UCLA–USC rivalry

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

The UCLA–USC rivalry refers to the American collegiate athletics rivalry between the UCLA Bruins sports teams of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and USC Trojans sports teams of the University of Southern California (USC). UCLA has the most NCAA Division I-sanctioned team championships at 113, while USC has the third most NCAA Division I-sanctioned team championships at 102.

Both universities are located in Los Angeles. The rivalry between the two is among the more unusual in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I sports, because the campuses are only 12 miles (19 km) apart, and both are located within the same megacity.

Background

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 their last of only two Final Four appearance in the 1954 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament and ended with UCLA winning their only Football National Championship.

UCLA's and USC's flag.

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. 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 19 NCAA Championships in Men's Volleyball, 11 in Softball, and 7 in Women's Water Polo, also the most of any school in those sports.

UCLA ranks first overall in NCAA championships with 113. They also rank second in men's NCAA team championships with 72, and second (behind Stanford) in women's NCAA team championships with 39. USC ranks higher than UCLA and first in the nation in men's NCAA team championships with 84; it is 3rd overall with 102 NCAA titles (behind UCLA and Stanford) .[1] Both school also have several non-NCAA Championships, including AIAW and pre-NCAA championships.

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 USC won the trophy in 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, and 2009 (the first back-to-back win). After the 2009 season, Lexus stopped sponsoring the award, and the winner has been tracked less formally. Since the end of the Lexus sponsorship, USC has won in 2010 and 2011. UCLA won in 2012, 2013, and 2014.[2][3][4][5][6]

Football rivalry

The Victory Bell, which is painted blue to signify that the trophy is under UCLA's possession. If the trophy comes under USC's possession, it is painted red.

Quite often, the winner of the football game has won or shared the Pac-12 Conference (Pac-12) title in football. A berth in the Rose Bowl game has been on the line many times as well for both schools. Since the 1916 formation of the Pacific Coast Conference, which the Pac-12 claims as part of its history, USC has won or shared 37 conference titles and UCLA has won or shared 17 titles.[7] Washington is third in overall conference titles with 15.[7] Since the 1959 season, when the Pac-12 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.[7] USC has won 17 championships outright, shared eight and gone to the Rose Bowl or BCS bowl 21 times.[7] UCLA has won six championships outright, shared five and gone to the Rose Bowl eight times.[7] The schools have shared the championship between them three times.[7] In 2011, UCLA became the first Pac-12 South Division champion while USC held the better of the two records; the Trojans were ineligible for postseason play that year due to NCAA sanctions. 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 1928.[8] 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" [9] 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." [10][11] 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 eight-game winning streak against USC. The Bruins' unbeaten string ended in 1999 when the Trojans began their longest win streak, 7, against the Bruins, though two of those wins (2004 and 2005) are now vacated, cutting the USC streak to five. 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.[12] 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.

Also, both schools take steps to prevent vandalism of two major landmarks on campus: USC wraps its Trojan Shrine (better known as "Tommy Trojan") in bubble wrap and duct tape, while UCLA covers its Bruin Bear statue with tarp stating "THE BRUIN BEAR IS HIBERNATING. BEAT 'SC.", and more recently a $5000 wooden puzzle box. Groups of UCLA students known as "Bruin Bear Security Force" 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 week-long 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. On November 12, 2012, an entrance sign at UCLA was defaced with a "S" painted between the letters U and C beside obscene graffiti in red spray paint.

There are a number of inter-campus competitions between various groups before the 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 won in 2008,[18] 2009, 2010 and 2011.

On November 13, 2012, UCLA served notice to the USC Marching Band that its drum major would not be allowed to stab a sword into the Bruins logo before the game in the Rose Bowl on November 17, 2012.[19]

Sharing the Los Angeles Coliseum

The 2008 game marked a return to both teams wearing their color 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 the north side of the Coliseum and visiting 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 primary colored 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."[20] USC coach Pete Carroll said he would be willing to lose two timeouts during the game so that the USC team could wear their cardinal jerseys for the UCLA-USC football game on December 6, 2008.[21] It was determined before the 2008 game that the visiting school would only lose one timeout for incorrect equipment. 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.[22] 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-and-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.[23] 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.

Victory Bell

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 cardinal 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). USC currently has the victory bell.

