The Storied Rivalry: A History of the USC-UCLA Football Game

The rivalry between the University of Southern California (USC) Trojans and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Bruins is one of the most celebrated and fiercely contested traditions in college football. This crosstown clash, often referred to as the "Battle of L.A." or simply the "crosstown rivalry," transcends mere bragging rights, embodying decades of competition, memorable moments, and the intense pride of two universities that share the same city. Understanding the rich history of this rivalry provides fans with a deeper appreciation for what is at stake each time these two teams meet.

A Shared History

The schools have been together in the same athletic conference since 1928, when UCLA joined USC in the Pacific Coast Conference, a predecessor of the Pac-12 Conference. USC had joined the PCC in 1922. When the PCC broke up after the 1958-1959 season, USC and UCLA were charter members of the newly formed Athletic Association of Western Universities. The AAWU, with expansion, would become the Pac-8, Pac-10, and then the Pac-12 Conference. Both schools also are successful in many "non-revenue" or "Olympic" sports. Both have had success in track and field, water polo, tennis, volleyball, and golf. As of 2023, USC has won 26 NCAA championships in men's outdoor track and field, 21 in men's tennis, and 12 in baseball, the most of any school in each respective sport. Likewise, UCLA has won 20 NCAA championships in men's volleyball and 12 in softball, also the most of any school in those sports. As of June 2024, UCLA ranked second overall and USC ranked third overall in NCAA team championships behind Stanford.

The Crosstown Cup

The Crosstown Cup, formerly known as the Lexus Gauntlet, the Crosstown Gauntlet, and the SoCal BMW Crosstown Cup, is a comprehensive athletic competition between UCLA and USC. It encompasses the 19 NCAA-sanctioned varsity sports in which both universities compete, fostering intense rivalry across various athletic disciplines.

The scoring rules have varied slightly over the years, but the core concept remains the same: head-to-head matchups earn points, and the university with the most points at the end of the academic year claims the Crosstown Cup. UCLA secured victories in 2003, 2005, and 2007 under the Lexus Gauntlet Trophy moniker, while USC triumphed in 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, and 2009, achieving the first back-to-back win.

Following the conclusion of Lexus's sponsorship in 2009, the competition was rebranded as the Crosstown Gauntlet. USC continued its dominance, winning in 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2014, with UCLA breaking the streak in 2013. A new sponsorship in 2015 led to the competition being named the SoCal BMW Crosstown Cup, with UCLA winning in 2015 and USC in 2016. Since the end of that sponsorship, the competition has been known simply as the Crosstown Cup.

Football's Significance

The annual football game often carries significant implications, with the winner frequently contending for or securing the Pac-12 Conference title. A coveted berth in the prestigious Rose Bowl game has also been a recurring stake for both programs.

Since the formation of the Pacific Coast Conference in 1916, which the Pac-12 recognizes as part of its historical lineage, USC has claimed or shared 37 conference titles, while UCLA has secured 17. Washington trails with 18 titles. From 1959, when the Pac-12 was established as the Athletic Association of Western Universities, through 2007, USC and UCLA collectively won or shared 33 of the 48 conference titles. USC clinched 17 outright championships, shared eight, and made 21 appearances in the Rose Bowl or BCS bowl games. UCLA secured six outright championships, shared five, and advanced to the Rose Bowl eight times. The two schools have shared the championship on three occasions.

In 2011, UCLA made history as the inaugural Pac-12 South Division champion, despite USC possessing a superior record. The Trojans were ineligible for postseason play that year due to NCAA sanctions.

Historical Overview

USC's ascent to national prominence began in 1925 under the guidance of coach Howard Jones. The Trojans initiated a significant rivalry with Notre Dame in 1926. By the late 1930s, the emergence of star players such as Kenny Washington, Jackie Robinson, and Bob Waterfield enabled UCLA to achieve competitive parity.

With the appointment of Hall of Fame coach Henry "Red" Sanders, UCLA rose to become the more dominant program in the 1950s, culminating in their first and only National Championship in 1954. The sudden passing of Sanders before the 1959 season marked a turning point.

