or university. The No. 2-ranked UCLA women's golf team defeated No. 1-ranked USC women's golf team to win the 2011 NCAA Division I Women’s Golf National Championship, the third title in school history. The UCLA Women's Water Polo team beat USC's team 6-3 to win the 2008 Championship on May 11, followed by the Women's Tennis the following week beating California 4-0 to win their first women's tennis championship and the school's 102nd NCAA title. However, UCLA was knocked out by USC Women of Troy in Women's Golf on May 23, 2008. USC captured the 2008 NCAA Women's Golf Championship. This is also true of Women's Soccer. USC defeated UCLA in the 2007 NCAA Women's soccer College Cup Semifinals and went on to win its first women's soccer National Championship.

UCLA ranks first overall in NCAA championships and were first to 100 (currently 107). They also rank second in men's NCAA team championships with 71, and second (behind Stanford) in women's NCAA team championships with 36. USC ranks higher than UCLA in NCAA men's team championships with 79; it is 3rd overall (behind UCLA) with 93 NCAA titles

Both universities also compete in which school's athletes have been featured on more Sports Illustrated magazine covers. As of August 2008, USC led the rivalry with 119 Sports Illustrated covers (more than any other college or university) to 114 for UCLA.

Gauntlet

Main article: Lexus Gauntlet

The Lexus Gauntlet is the name given to a competition between UCLA and USC in the 18 varsity sports that both compete in head-to-head; in 2003, 2005, and 2007 UCLA won the Lexus Gauntlet Trophy, while the University of Southern California won the trophy in 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008 & 2009 (first back to back win). After the 2009 award, it was terminated when Lexus pulled out as the sponsor.

Football rivalry

See also: UCLA Bruins football and USC Trojans football

USC is one of the top ten winningest programs in the history of college football. It recognizes 11 of its teams as National Champions. UCLA has one team (1954) recognized as a National Champion.

Quite often, the winner of the football game has won or shared the Pacific-10 Conference title in football. A berth in the Rose Bowl game has been on the line many times as well for both schools. Since the formation of the Pacific Coast Conference in 1916, USC has won or shared 37 conference titles and UCLA has won or shared 17 titles. Washington is third in overall conference titles with 15. Since the 1959 season, when the Pacific 10 Conference was formed as the Athletic Association of Western Universities, through the 2007 season, the schools have won or shared 33 of the 48 conference titles. USC has won 17 championships outright, shared eight and gone to the Rose Bowl or BCS bowl 21 times. UCLA has won six championships outright, shared five and gone to the Rose Bowl eight times. The schools have shared the championship between them three times. Both teams have spoiled conference and national championship runs for the other.

USC was a somewhat established national football power under Howard Jones and had begun a major rivalry with Notre Dame when UCLA joined the Pacific Coast Conference in 1929. Los Angeles Times sportswriter Braven Dyer predicted on the day of the first football meeting on September 28, 1929, "In years to come, this game will probably be one of the football spectacles of the West" USC dominated the early games (so much so, that after the first two games, the series was suspended for five years and they did not play each other from 1931 to 1935) until UCLA established itself. By the late 1930s, star players such as Kenny Washington, Jackie Robinson, and Bob Waterfield enabled UCLA to be competitive. With the hiring of Hall of Fame Coach Henry "Red" Sanders, UCLA became the more dominant program in the 1950s with their one and only National Championship in 1954. A famous quote was attributed to Sanders regarding the rivalry, "Beating 'SC is not a matter of life or death, it's more important than that." But Sanders died suddenly of a heart attack, and shortly thereafter, one of the greatest colleges football coaches in NCAA history took over the struggling USC program. Upon the arrival of their new head coach John McKay (1960–1975), USC entered a new golden age in their storied history. During McKay's tenure, the Trojans won 8 conference titles, 5 Rose Bowls, produced two Heisman Trophy winners (Mike Garrett and O.J. Simpson) and won three National Championships (1962, 1967, and 1972) and shared one (1974). Against UCLA, McKay was tough to beat posting a 10-5-1 record against the Bruins between 1960 and 1975. For most seasons from the mid 1960s to the end of the 1970s, the two schools were the top powers on the West Coast with USC usually holding the top spot. In the 15 Rose Bowls played from 1966 to 1980, USC or UCLA played in 12 of them. Even with the rise of Don James' Washington Huskies in the 1980s and early 90s, UCLA or USC still went to the Rose Bowl seven times between 1981 and 1995. In the 1990s, UCLA enjoyed an impressive 8 game winning streak against USC. The Bruin's unbeaten string ended in 1999 when the Trojans went on their own 11-1 run from 1999 to 2010. This unprecedented dominance was the direct result of the hiring of Pete Carroll by USC in 2000. During Carroll's tenure (2001–2009 seasons), USC was virtually unbeatable against its two most heated rivals, UCLA and Notre Dame. The only game that UCLA beat a Pete Carroll coached team was the 13-9 win in 2006 at the Rose Bowl that kept USC out of the BCS Championship game and allowed the Bruins to keep the record for consecutive wins (8) in the rivalry.

Title of the game

A number of titles have been applied to the football game such as: "The Los Angeles City Championship," "The Crosstown Showdown," "The Battle of L.A.", or simply the "crosstown rivalry." But none really have gained traction. Most often the game is referred to as the USC-UCLA (or UCLA-USC) football game by the media. Fans of a particular team refer to it as the USC game or UCLA game, using the name of the opposing school.

Activities before the game

"Tommy Trojan" wrapped in duct tape during rivalry week

At UCLA, the week before the game is known as "Beat 'SC Week" (officially dubbed "Blue and Gold Week"). At USC, the week before the game is known as "Troy Week" or, more popularly, "Conquest".

Both schools host a number of activities on their respective campuses during the week to promote school spirit. Activities include parades, bonfires, rallies, and live entertainment.