Rose Bowl

Until the Rose Bowl Game became part of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) and later the College Football Playoff (CFP), a berth in the Rose Bowl to face the Big Ten Conference champion was the ultimate goal that was awarded to the then-Pacific-10 conference champion. Through the 2014 season, USC has appeared in the Rose Bowl 33 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. Since the establishment of the CFP in 2014, the Rose Bowl is one of six bowls that rotates as host of a CFP semifinal game; in years in which the Rose Bowl does not host a CFP semifinal, the Rose Bowl Game is assured of hosting the first-place teams from the two conferences should they fail to be selected for the CFP semifinals.

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.

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 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. Both teams have either won the championship or spoiled it for the other at one time or another.

Football series record

As of the 2016 season, USC leads 46–31–7 (record does not include 2 USC wins vacated due to NCAA penalty for violation of NCAA rules).[24][25] There has been one overtime game in the series in 1996. Many of the games of this 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.[24][26]

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[9]
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 unbeaten and ranked since AP poll started in 1936. UCLA backfield included immortals Jackie Robinson and Kenny Washington. USC voted Dickinson 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[27][28][29]
1948 USC 20 13 Coliseum**
1949 USC 21 7 Coliseum*
1950 UCLA 0 39 Coliseum** UCLA's greatest margin of victory in series signals era of its legendary Coach Red Sanders
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 would go on to win the UPI National Championship, UCLA's first and only football national 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, and AP/UPI National Champions
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 – 1967 Rose Bowl and #1 ranking on the line for both teams. UCLA ranked #1, USC ranked #2. Afterward, USC would win the AP and UPI National Championship
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. A phantom pass interference vs UCLA on SC' final 4th down allowed SC to steal the victory and the Rose Bowl.
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. USC would go on to win the AP and UPI National Championship.
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) UCLA beats #1 ranked Ohio State in the Rose Bowl.
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 Trojans' win put Washington in.
1978 USC 17 10 Coliseum** 1979 Rose Bowl on the line for both teams. USC ranked number 3. USC went on to win the UPI National Championship.
1979 USC 49 14 Coliseum* 1980 Rose Bowl on the line for USC. USC ranked number 3.
1980 UCLA 17 20 Coliseum** Neither team bowl eligible due to probation [28] 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* UCLA needed to win to keep Rose Bowl hopes alive. Bruins later earned Rose Bowl berth when Washington lost to Washington State.
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** UCLA took a 31-0 halftime lead because of a fake kneel down TD pass to end the first hand in a game called "Hail Mary, in your face". UCLA backups played most of the second half.
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. UCLA field goal attempt to win in the final seconds hits crossbar, bounces back on the field.
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* Terry Donahue's last year as head coach of UCLA. 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 NCAA sanctions.[30] 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 NCAA sanctions.[30] 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. 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** For the first time since 1980, neither UCLA nor USC are bowl eligible (UCLA due to record, USC due to probation). Lane Kiffin's first game in the rivalry as USC's head coach; at 35, he was the youngest head coach in the rivalry's history.
2011 USC 50 0 Coliseum* The largest margin of victory in rivalry since 1930. UCLA fired head coach Rick Neuheisel.[31] Game was moved to third Saturday in November, as prior to 2004. Due to USC's ineligibility, UCLA was named the South Division representative prior to the game.[32]
2012 UCLA 28 38 Rose Bowl** Jim L. Mora's first game in the rivalry as UCLA head coach. First time a berth in the Pac-12 Football Championship Game is on the line for both teams.
2013 UCLA 14 35 Coliseum* Arizona State had already clinched the Pac-12 South. USC had fired head coach Lane Kiffinearlier in the season. Ed Orgeron coached as interim in this game. First game since 2010 without implications for a major bowl game.
2014 UCLA 20 38 Rose Bowl** UCLA and USC in contention for Pac-12 South Division title.[33] Steve Sarkisian's only game in the rivalry as USC head coach as he was fired during the 2015 college football season.
2015 USC 40 21 Coliseum* USC and UCLA in contention for Pac-12 South Division title. Clay Helton was USC's fourth Head Coach to coach the rivalry in the last four years.
2016 USC 36 14 Rose Bowl** USC in contention for Pac-12 South Division title. Clay Helton was USC's first Head Coach to coach the rivalry in two consecutive games since Lane Kiffin in 2010-2012.
Overall USC (46–31–7)

Notes: *USC home game, **UCLA home game, highlighted scores indicate school with Rose Bowl on the line, or, after the 2010–13 NCAA conference realignment, the Pac-12 Championship game 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 five wins from 1999 to 2003.

