REDWOOD SHORES, Calif. – A rivalry that began in 1904 resumes Saturday when the Stanford and California men’s rowing teams meet in the renewal of the Big Row.
No. 5 Stanford and No. 2 Cal compete for the Schwabacher Cup, which goes to the winner of the first varsity eight race. The 3V8+ race is at 9:30 a.m., the 2V8+ race is at 9:50 and the 1V8+ is at 10:20. All the racing, including the women’s Big Row, is on the Belmont Channel/Redwood Shores Lagoon course, which is the home course for both schools.
Cal has won the past 11 editions and owns a 72-19 all-time series lead.
Overall, the Stanford 1V8+ and 2V8+ are both 6-3 this season and the Cardinal 3V8+ is 4-3. Stanford is racing a third varsity eight this year for the first time since 2019 and that boat has collected two MPSF Crew of the Week awards for its earlier performances this season.
On April 30, 1904, Stanford made its intercollegiate men’s rowing debut in a dual against Cal at the Oakland Estuary. In the 120 years since, men's rowing has established itself as one of the great traditional programs among Stanford sports. Stanford was the first West Coast team to enter the IRA Championships, in 1911.
Stanford last won the Schwabacher Cup in 2013 when the Cardinal set a course record of 5:31.2, which stands as a Stanford record.