CONQUEST! "The Ultimate Trojan Experience" occurs on the USC campus the Thursday before the USC-UCLA Football Game. It brings together athletics, academics, school spirit and traditions and attracts almost 10,000 students, alumni, faculty and staff.

Also, both schools take steps to prevent vandalism of two major landmarks on campus: USC covers its Trojan Shrine (better known as "Tommy Trojan") statue in bubble wrap and duct tape, while UCLA hides its Bruin statue with a large sign reading "THE BRUIN BEAR IS HIBERNATING. BEAT 'SC." Groups of UCLA students also camp out in Bruin Plaza, ostensibly to protect the Bruin Bear in the event of a prank, while the USC Trojan Knights hold a weeklong vigil guarding Tommy Trojan with the sign "Don't Bruin your life". This has come as a response to students painting the statues in the rival schools' colors before the game.

There are a number of inter-campus competitions between various groups before the game.

• ROTC "Blood Bowl" - The football rivalry extends to the military training units at both schools. The Naval and Army Officers Training Corps midshipmen and cadets at both universities compete in the annual "Blood Bowl" flag football game against each other, usually held the Friday before the official game, as a parallel to the varsity match. The name stems from the often rough and passionate play by the midshipmen and cadets representing school pride. After a 25-12 victory on Dec, 3 2010 by the Army Battalion, UCLA continues to lead the series all time versus USC 15-11.

• Daily Bruin vs. Daily Trojan "Blood Bowl" - Staff of the Daily Bruin and Daily Trojan have competed in a flag football contest that is also called the "Blood Bowl". This tradition has existed since at least 1950.

• The Band Bowl - From the 1950s until 2000 the UCLA Marching Band and the USC Marching Band played in a flag football contest called the "Band Bowl". Following a fight between the two bands at a contest and multiple cases of theft of band instruments, it was decided to suspend the series. The trophy from this version of the rivalry remains missing.

• UCLA vs. USC Kickoff Golf Challenge - UCLA teams compete against USC teams in a two-person best ball scramble.

• UCLA vs. USC Men’s Ice Hockey - UCLA and USC have teams that compete in ACHA Division II Ice hockey. They begin their series for the Crosstown cup.

• UCLA vs. USC Men's Rugby - UCLA and USC compete every year on the day after the football game.

Activities during the game

Starting with the 2008 season, the winners of a blood drive competition were announced during halftime, with the winners donating more blood to the American Red Cross. UCLA has won both in 2008 and 2009.

Sharing the Los Angeles Coliseum

See also: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

2008 marked a return to both teams wearing their home jerseys; a tradition born out of the two schools sharing the Los Angeles Coliseum from 1929 to 1981.

For a number of years, the schools shared the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum as their home stadium until UCLA moved to the Rose Bowl for the 1982 season. Each school alternated as the "home" team for the game, with home fans on North side of the Coliseum and visitor fans on the South (press box) side. Until 1983, players on both teams wore their home football jerseys for the game. Since the 1984 season, when the game was played at the Rose Bowl for the second time, the visiting fans sit in the visitor section of each respective stadium, and the visiting team wears their white jerseys. Because UCLA called the Coliseum home and USC won a number of Rose Bowl games, each school has a lifetime winning record in the others' current home stadium.

Starting in 2006, the coaches at the time, USC coach Pete Carroll and UCLA coach Karl Dorrell expressed an interest in restarting the tradition of both teams wearing home jerseys. At the time, the NCAA football rules ARTICLE 3. a. stated, "Players of opposing teams shall wear jerseys of contrasting colors, and the visiting team shall wear white jerseys." USC coach Pete Carroll said he would be willing to lose two timeouts during the game so that the USC team could wear their red jerseys for the UCLA-USC football game on December 6, 2008. It was determined before the 2008 game that the visiting school would only lose one timeout for incorrect equipment. Coach Carroll agreed to forfeit a timeout to satisfy the ruling and Coach Rick Neuheisel agreed to forfeit one, in return (even though, as the coach of the home team, he was not required to do so by the ruling) to get back this tradition, and it was renewed in the 2008 game. In the wake of the coaches' decisions, the NCAA decided to amend their rules regarding away teams' uniforms (which were originally put into place to provide more contrast for Black & White photography and television broadcasts), changing the rule to state that the teams must agree on the decision for both teams to wear their colored jerseys before the game and that the uniforms must be of easily contrasted colors. Since the home team is already required to wear its colored home jerseys and would not be in violation of any equipment rules, this essentially leaves the decision up to them as to whether or not to allow the visiting team is to wear their home uniforms.

The Victory Bell

Main article: Victory Bell (USC-UCLA)

The Trojan Knights watching over the Victory Bell during a USC home game.

When the football teams from these schools compete against each other, the victor is awarded the Victory Bell. The Victory Bell was originally from an old Southern Pacific railroad locomotive. It was given to the UCLA student body by the UCLA Alumni Association in 1939. It was UCLA's symbol of victory until it was stolen by a USC organization called the Trojan Knights in 1941. After being hidden in various locations for over a year before resurfacing in a USC student magazine (known as the Wampus), a prank war between the two universities ensued until 1942, when the student body presidents of the two schools agreed that the bell would be the trophy awarded the winner of the annual UCLA-USC football game. The bell itself is brass, and the metal mounting around it is painted blue or red by the school that won the football game and earned its possession. When UCLA possesses it, the UCLA Rally Committee is responsible for its protection and care. While it is in USC's possession, the Trojan Knights are responsible for hiding, protecting, and showcasing the bell (including ringing the bell during home football games).