The 1967 "Game of the Century"

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 won the trophy the following year.

Other notable games

Rivalry glory years

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

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

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.

Basketball

NCAA National Championship trophies, rings, watches

Men's

UCLA has 31 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 2013–2014 season, UCLA has won or shared the conference title 31 times, and USC has won or shared the title 9 times.[40] There have been some notable games in the rivalry.

Women's

In Women's basketball, UCLA has one AIAW championship and USC has two NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championships. Ironically, USC won its second title, in 1984, at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion. The Bruins and the Women of Troy have faced each other twice in the second round of the AIAW championships with UCLA winning in 1979 and USC winning in 1981.

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.[44] 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.[45] 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 34 appearances. UCLA has appeared in the College World Series five times. UCLA won its first NCAA Baseball title in 2013.

As of the end of the 2014 season, USC leads UCLA in the series 256–130.[46] Since 2010, UCLA and USC have met in the second game of a college baseball doubleheader at Dodger Stadium called the Dodgertown classic as well as a three-game conference series.[47]

Fencing

Both the 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 ASU.[48][49][50]

Soccer

UCLA women's soccer team has dominated the Women of Troy, 22–5–1. But at the 2007 NCAA College Cup, USC won in the semi-finals, ended UCLA's 8 straight victories over the Trojans. USC went on to be the first Pac-10 (as it was called at the time) school to win the NCAA Women's Soccer Championship. 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. UCLA won the NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championship in 2013, defeating Florida State 1–0 in overtime.

Tennis

As of the 2014 season, USC has won 21 NCAA Men's Tennis Championships and UCLA has won 16. USC has won 5 of the last 6 (2009–2012, 2014), while UCLA's most recent Championship was in 2005. 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.

UCLA has won two NCAA Division I Women's Tennis Championships, most recently in 2014. USC won in 1983 and 1985.

Volleyball

UCLA vs. USC volleyball 2008

UCLA has dominated men's volleyball under the coaching of Al Scates. As of 2013, UCLA has won 19 NCAA Men's Volleyball Championships. The next closest school is Pepperdine with five NCAA titles. USC has won four NCAA titles. UCLA and USC have faced each other in the championship game of the NCAA Men's Volleyball Championship four times.

In women's volleyball, UCLA won the 2011 national Championship. UCLA now has won four and USC has 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 schools compete in water polo. In men's, UCLA carries a slight lead over USC in the all-time series of 80–76–1. In the NCAA Men's Water Polo Championship, the two school are tied with 9 championships apiece. UCLA won the most recent championship in 2014, with USC winning the prior 6 titles dating back to 2008. Due to the low number of schools participating in the sport and the State of California's dominance (no team from outside of California has ever played in the championship match), title game matches between the two teams are relatively common, occurring in 1996, 2009, 2012, and 2012. In title game matches, USC holds a 3–2 advantage. UCLA won 8–7 in 1996, and 9-8 in 2014, while USC won 7–6 in 2009, 7-4 in 2011, and 11-10 in 2012.

In women's water polo, UCLA has a commanding 46-22 lead over USC in the all-time series. In the NCAA Women's Water Polo Championship, UCLA dominated early on, winning 7 of the first 9 NCAA Championships, including the first tournament in 2001. USC has won 4, most recently in 2016. The two teams have faced each other in the women's title game 3 times, in 2006, 2008, and 2009. UCLA won all 3 matches by scores of 9–8, 6–3,[51] and 5–4, respectively. All three wins were part of UCLA's streak of 5 consecutive championships.

Head-to-head records by sport

As of December 18, 2014, USC leads the all-time all-sport record 967–922–10.[52]

Men's

Women's

Italic sports are inactive due to one of both schools discontinuing the sport

Note: This record includes all games played in active sports, but does not include every inactive sport.

