Few things in college football create more passion than a rivalry.
Whether it’s a matchup separated by a few miles, a game shaped by decades of history or a contest that carries national championship implications, rivalries give fans another reason to care about every snap.
Of our Top 25 rivalries that define college football, three involve California teams, each with its own history, traditions and stakes that have helped make these must-see matchups.
These games have produced memorable moments, legendary players and heated debates that continue well beyond the final whistle.
But how do California’s rivalries compare with the biggest rivalry games across the sport?
The question is subjective. Some rivalries are defined by proximity. Others have been built through postseason stakes, conference history or generations of family tradition.
There is no single formula for determining what makes one rivalry greater than another, which is why we expect these rankings to spark discussion among fans.
With that in mind, here are our Top 25 rivalries involving teams from the Golden State, followed by the full list.
No. 6: Notre Dame-USC
Tradition, national prominence and a clash of college football identities define this matchup, even as it temporarily hits pause. Iconic uniforms, a combined 15 Heisman Trophy winners and a century of history give the rivalry a big-game feel every time these programs meet on the field.
- First game: 1926
- Series record: Notre Dame leads 51-38-5
No. 12: UCLA-USC
The Los Angeles rivalry is as much about geography and bragging rights as it is about football, with the schools separated by just 15 miles. Recruiting battles, conference implications and plenty of citywide pride raise the stakes every fall for this Thanksgiving weekend matchup.
- First game: 1929
- Series record: USC leads 53-34-7
No. 20: Cal-Stanford
Separated by about 50 miles in the San Francisco Bay Area, these schools have spent generations trading jokes, traditions and stories. For fans, the game is a chance to settle old arguments, celebrate their school and earn the right to talk about the win for another full year.
- First game: 1892
- Series record: Stanford leads 65-51-11
Top 25
- 1. Michigan-Ohio State
- 2. Alabama-Auburn
- 3. Army-Navy
- 4. Oklahoma-Texas
- 5. Florida-Georgia
- 6. Notre Dame-USC
- 7. Florida State-Miami
- 8. Texas-Texas A&M
- 9. Ole Miss-Mississippi State
- 10. Pittsburgh-West Virginia
- 11. Nebraska-Oklahoma
- 12. UCLA-USC
- 13. Florida-Florida State
- 14. Auburn-Georgia
- 15. Minnesota-Wisconsin
- 16. Clemson-South Carolina
- 17. Alabama-LSU
- 18. Harvard-Yale
- 19. Michigan-Michigan State
- 20. Cal-Stanford
- 21. Kansas-Missouri
- 22. BYU-Utah
- 23. Georgia-Georgia Tech
- 24. Washington-Washington State
- 25. Oregon-Oregon State
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Mike Garbett is a content specialist working with McClatchy’s Content Innovation Lab.
This report was produced with the assistance of a proprietary tool powered by artificial intelligence and using our own originally reported, written and published content. It was reviewed and edited by our journalists.