The Rose Bowl

See also: Rose Bowl Game and Rose Bowl (stadium)

Until the Rose Bowl Game became part of the Bowl Championship Series, a berth in the Rose Bowl to face the Big Ten Conference champion was the ultimate goal that was awarded to the Pacific 10 conference champion. As of the 2007 season, USC has appeared in the Rose Bowl 32 times and UCLA has appeared 12 times. The Rose Bowl is still the destination for the first place Big 10 and Pac 10 teams, should neither qualify for the BCS championship game.

UCLA was the first PAC-10 team to appear in a BCS bowl, the 1999 Rose Bowl, their last conference championship year. USC has appeared in six BCS bowl games, winning the BCS championship in 2005. With the Rose Bowl stadium being the home field for UCLA, the UCLA–USC rivalry football game has been played there to a sellout crowd during even numbered years since 1982.

The Rose Bowl and conference championship has been on the line for both teams 19 times and at least one team 36 times as of the 2007 season. Both teams have either won the championship or spoiled it for the other at one time or another.

Football series record

As of the 2010 season, USC leads 43 to 28 with seven ties (plus two vacated wins for USC). There has been one overtime game in the series in 1996. Many of the games of this storied rivalry have ultimately determined the Pac 10 Rose Bowl representative and often a chance to play for the national championship. USC was forced to vacate both its wins from the 2004 and 2005 seasons due to NCAA violations.