Olympic athletes

Both UCLA and USC send many athletes to the Olympic Games. As of the last games, USC athletes account for 258 medals and UCLA athletes account for 241. 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 499 combined medals would rank 9th on the country list.[53] [54] [55] [56]

Rivalry outside sports competition

College Comparison (2013)
Category USC UCLA
Location Los Angeles, CA Los Angeles, CA
Ownership Private university Public university
Founded 1880 1919
Students 40,000 [57] 42,163 [58]
School colors Cardinal and gold True Blue and gold
Nickname Trojans Bruins
Football stadium LA Coliseum Rose Bowl
Basketball arena Galen Center Pauley Pavilion
Annual tuition $52,283 [59] $12,692 Calif Resident

$35,570 (non-resident)[60]

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. While UCLA historically has been viewed as the more selective institution, USC has made great strides in improving its position in university rankings. 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

UCLA is located on the Westside of Los Angeles and is nestled between many several of the most affluent 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.

In 2012, Bruins football coach Jim Mora said he sold recruits on the safety of UCLA's campus location. "I mean, we don't have murders one block off our campus," said Mora. He denied he was making a reference to USC, which months earlier had two of their students killed near campus.[61]

USC, by contrast, 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.

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.[62]

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 [63]

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.[64]

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.

See also

Other Pac-12 football rivalries

Notes

  1. ↑ http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/champs_records_book/Overall.pdf
  2. ↑ "USC clinches Gauntlet Trophy over UCLA", Fox Sports West, April 25, 2011
  3. ↑ "USC wins 4th straight Gauntlet title", Pedro Moura, ESPN.com, April 25, 2011
  4. ↑ "http://www.usctrojans.com/genrel/043012aaa.html", University of Southern California, April 30, 2012
  5. ↑ "http://www.bruinsnation.com/2012/5/1/2991099/UCLA-USC-Gauntlet-Trophy-Fire-Dan-Guerrero-Gene-Block", May 1, 2012
  6. ↑ "UCLA Athletics on Twitter". Twitter.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Pac-10 football media guide. Pacific-10 Conference, Fall 2008. PDF copy available at http://www.pac-12.org
  8. ↑ "1928 UCLA Bruins Schedule and Results". Sports-Reference/College Football. Archived from the original on October 5, 2015. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
  9. 1 2 Dyer, Braven – TROJANS AND BRUINS OPEN GRID SEASON TODAY. RIVALS PRIMED FOR FIRST TILT Expect Crowd of 35,000 Fans to Watch Teams Three New Faces on Jones's First Line-up. Bruins Have Only Outside Chance to Win. Los Angeles Times, September 28, 1929. Quote:"In years to come, this game will probably be one of the football spectacles of the West"
  10. ↑ The Start of Something Big: USC vs. UCLA by Lonnie White, marking 75 years of the UCLA-USC rivalry
  11. ↑ Burke, Anne (Editor) – Summer 2004 Bruin Walk: Rah-rah Boo-hiss. UCLA Magazine, summer 2004
  12. ↑ White, Lonnie – THE RIVALRY: UCLA VS. USC – It could turn into a special moment. Xs and O's A look at a key matchup inside the USC-UCLA football game. Today: The special teams. Los Angeles Times, November 30, 2006.
  13. ↑ Mozingo, Joe (November 14, 2000). "UCLA Band Instruments Stolen at USC". Los Angeles Times.
  14. ↑ Hersch Jamie, A SEASON IN THE STANDS: UCLA VS. USC (MANAGERS!) The guys behind the guys go at it during Rivalry Week. ESPN A Season in the Stands, December 5, 2008
  15. ↑ Klein, Gary It's City Limited Los Angeles Times, December 04, 2010 Note: Brian Wagner passed for three touchdowns this week as USC's student football managers defeated UCLA's managers, 21–7, at UCLA. USC extended its winning streak in the series to three games.
  16. ↑ Klein, Gary – USC brass is surprised at UCLA's uniform plans for football game. Los Angeles Times, November 23, 2011. Note: UCLA defeated USC, 57–55, in triple overtime Tuesday night in the annual flag-football game between student football managers.
  17. ↑ http://www.werunthecity.com
  18. ↑ "USC and UCLA Competition Draws Blood".