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In 1960, John McKay, the winningest coach in USC football history, assumed leadership of the struggling Trojans program. Under McKay's leadership, USC entered a new golden age. During his tenure, the Trojans captured eight conference titles, five Rose Bowls, produced two Heisman Trophy winners (Mike Garrett and O. J. Simpson), and secured three national championships (1962, 1967, and 1972), sharing one in 1974. McKay's record against UCLA was an impressive 10-5-1 between 1960 and 1975.

From the mid-1960s to the late 1970s, USC and UCLA were the dominant forces on the West Coast, with USC generally holding the upper hand. Of the 15 Rose Bowls played between 1966 and 1980, USC or UCLA participated in 12. Even with the rise of Don James' Washington Huskies in the 1980s and early 90s, UCLA or USC made seven Rose Bowl appearances between 1981 and 1995.

UCLA's unbeaten streak concluded in 1999 when the Trojans began their longest win streak, seven, against the Bruins, though two of those wins (2004 and 2005) are now vacated, cutting the USC streak to five. Pete Carroll was hired by USC in December 2000. During Carroll's tenure (2001-2009 seasons), USC was virtually unbeatable against its two most heated rivals, UCLA and Notre Dame.

Game Titles and Traditions

The football game has been known by several names, including "The Los Angeles City Championship," "The Crosstown Showdown," "The Battle of L.A. (or Los Angeles)," and simply the "crosstown rivalry." None of these titles have become the definitive name for the game.

At UCLA, the week leading up to the game is celebrated as "Beat 'SC Week" (officially dubbed "Blue and Gold Week"). Both universities host various activities on their respective campuses to promote school spirit. Additionally, both schools take measures to protect iconic landmarks from vandalism. USC encases its Trojan Shrine (Tommy Trojan) in bubble wrap and duct tape, while UCLA covers its Bruin Bear statue with a tarp stating "THE BRUIN BEAR IS HIBERNATING. BEAT 'SC," and more recently a $5000 wooden puzzle box. Groups of UCLA students, known as the "Bruin Bear Security Force," camp out in Bruin Plaza to safeguard the Bruin Bear, while the USC Trojan Knights maintain a week-long vigil guarding Tommy Trojan with the sign "Don't Bruin your life."

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ROTC "Blood Bowl"

The rivalry extends to the military training units at both schools. The Naval and Army Officers Training Corps midshipmen and cadets compete in the annual "Blood Bowl" flag football game, typically held the Friday before the official game. The name reflects the intense and passionate play driven by school pride. UCLA leads the series all time versus USC 15-11.

Daily Bruin vs. Daily Trojan "Blood Bowl"

Staff members from the Daily Bruin and Daily Trojan also engage in a flag football contest known as the "Blood Bowl."

The Band Bowl

From the 1950s until 2000, the UCLA Marching Band and the USC Marching Band participated in a flag football contest called the "Band Bowl."

UCLA vs. USC Men's Ice Hockey

UCLA and USC have teams that compete in ACHA Division II club-level Ice hockey.

UCLA vs. USC Men's Rugby

UCLA and USC compete every year on the day after the football game.

We Run the City 5K

A 5 km rivalry run is held the Sunday before the football game to benefit Special Olympics Southern California. Runners pledge their allegiance to their team upon registration, and the event is open to fans, students, alumni, staff, and the community.

Blood Drive Competition

Starting in 2008, the winners of a blood drive competition were announced during halftime, with the winning school donating more blood to the American Red Cross.

Stadiums and Jersey Traditions

For many years, both 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 situated on the north side of the Coliseum and visiting fans on the south (press box) side.

Until the 1983 meeting, players on both teams wore their home football jerseys for the game. An NCAA rule change for the 1983 season mandated that the visiting team wear white jerseys. Beginning in 1984, when the game was played at the Rose Bowl for the second time, visiting fans were relocated to the end-zone visitor sections of each stadium.

In 2006, then-USC coach Pete Carroll and UCLA coach Karl Dorrell expressed interest in reviving the tradition of both teams wearing their primary colored home jerseys. At the time, NCAA football rules stipulated that "Players of opposing teams shall wear jerseys of contrasting colors, and the visiting team shall wear white jerseys." Carroll offered to sacrifice two timeouts during the game to allow USC to wear their cardinal jerseys for the 2008 game. Eventually, it was determined that the visiting school would only lose one timeout for incorrect equipment.