Year	Winner	USC	UCLA	Site	Trivia
1929	USC	76	0	Coliseum*	First meeting of the two schools in football, first game of season for both teams
1930	USC	52	0	Coliseum**	First game of season for both teams
1936	TIE	7	7	Coliseum*	Series resumes, Game moved to Thanksgiving Day November 26, first tie in the series
1937	USC	19	13	Coliseum**	First "home" game for UCLA
1938	USC	42	7	Coliseum*	Game moved to "rivalry" weekend before Thanksgiving weekend
1939	TIE	0	0	Coliseum**	First game with the Rose Bowl on the line for both teams. First time both teams are ranked since AP poll started in 1936. USC voted National Champions and into the 1940 Rose Bowl.
1940	USC	28	12	Coliseum*
1941	TIE	7	7	Coliseum**
1942	UCLA	7	14	Coliseum*	1943 Rose Bowl on line for both teams. UCLA makes first appearance in Rose Bowl after first victory over USC; The Victory Bell becomes the trophy of the series.
1943	USC	20	0	Coliseum**	The teams scheduled second game at the beginning of the season due to World War II travel restrictions
1943	USC	26	13	Coliseum*
1944	TIE	13	13	Coliseum*	The teams scheduled second game at the beginning of the season due to World War II travel restrictions
1944	USC	40	13	Coliseum**
1945	USC	13	6	Coliseum**	The teams scheduled second game at the beginning of the season due to World War II travel restrictions
1945	USC	26	15	Coliseum*
1946	UCLA	6	13	Coliseum**	1947 Rose Bowl on the line for both teams. Game fixed at third weekend in November where it remains until the 2004 season, except for 1975 when it was played on the Friday after Thanksgiving.
1947	USC	6	0	Coliseum*	A UCLA win would have created a four-way tie for first
1948	USC	20	13	Coliseum**
1949	USC	21	7	Coliseum*
1950	UCLA	0	39	Coliseum**
1951	UCLA	7	21	Coliseum*
1952	USC	14	12	Coliseum**	Both teams unbeaten and untied. UCLA ranked #3 and USC ranked #4
1953	UCLA	0	13	Coliseum*	1954 Rose Bowl on the line for both teams
1954	UCLA	0	34	Coliseum**	Conference championship on the line for both teams, however UCLA could not go to the Rose Bowl because of PCC no-repeat rule. UCLA's first and only NCAA football championship.
1955	UCLA	7	17	Coliseum*	UCLA already clinched the 1956 Rose Bowl berth before game
1956	USC	10	7	Coliseum**
1957	UCLA	9	20	Coliseum*
1958	TIE	15	15	Coliseum**
1959	UCLA	3	10	Coliseum*	Final outcome a tie for first in the PCC, USC banned from postseason bowls
1960	USC	17	6	Coliseum**
1961	UCLA	7	10	Coliseum*	1962 Rose Bowl on the line for both teams
1962	USC	14	3	Coliseum**	USC #1 and undefeated
1963	USC	26	6	Coliseum*
1964	USC	34	13	Coliseum**	USC and Oregon State tied for 1st and didn't play each other, OSU selected as AAWU representative for Rose Bowl due to better overall record
1965	UCLA	16	20	Coliseum*	1966 Rose Bowl on the line for both teams. UCLA went on to beat #1 Michigan State in the Rose Bowl, 14-12.
1966	UCLA	7	14	Coliseum**	It was thought before the game that the 1967 Rose Bowl was on the line for both teams. UCLA had a 3-1 conference record vs. a 4-1 record of USC due to scheduling, but USC was voted into the Rose Bowl despite UCLA's win and better overall record (9-1 vs. 7-3).
1967	USC	21	20	Coliseum*	The Game of the Century - 1968 Rose Bowl and #1 ranking on the line for both teams. UCLA ranked #1, USC ranked #2.
1968	USC	28	16	Coliseum**	USC ranked #1.
1969	USC	14	12	Coliseum*	Both teams undefeated with one tie each on their records. 1970 Rose Bowl on the line for both teams. USC ranked #5, UCLA ranked #6.
1970	UCLA	20	45	Coliseum**
1971	TIE	7	7	Coliseum*
1972	USC	24	7	Coliseum**	1973 Rose Bowl on the line for both teams. USC ranked #1, UCLA ranked #10
1973	USC	23	13	Coliseum*	1974 Rose Bowl on the line for both teams. UCLA ranked #6, USC ranked #10
1974	USC	34	9	Coliseum**	1975 Rose Bowl on the line for both teams. USC ranked #6
1975	UCLA	22	25	Coliseum*	1976 Rose Bowl on the line for UCLA; a USC win would have put California in the Rose Bowl. Game played on Friday night after Thanksgiving (November 28)
1976	USC	24	14	Coliseum**	1977 Rose Bowl on the line for both teams. First game for both John Robinson and Terry Donahue in the rivalry. UCLA ranked #2, USC ranked #3
1977	USC	29	27	Coliseum*	1978 Rose Bowl on the line for UCLA; the Trojan's win put Washington in.
1978	USC	17	10	Coliseum**	1979 Rose Bowl on the line for both teams. USC ranked #3
1979	USC	49	14	Coliseum*	1980 Rose Bowl on the line for USC. USC ranked #3.
1980	UCLA	17	20	Coliseum**	Neither team bowl eligible due to probation Last "Home" UCLA-USC game for UCLA at the Coliseum
1981	USC	22	21	Coliseum*	Last game at the Coliseum as a shared stadium for UCLA and USC. Rose Bowl on the line for UCLA. USC's win put Washington in.
1982	UCLA	19	20	Rose Bowl**	UCLA needed to win to keep Rose Bowl hopes alive. Bruins later earned Rose Bowl berth when Washington and Arizona State lost. USC and UCLA "share" Rose Bowl and wear home uniforms
1983	UCLA	17	27	Coliseum*	The visiting team (UCLA) wore white jerseys for the first time. , UCLA fans at end zones in Coliseum for first time. UCLA needed to win to keep Rose Bowl hopes alive. Bruins later earned Rose Bowl berth when Washington lost to Washington State. USC public address announer purposely omitted giving the score of the Washington-Washington State game when provided updates of out of town scores.
1984	UCLA	10	29	Rose Bowl**	USC in the 1985 Rose Bowl already before the game, USC fans at end zones in Rose Bowl for first time. USC wears its road white jerseys for the first time.
1985	USC	17	13	Coliseum*	1986 Rose Bowl on the line for UCLA. UCLA goes to the Rose Bowl despite the loss when Arizona defeats Arizona State.
1986	UCLA	25	45	Rose Bowl**
1987	USC	17	13	Coliseum*	1988 Rose Bowl on the line for both teams
1988	USC	31	22	Rose Bowl**	1989 Rose Bowl on the line for both teams. USC ranked #2, UCLA ranked #4.
1989	TIE	10	10	Coliseum*	USC already in the 1990 Rose Bowl before the game, last tie in the series
1990	USC	45	42	Rose Bowl**
1991	UCLA	21	24	Coliseum*	Start of the longest winning streak in the series (8).
1992	UCLA	37	38	Rose Bowl****	Walk-on and fifth-string QB John Barnes leads the Bruins past Rob Johnson and the Trojans.
1993	UCLA	21	27	Coliseum*	1994 Rose Bowl on the line for both teams
1994	UCLA	19	31	Rose Bowl**	1995 Rose Bowl possibly on the line for USC. A USC win and Oregon loss to Oregon St. would have put the Trojans in the Rose Bowl. But USC lost and Oregon won.
1995	UCLA	20	24	Coliseum*	USC already had clinched 1996 Rose Bowl berth
1996	UCLA	41	48(2OT)	Rose Bowl**	Only overtime game in the series, the first year the rule is in place. UCLA rallied from 17 point 4th quarter deficit
1997	UCLA	24	31	Coliseum*
1998	UCLA	17	34	Rose Bowl**	UCLA had clinched at least a 1999 Rose Bowl berth and was ranked #1 in the standings. Legendary USC fan Giles Pellerin died during this game. This was the 797th consecutive USC game he attended, which included all previous games in this rivalry.
1999	USC	17	7	Coliseum*
2000	USC	38	35	Rose Bowl**
2001	USC	27	0	Coliseum*	Pete Carroll's first game in the rivalry
2002	USC	52	21	Rose Bowl**	USC ranked #4
2003	USC	47	22	Coliseum*	Karl Dorrell's first game in the rivalry. BCS in the 2004 Rose Bowl on the line for USC with the win. USC ranked #2. Wins the AP National Championship with a Rose Bowl victory over Michigan.
2004	USC (Vacated)	29	24	Rose Bowl**	USC forced to vacate due to ineligible player. BCS on line for USC. The game day moved to the first Saturday in December from the third Saturday in November rivalry weekend to coincide with conference championship games. USC ranked #1.
2005	USC (Vacated)	66	19	Coliseum*	USC forced to vacate due to ineligible player. BCS in 2006 Rose Bowl on the line for USC, BCS Bowl berth and a tie for first in the conference on the line for UCLA. USC ranked #1
2006	UCLA	9	13	Rose Bowl**	BCS Championship game on the line for USC. USC's loss to unranked UCLA denies the Trojans a berth in the BCS Championship Game vs. Ohio State. Florida takes advantage of the Trojans' lost opportunity and defeats Ohio State in the title game. Trojans still earn another PAC 10 Title 2007 Rose Bowl Game. USC ranked #2.
2007	USC	24	7	Coliseum*	2008 Rose Bowl on the line for USC, and with a win and an ASU loss for UCLA. USC clinches 6th straight Pac-10 title.
2008	USC	28	7	Rose Bowl**	2009 Rose Bowl on the line for USC, Rick Neuheisel's first game in the rivalry as UCLA's head coach, return to both teams wearing home jerseys.
2009	USC	28	7	Coliseum*	For the first time since 2001, the game does not have implications for a major bowl game. First time in the series that the final score (28-7) was identical for two consecutive years.
2010	USC	28	14	Rose Bowl**	Last game before Pac-10 becomes Pac-12. For the first time since 1980, neither UCLA nor USC are bowl eligible (UCLA due to record, USC due to probation). Lane Kiffin becomes, at age 35, the youngest coach of either college to coach his first game in this rivalry.