  19. ↑ Chris Foster, UCLA sticks it to USC over midfield logo-stabbing tradition, Los Angeles Times, November 13, 2012
  20. ↑ NCAA Football rules 2006 (PDF)
  21. ↑ USC willing to give up timeout to wear cardinal at UCLA ESPN.com news services, December 2, 2008
  22. ↑ Klein, Gary – USC is right at home on rivals' turf. Los Angeles Times, December 7, 2008
  23. ↑ Rogers Redding, Secretary-Rules Editor, NCAA Football Rules Committee – NCAA Football 2009–10 Rules and Interpretations. THE NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION, May 2009. ARTICLE 3. a. Players of opposing teams shall wear jerseys of contrasting colors. Players on the same team shall wear jerseys of the same color and design. 1. The visiting team shall wear white jerseys; however, the home team may wear white jerseys if the teams have agreed in writing before the season. 2. If the home team wears colored jerseys, the visiting team may also wear colored jerseys, if and only if the following conditions have been satisfied: (a) The home team has agreed in writing prior to the game (b) The conference of the home team certifies that the jersey of the visiting team is of a contrasting color.
  24. 1 2 2010 USC Football. USC Sports Information Office. 2010. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 30, 2011. Retrieved January 30, 2011. The USC football program is on probation until June 9, 2014 for NCAA violations involving agent and amateurism issues, lack of institutional control, impermissible inducements, extra benefits, exceeding coach staff limits and unethical conduct. The penalties include: public reprimand and censure; four years of probation through June 9, 2014; post-season ban for the 2010 and 2011 seasons; one-year show cause penalty (through June 9, 2011) for an assistant football coach; vacation of wins from December 2004 through the 2005 season; limit of 15 initial scholarships and 75 total scholarships for each of the 2011– 12, 2012–13 and 2013–14 years; $5,000 fine; disassociation of a former football player; prohibit non-university personnel from traveling on team charters, attending practices and camps, and having access to sidelines and locker rooms. USC is appealing selected penalties.
  25. ↑ "2011 UCLA Football Media Guide". pp. 62, 68. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 4, 2011.
  26. ↑ USC ordered to vacate wins, gets bowl ban, docked 30 scholarships. June 10, 2010.
  27. ↑ Pac-10 Media Guide
  28. 1 2 2008 USC Football media guide. (PDF copy available at www.usctrojans.com) USC Athletics, August 2008
  29. ↑ Note: UCLA, Oregon, California, and USC all would have been tied at 5–1 in conference play. USC had defeated California and did not play Oregon. UCLA had defeated Oregon, but lost to California. California and Oregon did not play.
  30. 1 2 USC Sports Information Office 2010, p.75
  31. ↑ "Rick Neuheisel out at UCLA". ESPN.com. November 28, 2011. Retrieved November 28, 2011.
  32. ↑ Ted Miller, What do we call UCLA?, ESPN, November 11, 2011
  33. ↑ Foster, Chris (November 21, 2014). "UCLA's Brett Hundley is the wild card USC has trouble dealing with". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on November 23, 2014.
  34. ↑ Dyer, Braven – TROJANS BATTER BRUINS BY 76 TO 0 SCORE. HERD HANGS UP 12 TOUCHDOWNS Flashy Backs Run Wild, Over Weak Rival Line Saunders, Shaver Cut Loose With Long Gallops Musick Looms as Real Star in Fullback Berth. Los Angeles Times, September 29, 1929
  35. ↑ Troy, Tennessee in Rose Bowl. Los Angeles Times, December 10, 1939. It will be Southern California and Tennessee in the Rose Bowl Jan. 1, 1940.
  36. ↑ Katz, Greg (November 20, 2014) "Nov. 22 brings haunting memories to Baby Boomer generation." ESPN USC Trojans Blog. (Retrieved 22-20-2014.)
  37. ↑ UCLA Athletics: 1964–1965 UCLA.edu
  38. ↑ Leon Moore, David (December 3, 2005). "L.A. is capital of football for a day". USA Today. Retrieved May 26, 2010.
  39. ↑ Chris Dufresne, A freakish Friday lifts UCLA into Pac-12 title game, Los Angeles Times, November 25, 2011
  40. ↑ 2007–08 PAC-10 MEN'S BASKETBALL Media Guide
  41. ↑ 2008–09 NCAA Men's Basketball Records (ncaa.org) p58, Rivalries, Consecutive victories
  42. ↑ Dyer, Braven – The Sports Parade. Los Angeles Times, March 9, 1943
  43. ↑ No. 3 UCLA Advances to Pac-10 Championship Game With 57–54 Win. UCLA Athletic Department, March 14, 2008
