New Twists in a Storied Rivalry

The series between Stanford and USC is a storied, high-stakes and in-state rivalry that dates back to 1905. Saturday's edition will mark the 94th all-time meeting. Only the Big Game vs. Cal has been played more times in school history.

The importance of winning this conference rivalry spans generations. When Stanford suffered a painful defeat to USC under coach Pop Warner in 1932, the freshmen (then required to redshirt) were so affected that they vowed to never lose to USC during their three playing years. Victories by the "Vow Boys" over the Trojans in 1933, 1934 and 1935 paved the way to conference championships and three straight Rose Bowl Games.

The stakes and drama of this matchup today continue to be as great as ever. Five of the last seven meetings between Stanford and USC have been decided by one score or less. The Cardinal and Trojans have played in seven of the past 11 Rose Bowl Games.

In other ways, the matchup has evolved. Stanford has won six of the last eight meetings, a feat unmatched by the Cardinal in prior series history. In 2015, Stanford and USC played twice in the same season for the first time, with the Cardinal winning both in the Los Angeles Coliseum and at Levi's Stadium.

This Saturday also marks the third straight year in which the NorCal and SoCal private institutions meet in September. Through almost the entirety of its century-plus tradition, the game has been an October or November affair. For the fourth time in the past five years, the USC game will be Stanford's Pac-12 opener. Our players love it.

"I'm glad we don't have to wait to play them," says junior offensive tackle Casey Tucker. "They are usually a very talented opponent which gives us a solid look and allows us to see where we are as a team."

"I think it's a great idea because everyone on both teams is fired up," says senior outside linebacker Peter Kalambayi. "A win in this matchup can set the tempo for the rest of conference play."

Why are the Cardinal and Trojans now playing earlier in the season? Both schools uniquely have an annual non-conference series with Notre Dame, which is played in alternating years home/away in the late or mid-season.

The Pac-12 Conference's schedule matrix prioritizes non-conference games in the first weeks of the season, so both schools need a conference matchup in September to balance later non-conference affairs. The simple solution is for Stanford and USC to play each other.

The players are fired up. Fans pack Stanford Stadium for the matchup, including droves of passionate students who trek to campus before the dorms have opened. There is one more fruitful byproduct of this new-age Pac-12 opener: College Football Playoff prospects.

Late-season losses are often knockout punches in the heavyweight fight for the Playoff, and Stanford has more than its share of titanic tilts in November and late October each season.

Moving the matchup with USC into the early season gives a better chance at second life to whichever team suffers defeat in this annual Pac-12 collision.

Given the tradition, talent and trajectory of these two programs, it may be a blessing for Stanford, USC and the Pac-12 to have these proud rivals meet in September on the gridiron.