Notes: *USC home game, **UCLA home game, highlighted scores indicate school with Rose Bowl on the line.

Winning streaks in the series

UCLA holds the longest winning streak in the series, as UCLA won eight straight games from 1991 to 1998. USC's longest streak was for seven football seasons from 1999 to 2005, broken with a victory by UCLA in the 2006 game, although the 2004 and 2005 victories have since been vacated by the NCAA.

The 1967 "Game of the Century"

Main article: 1967 USC vs. UCLA football game

See also: Game of the Century (college football), 1967 USC Trojans football team, and 1967 UCLA Bruins football team

The 1967 USC vs. UCLA football game was one of the defining college football games of the 20th century. It matched No. 4 USC with O.J. Simpson against No. 1 UCLA with Gary Beban for the Conference Championship, National Championship, and Heisman Trophy on the line for Beban or Simpson. USC won 21-20 and went on to defeat Indiana in the Rose Bowl and win the national championship. Despite Simpson's sensational performance in this game and accumulating 1,543 rushing yards for the season, Beban won the Heisman Trophy. Simpson would win the trophy in the following year.

Other notable games

• In the 1929 season, UCLA would play football in the Pacific Coast Conference for the first time. USC had just come off an undefeated National Championship season under the legendary Howard Jones. In the opening game of the season, the USC "Thundering Herd" defeated UCLA 76-0, which stands as the most lopsided score of the series.

• 1939 season - This was the first year where the Rose Bowl was on the line for both teams, and the first time both teams were ranked. The game ended in a scoreless tie, and USC went to the 1940 Rose Bowl.

• 1952 season - UCLA was ranked #3 and USC was ranked #4. Both teams were undefeated and untied. USC would win on 14-12. USC would later go on to lose to Notre Dame but win the 1953 Rose Bowl.

• 1965 season #7 UCLA met #6 USC for the AAWU (Pac 8) title and the right to meet undefeated and #1 Michigan State in the 1966 Rose Bowl. The 1965 "Gutty Little Bruins" team won 20-16 with a score at 2:39 left to play.

• 1969 season - Undefeated #6 UCLA (8-0-1) met undefeated #5 USC (8-0-1) with the 1970 Rose Bowl on the line. USC would prevail with a score in the final two minutes to win 14-12.

• 1976 season - This one of the biggest games of the 1976 season. Undefeated #2 UCLA (9-0-1) vs. #3 ranked USC (8-1) met to determine the 1977 Rose Bowl representative, and an outside shot at the National Championship should #1 ranked Pittsburgh lose. USC won 24-14 in the first rivalry game for both John Robinson and Terry Donahue.

• 1986 season - Just before halftime, UCLA is up 24-0 over USC. A fake kneel down followed by a hail mary into the end zone put UCLA up 31-0 over USC at halftime. This play was known as "Hail Mary, and In Your Face". UCLA won the game 45-25.

• 1988 season - Undefeated second-ranked USC (9-0) and quarterback Rodney Peete met 9-1, sixth-ranked UCLA and quarterback Troy Aikman with the 1989 Rose Bowl on the line. UCLA had been ranked #1 before losing to Washington State. A possible Heisman trophy for Peete or Aikman was on the line. The attendance set a regular season Rose Bowl record of 100,741. Rodney Peete was stricken with measles the week before the game and had been to the hospital. But he managed to lead the Trojans over the Bruins 31-22. It would set up the classic #1 Notre Dame vs #2 USC matchup the following week. Peete and Aikman would finish 2nd and 3rd in the Heisman balloting behind Barry Sanders.

• 1999 season - USC won 17-7 to break the Bruins' streak of eight straight.

• 2005 season - USC had been ranked #1 all season and faced a one-loss eleventh ranked UCLA (9-1) team as its last obstacle to the dream 2006 Rose Bowl BCS Championship matchup with #2 Texas. USC featured Heisman trophy winner Matt Leinart and eventual winner Reggie Bush. USC defeated UCLA 66-19 in one of the most lopsided games of the series since the first matchup in 1929. The win was later vacated for NCAA infractions.

• 2006 season - On December 2, 2006, UCLA, which finished the regular season with a record of 7-5 (5-4 Pac-10), pulled one of college football's biggest upsets for 2006 by defeating the Trojans 13-9. In doing so, the Bruins not only ended No. 2 ranked USC's 63-game streak of scoring 20-plus points per game, but also dashed the Trojans' hopes of playing No. 1 ranked Ohio State for the 2006 national championship.

Rivalry Glory Years

Between 1965 and 1978, the conference championship and Rose Bowl berth were on the line for both teams 9 times.

• 1965 #7 UCLA uses two late touchdonws sandwiched around an on-side kick to beat #6 USC, 20-16.
• 1966 #8 UCLA, playing without injured star QB Gary Beban, beats #7 USC, 14-7.
• 1967 #2 USC, led by O.J. Simpson's 64 yard TD run and three blocked kicks, beats #1 UCLA, 21-20.
• 1969 #5 USC, after a penalty on a 4th & 10 incompletion, scores a controversial late TD to beat #6 UCLA, 14-12.
• 1972 #1 USC pulls away in the 2nd half to beat #14 UCLA, 24-7.
• 1973 #9 USC, taking advantage of numerous turnovers, beats #8 UCLA, 23-13.
• 1974 #8 USC wins easily over an injury riddled unranked UCLA squad, 34-9.
• 1976 #3 USC, behind the scrambling and passing of QB Vince Evans, beats #2 UCLA, 24-14.
• 1978 #5 USC runs out the last 6½ minutes of the clock to hold off #14 UCLA, 17-10.

In two other years (1975 and 1977) between 1965 and 1978, the Rose Bowl berth was on the line for UCLA only.