  44. ↑ Schools with the most NCAA championships (ncaa.org, link no longer exists) as of Spring 2009. Abstract: The NCAA does not award National Championships in Division I-A football. See the Wikipedia article NCAA Division I-A national football championship for more information. The NCAA numbers leave out USC's 11 football championships from their tally of 88. Stanford University is in second place with 96 NCAA championships and two football championships. UCLA has 105 NCAA championships and 1 football championship. The next closest school is Oklahoma State with 48 NCAA championships. UCLA and USC also have AIAW titles, and titles awarded before the advent of the NCAA.
  45. ↑ Ben Bolch. UCLA-USC friction goes beyond football. Los Angeles Times. November 27, 2007. Quote:UCLA-USC has been a back-and-forth affair since the schools first met in a major sport in the spring of 1920, when the Bruins – then known as the Southern Branch Cubs – knocked off the Trojans in baseball, 7–6, at Exposition Park.
  46. ↑ Note: The 2013 UCLA Baseball (copy available from www.uclabruins.com) media guide only lists game by game results going back to 1955. Previously, the 2007 UCLA Baseball media guide listed results back to 1975. The 2007 USC Baseball media guide (Copy available from www.usctrojans.com) states: "*All game-by-game records before the 1921 season are unavailable." One very interesting note is that the 2007 USC Baseball media guide confuses UCSB as University of California, Santa Barbara when it should be University of California, Southern Branch, the old name for UCLA. Santa Barbara State College did not become UCSB until 1947, at which time the UCSB Baseball media guide season-by-season results start.
  47. ↑ Gurnick, Ken – Dodger Stadium to host college baseball. mlb.com, January 29, 2010
  48. ↑ www.ifcsc.org
  49. ↑ UCLA Fencing
  50. ↑ USC Fencing Homepage
  51. ↑ UCLA Defeats USC, 6–3, To Win Fourth-Straight NCAA Title. Women's water polo goes undefeated to win UCLA's 101st NCAA championship. UCLA Athletic Department, May 11, 2008.
  52. ↑ http://ucla-usc.com/. Retrieved June 4, 2014; updated December 18, 2014, to reflect results through the fall 2014 season. Check date values in: |access-date= (help); Missing or empty |title= (help)
  53. ↑ "UCLA vs. USC Athletic Departments". great-sports-rivalries.com. Retrieved December 5, 2011.
  54. ↑ USC Olympians from the USC official Athletic site (PDF)
  55. ↑ UCLA Olympic medalists from the UCLA official athletic site
  56. ↑ "Olympic medals by country (Olympic.it)".
  57. ↑ "Facts and Figures - About USC".
  58. ↑ "Quick Facts - UCLA Undergraduate Admission".
  59. ↑ https://www.collegedata.com/cs/data/college/college_pg03_tmpl.jhtml?schoolId=1138. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  60. ↑ "Fees, Tuition, and Estimated Student Budget - UCLA Undergraduate Admission".
  61. ↑ Yoon, Peter (August 10, 2012). "Jim Mora discusses campus safety". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on August 10, 2012.
  62. ↑ "UCLA Fees, Tuition, and Estimated Student Budget".
  63. ↑ "USC Estimated Cost of Attendance".
  64. ↑ Excerpt from 2007–08 Budget for Current Operations Appendix A Student Fees(PDF document)
  65. ↑ "IIS Windows Server".
  66. ↑ Matshushita, Elaine (April 19, 2008). "Kathy Ireland: From bikinis to bedding". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on October 11, 2011.
  67. 1 2 "Morning Briefing: No Matter What, Beware of the Fine Print". Los Angeles Times. 13 February 1989. Archived from the original on 2010-11-14. Retrieved 2010-11-15. On a shelf to her left is a small Bruin bear wearing a button. The first two lines are illegible, but the bottom two are an expletive directed at USC.
  68. ↑ Merron, Jeff (February 21, 2003). "SI undressed". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on March 6, 2015.
  69. ↑ Newman, Bruce (February 7, 1989). "Up Against The Wall". Sports Illustrated. p. 225.
  70. ↑ "It was way too revealing". The Register-Guard. February 14, 1989. p. 2D. Retrieved October 11, 2011.

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 (August 2004). UCLA vs. USC: 75 Years of the Greatest Rivalry in Sports. Los Angeles Times Books. ISBN 1-883792-27-4. 
  • Florence, Mal – The Great Rivalries USC vs. UCLA. Athlon College Football Preview, Autumn 1990
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