The Victory Bell

The victor of the annual football game is awarded the Victory Bell, originally from an old Southern Pacific railroad locomotive. It served as UCLA's symbol of victory until it was stolen by the USC Trojan Knights in 1941. The bell itself is brass, and the metal mounting around it is painted blue or cardinal by the school that possesses it. When UCLA possesses the Victory Bell, 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 it during home football games.

Rose Bowl Implications

Prior to the Rose Bowl Game becoming part of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) and later the College Football Playoff (CFP), a Rose Bowl berth to face the Big Ten Conference champion was the ultimate prize for the then-Pacific-10 conference champion. Through the 2016 season, USC has appeared in the Rose Bowl 34 times, and UCLA has appeared 12 times.

During the BCS era (1998-2013), the Rose Bowl was the destination for the first-place Big Ten and Pac-12 teams, should either fail to 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.

Before the Pac-10 expanded in 2011 and became the Pac-12, the Rose Bowl and conference championship were on the line for both teams 20 times and for at least one team 37 times. Following expansion and the division of the conference into two football divisions, with UCLA and USC both in the South Division, the division title and a berth in the Pac-12 Championship Game have been on the line for at least one team twice.

Series Record and Memorable Games

As of the end of the 2025 college football season, USC leads the series with a record of 53-34-7 (excluding two vacated USC wins due to NCAA penalty for violation of NCAA rules). The series has seen only one overtime game, which occurred in 1996.

Many games in this rivalry have determined the Pac-10 Rose Bowl representative and often a chance for USC to play for the national championship.

Memorable Moments and Records

College football history holds some remarkable UCLA-USC matchups that define this rivalry. The largest margin of victory belongs to UCLA, which recorded a stunning 39-0 shutout win on Nov 25, 1950. That dominant performance represents the pinnacle of Bruin football excellence against their crosstown foes. On the flip side, USC's most memorable blowout came on Sept 28, 1929, when the Trojans defeated UCLA 76-0 in their first-ever meeting, a reminder of how dominant USC was in the rivalry's early years. Perhaps the most thrilling game came on November 21, 1992, when UCLA won 38-37 in the Rose Bowl, claiming the smallest margin of victory in the series history.

The Rivalry Beyond Football

The USC-UCLA rivalry extends beyond the football field, permeating various aspects of university life. The Crosstown Cup, also known as the Gauntlet Trophy at one point, is a year-long competition that pits the Trojans against the Bruins in every sport, from basketball to water polo. The winner of each head-to-head matchup earns points, and the university with the most points at the end of the year claims the coveted trophy.

The rivalry also brings out the best in both universities, fostering a spirit of excellence and achievement. USC, for instance, has produced more Olympic athletes and medalists than any other university. UCLA also boasts a rich Olympic heritage, with legendary athletes like Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Rafer Johnson, Lisa Fernandez, and Florence Griffith Joyner among its Bruin medal winners.

Mascots and Traditions

Traveler, a noble white steed, embodies the spirit of ancient Troy and serves as USC's official mascot since 1961. Other USC mascots have appeared throughout the years, with George Tirebiter, a terrier known for chasing cars, being one of the most famous. UCLA also has its share of memorable mascots, including a live bear and costumed students.

The Trojan Shrine, or Tommy Trojan, stands at the heart of USC's University Park Campus, while UCLA's campus boasts the Bruin, a 2-ton bear sculpture. Both statues have become targets of pranks, particularly during the lead-up to the annual football showdown.

The Soundtrack of the Rivalry

The Trojan Marching Band, known as "The Spirit of Troy," provides the soundtrack to this longstanding crosstown rivalry. The band has appeared at every USC football game since 1987 (excluding the 2020 season due to COVID-19 restrictions) and also performs at basketball games and other university events.

The Upcoming Battle

The annual clash between USC and UCLA is more than just a game; it's a cultural phenomenon that captivates the city of Los Angeles and the college football world. The upcoming matchup promises to be another chapter in this storied rivalry, filled with passion, tradition, and unforgettable moments.

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