• 1975 #14 UCLA overcomes 8 lost fumbles and holds off unranked USC, 25-22 and goes on to upset #1 Ohio State in the Rose Bowl
• 1977 #17 UCLA loses on a last second USC field goal, 29-27; thus, Washington goes to the Rose Bowl and upsets Michigan.

The USC coaches during this time were John McKay and John Robinson, while UCLA was coached by Tommy Prothro, Pepper Rodgers, Dick Vermeil, and Terry Donahue.

Other notable sports rivalries

Because of the geographical proximity and conference affiliation, UCLA and USC compete in other NCAA sanctioned sports, such as Basketball, Track and Field, Volleyball, and Water Polo. UCLA and USC are #1 and #3 respectively in terms of the most NCAA championships won in Division I as of 2007. They have faced each other for the national title in several sports including Men's Volleyball and Women's water polo. Although basketball and football tend to get the most attention, the rivalry between the two schools is intense in every sport.

Baseball

The athletic rivalry began in 1920 when the University of California, Southern Branch Cubs defeated USC in spring baseball 7-6. USC has gone on to be the premier team in college baseball with 21 appearances in the College World Series and 12 titles, the most of any school and double the next closest school, Texas, who has six titles in 32 appearances. UCLA has appeared in the College World Series twice. As of the 2007 season between UCLA and USC, USC has 246 wins and UCLA has 110 wins.

Basketball

NCAA National Championship trophies, rings, watches

Men's

See also: UCLA Bruins men's basketball and USC Trojans men's basketball

UCLA has 30 conference championships and USC has seven. When John Wooden became the coach, UCLA turned into a national basketball powerhouse. UCLA has won 11 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournaments and has dominated the conference, winning two games for every one that USC won. As of the 2007–2008 season, UCLA has won or shared the conference title 30 times, and USC has won or shared the title 9 times. There have been some notable games in the rivalry.

• The first official meeting between the two schools as they are now known took place in February 1928 after UCLA was invited to join the Pacific Coast Conference. UCLA won two of a three game basketball series to inaugurate the basketball rivalry.
• USC had a 41-game winning streak against UCLA from 1932 to 1943, a national record that stood until UCLA eventually beat it in 1980 with a 42nd consecutive win against Cal, on the way to a 52-game winning streak, the current NCAA record of one opponent over another. UCLA Defeated USC 42-37 in the first of the two final home games in the 1943 season to break the streak. This is still the third-longest streak of one Division 1 opponent against another.
• In the 1960–1961 season, USC and UCLA met for the third time on March 3, 1961 in the game that would ultimately decide the AAWU champion and 2nd place. The teams had split the two previous games. USC beat UCLA 86-85 in overtime, and later advanced to the NCAA tournament.
• In the 1968–1969 season, USC took UCLA, led by Lew Alcindor, to two overtimes before losing 61-55 at the Los Angeles Sports Arena. On the second game, one night later on March 8, 1969, USC would finally defeat UCLA 46-44, marking the Bruins' first loss in Pauley Pavilion.
• In the 1970–1971 basketball season, UCLA and USC were ranked #1 and #2 for much of the season. #2 ranked USC coached by Bob Boyd suffered its first loss against #3 ranked UCLA, blowing a 9-point second half lead. In the rematch in the final game of the season, UCLA jumped out to a big early lead and went on to win 72-63. USC would finish the season 24-2 and ranked #2, but only the conference champion, UCLA, could be invited to the 1971 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament, as there were no at-large slots in the bracket. This would be one of the cases for expanding the bracket to 32 teams for the 1975 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament.
• In the 1973–1974 basketball season, the two teams were tied for first in the Pac-8 going into the last game of the season. With the conference championship and berth in the 1974 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament on the line, Bill Walton led UCLA to a lopsided victory. Notably, UCLA would be the national semi-finalist in the NCAA tournament, while USC would be the semi-finalist in the Collegiate Coaches' Association Tournament, a tournament that invited second-place conference teams.
• In the 1984–1985 season, UCLA and USC would meet for the game that would decide first place in the Pacific 10. USC already had beat UCLA 78-77 in double overtime at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena. The second game at Pauley Pavilion on February 28, 1985 was finally decided in quadruple overtime with USC winning 80-78. USC would be invited to the 1985 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament, while UCLA was invited to and won the National Invitation Tournament.
• In the 2007–2008 season, UCLA and USC met in the 2008 Pacific-10 Conference Men's Basketball Tournament, for the first time in 225 games in post-season play. The teams had split in the regular season with the Trojans winning at Pauley Pavilion and the Bruins winning at Galen Center. In their third game, a capacity crowd of 18,997 at the Staples Center saw UCLA beat USC 57-54 in the semi finals. Both teams had highly regarded freshmen: Kevin Love and O. J. Mayo. USC later had to vacate the win due to an ineligible player.

Women's

In Women's basketball, UCLA has one AIAW championship and USC has two NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championships. The Bruins and the Trojans have faced each other twice in the second round of the AIAW championships with UCLA winning in 1979 and USC winning in 1981.

Fencing

Both USC Fencing Club and UCLA fencing club are in the Intercollegeiate Fencing Conference of Southern California (IFCSC). They compete against NCAA fencing teams as well, such as UCSD, Caltech, and Cal State Fullerton.

Soccer

UCLA women's soccer team has dominated the Women of Troy, 17-3-1. But at the 2007 NCAA College Cup, USC won in the semi-finals, ended UCLA's 8 straight victories over the Trojans. UCLA has outscored USC, 52 to 21, and has never lost to Women of Troy on Bruins' own field. In the 2008 regular season game, a pair of goals by Kristina Larsen gave UCLA a 2-1 win over USC in the Los Angeles Coliseum before a record crowd of 7,804 fans.

To advance to the NCAA Championship quarterfinals, the Bruins defeated the Women of Troy (1-0) in the round of 16 on Saturday, November 22, 2008 at Drake Stadium. It was also a battle between UCLA’s Lauren Cheney and Kara Lang and USC’s Amy Rodriguez, all of whom participated in the Beijing Olympic Games—Cheney and Rodriguez for the USA and Lang for Canada. Cheney and Rodriguez would win gold medals with Team USA, defeating Lang's Canada team in the quarterfinals.

Tennis

As of the 2011 season, USC has won 19 and UCLA has won 16 NCAA Men's Tennis Championships. UCLA's most recent Championship was in 2005, while USC won in 2011. There was a run from 1960 to 1971 where either UCLA or USC was the champion. In twelve of the tournaments, one team has been runner-up to the other who won the championship, with an even split of six championships for both UCLA and USC.

Volleyball

UCLA vs. USC volleyball 2008

UCLA has dominated men's volleyball under the coaching of Al Scates and as of 2006 has won 19 NCAA Men's Volleyball Championships. USC has won six. UCLA and USC have faced each other in the championship game of the NCAA Men's Volleyball Championship four times.

• 1979 UCLA 3-1 USC
• 1980 USC 3-1 UCLA
• 1981 UCLA 3-2 USC
• 1987 UCLA 3-0 USC

In women's volleyball, the schools are even in number of championships. USC and UCLA each have won three NCAA Women's Volleyball Championships in Division I. In addition, USC and UCLA have won three AIAW Women's volleyball championships.

In 1981 USC defeated UCLA three games to two in the first NCAA Women's Volleyball Championship game. In 1976 USC defeated UCLA to win the AIAW volleyball championship.

Water Polo

The two school compete in Water Polo. In the NCAA Men's Water Polo Championship, UCLA has won the title 8 times and USC has won 4 times. The team went head to head in the 1996 championship where the Bruins defeated the Trojans 8-7. In the NCAA Women's Water Polo Championship, UCLA has dominated, winning 6 of the 8 championships since the inception of the tournament in 2001. In the 2006 championship game, UCLA defeated USC 9–8. In 2008, The UCLA Women's Water Polo team beat USC, 6-3, in the Championship game on May 11, giving UCLA 101 NCAA National Championships. The Bruins' 100th NCAA championship was a Women's water polo victory over Stanford in 2007. UCLA have won four consecutive women's water polo titles (2005–2008).

The Bruins women's team battled the Trojans for the 2009 national championship on Sunday, May 10, 2009 at College Park, Maryland. With two goals in the first minute of the game, UCLA won a record fifth consecutive crown. It is UCLA's #104 team championship and the team's 11th national title (7th NCAA title).

Head-to-head records by sport

As of the completion of the 2007-08 academic year, USC leads the all-time all-sport record 779-763-9. However, this number will presumably increase the margin in USC favor since USC won the Lexus Gauntlet in 2009.

Men's

• Baseball: USC 248-115
• Basketball: UCLA 126-100
• Football: USC 42-28-7
• Tennis: UCLA 96-80
• Track & Field: USC 41-34
• Volleyball: UCLA 85-33
• Water Polo: UCLA 69-60-1

Women's

• Basketball: USC 41-32
• Rowing: USC 7-0
• Soccer: UCLA 16-3-1
• Swimming: USC 17-14
• Tennis: USC 43-38
• Track & Field: UCLA 21-4
• Volleyball: UCLA 53-48
• Water Polo: UCLA 36-12

Olympic athletes

Both UCLA and USC send many athletes to the Olympic Games during the Olympiad. As of the last games, USC athletes account for 258 medals and UCLA athletes account for 236. A USC Trojan has been a Gold medal winner in every summer Olympics since 1912. As of the 2008 Summer Olympics, UCLA and USC athletes combined account for nearly one fifth of all medals won by the United States of America and their 494 combined medals would rank 9th on the country list.

Rivalry outside sports competition

College Comparison (2011)

Category	USC	UCLA
Location	Los Angeles, CA	Los Angeles, CA
Ownership	Private university	Public university
Founded	1880	1919
Students	33,000	35,967
School Colors	Cardinal & Gold	True Blue & Gold
Nickname	Trojans	Bruins
Football Stadium	LA Coliseum	Rose Bowl
Basketball Arena	Galen Center	Pauley Pavilion
Annual Tuition	$42,162	$11,618

UCLA and USC gear on sale at side by side at Costco

The UCLA–USC rivalry is like few other college or university rivalries. Both universities are in the same city. Both universities are at the top in the nation not only for their sports achievements, but also for academic standing. USC currently outranks UCLA in the US News National University rankings, 23rd versus 25th. Graduate schools at both universities are among the top in their fields. Furthermore, graduates from both universities work together all across Southern California. It is not uncommon for married couples or family members to consist of graduates from each school. Undergraduates of one school can be found attending graduate school and/or professional school across town. High schools in Southern California send some of their top graduates to both schools every year, as do community colleges around Los Angeles. Students from each school, including athletes, even can be found rooming together in the same house or apartment in Los Angeles.

The rivalry is also a microcosm of a geopolitical rivalry based upon the locations of the schools, the cost of attending each school, and the founding and growth patterns of the schools.

Geographic location

USC is located on the Southern fringe of downtown Los Angeles by Exposition Park. In the early years of the city, it was a fashionable area, but it began to be rundown as wealthier residents migrated towards other suburban neighborhoods, following the national trend. USC was an isolated enclave for a number of years and the surrounding neighborhood had a bad reputation. Lately, with newer downtown construction, the area is becoming connected with downtown again, although the neighborhood remains marginal. Most of the major LA area public sports facilities are located near campus, including the Los Angeles Coliseum and Staples Center.

UCLA, by contrast, is located on the Westside of Los Angeles and is nestled between many several of the most affulent and desirable communities in southern California: Brentwood, Bel-Air, Beverly Hills and Westwood. Although this area was relatively remote and unsettled at the time of UCLA's founding, decades of growth in the area around campus means that UCLA is hardly the suburban location it once was.

Funding and cost of attendance

The University of California is a public university, while the University of Southern California is a private university. As a public university, UCLA offers discounted attendance rates for California residents. For 2009-10 the estimated cost of attendance (tuition, fees, room, board, books, etc.) at UCLA is approximately $30,476 for in-state students living on campus, compared to $53,354 for out-of-state students, also living on campus.

At USC, no differentiation in fees is made between California residents and those coming from out-of-state. USC estimates the cost of attendance for all students living on campus for the 2009-10 school year at about $60,801

The University of California System has raised fees on all its campuses, including at UCLA, over the years to account for declines in state support and to keep pace with inflation.

Costs of attendance at both UCLA and USC may be off-set by financial aid, in the form of loans or grants based on merit or need or both. This includes athletic scholarships.

Founding

USC was established in 1880 and UCLA was founded in 1919 when California Gov. William D. Stephens signed California Assembly Bill 626, establishing the Southern Branch of the University of California. UCLA moved to its current location in 1927 when it was renamed the University of California at Los Angeles. USC had been playing football since 1888 and joined the Pacific Coast Conference in 1922. UCLA started playing football in 1919 and joined the PCC in 1928.

UCLA-USC rivalry in popular culture

• On the Jack Benny NBC radio program from November 26, 1950 (the Sunday after that season's UCLA - USC game), the episode was about Jack trying to go to the game with Mary Livingstone and Dennis Day. [2] Jack also had the USC and UCLA coaches as guests on his television show.
• In the 1989 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, a UCLA student is posing in a bikini in her bedroom while in the background are a Bruin bear wearing a button with a four letter expletive directed at USC and a poster underneath that says "My Two Favorite Teams are the BRUINS and Whoever Is Playing USC."
• In a 2005 ESPN commercial, a man wearing a UCLA sweatshirt opens his door on Halloween to find a young Trick-or-treater dressed in a Trojan outfit. He closes his door in disgust without handing out any candy. (The commercial's comedy lies in the fact that UCLA and USC fans retain a lifetime rivalry with each other, while still living side-by-side.)
• In a 2006 episode of The New Adventures of Old Christine, Old Christine's ex husband, Richard, takes their son Richie to the UCLA-USC game at the Coliseum.

Other rivalries

Because of their dominance of their respective sports, other schools in the Pacific 10 conference regard a basketball game with UCLA or a football game with USC as one of their top games of the year, no matter what the current standings.

USC vs Notre Dame football

Main article: Notre Dame – USC rivalry

USC also has a football-only rivalry with the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish, which many Trojan fans regard as a greater football rivalry. This predates the UCLA–USC rivalry by three years. Although a conference championship is never at stake, both schools have the college football national championship as their ultimate goal. And the game is usually used as a measuring stick to compare not just those two programs, but also the relative performance of many of the top teams in college football. The schools play for the Jeweled Shillelagh.

UCLA's basketball: Notre Dame and Arizona

Main article: Notre Dame-UCLA rivalry

UCLA had a basketball rivalry with Notre Dame that started when Digger Phelps was the Notre Dame coach and John Wooden was the UCLA coach. UCLA and Notre Dame played a home-and-home meeting for several seasons, which is otherwise uncommon outside conference play. This rivalry existed from the desire of the Notre Dame athletic department to schedule the top schools for intersectional competition. UCLA and Notre Dame played 42 times between 1966 and 1995, and the height of the rivalry was when Notre Dame ended UCLA's consecutive game winning streak at 88 on January 19, 1974. UCLA also broke a 60-game Notre Dame winning streak in South Bend. Current UCLA head coach Ben Howland has since scheduled Notre Dame four times: in 2004, 2005, 2008, and 2009. After UCLA's victory on February 7, 2009, UCLA leads the all-time series 28-19. In the 1990s, UCLA also had a basketball rivalry with Arizona under coach Lute Olson, as the two schools competed for the Pac-10 Championship every year.

Cal and Stanford

UCLA and USC have rivalries with the Bay Area Pacific 12 schools, Cal (the University of California, Berkeley) and Stanford University. These rivalries extend to all sports within the conference, and stem from the Northern California vs. Southern California dynamic. There also exists the commonality of UCLA and Cal as public institutions against Stanford and USC as private institutions. Also, due to their positions as the most prestigious in the University of California system, there is also rivalry between UCLA and Cal. Stanford and USC are also long-time rivals as two prestigious private universities in California.

See also

• UCLA Bruins athletics
• USC Trojans athletics
• 1967 USC vs. UCLA football game
• Game of the Century (college football)
• Lexus Gauntlet

Other Pac-12 football rivalries

• Apple Cup - Trophy for the Washington / Washington State football game
• Civil War - Oregon / Oregon State football game
• Big Game - Stanford / California football game
• Territorial Cup - Trophy for the Arizona / Arizona State football game

External links

• Official UCLA athletics site
• Official USC athletics site
• Video: 2007 UCLA Beat 'SC Parade, Rally and Bonfire

Further reading

• White, Lonnie - The Start of Something Big: USC vs. UCLA. Marking 75 years of the UCLA–USC rivalry. USC Trojan Family Magazine, Autumn 2004.
• Clark, Justin - Crosstown Rivals LA Weekly. November 29, 2006. When USC and UCLA put on their academic game faces, nothing less than the future of the city is at stake.
• White, Lonnie (2004). UCLA vs. USC: 75 Years of the Greatest Rivalry in Sports. Los Angeles Times Books. ISBN 1-883792-27-4. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
• Florence, Mal - The Great Rivalries USC vs. UCLA. Athlon College Football Preview, Autumn 1990