How USC and UCLA built their crosstown rivalry
USC and UCLA will meet for the 89th time this Saturday at the Coliseum. The rivalry between the schools, located 12 miles apart in Los Angeles, began in 1929, and the teams compete for the Victory Bell, which is painted either red or blue depending on the outcome of the game.
Attendance for in-state rivalries since 2013
The Rose Bowl seats 90,888 while he Coliseum holds 78,467.
112%
USC vs. UCLA
Games at the Rose Bowl for UCLA games tend to have lower attendance. Only 63% of the stadium was occupied last year
100% Capacity
109%
Oregon vs. Oregon State
Games at Oregon tend to have higher attendance, but the rivalry games usually sellout, except for last year at Reser Stadium.
92%
Stanford vs. California
103%
This rivalry is clearly fueled by the Cardinals while their northern rivals tend to sell out at least 90% of California Stadium.
90%
Auburn vs. Alabama
The Iron Bowl is an annual sell out, even though the Crimson Tide has been dominant in recent years.
100%
Georgia vs. Georgia Tech
100%
The Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate has been evenly split across the peach state for the past six machups.
Oklahoma vs. Oklahoma State
105%
The Bedlam Series has sold out each year except 2014. Oklahoma State tends to fill its stadium even though it isn’t as successful.
99%
Michigan vs. Michigan State
105%
The last six matchups have been filled to capacity. The Spartans haven’t been quite as full the last few years.
102%
112%
100%
Capacity
USC vs. UCLA
Games at the Rose Bowl for UCLA games tend to have lower attendance. Only 63% of the stadium was occupied last year
109%
92%
Oregon vs. Oregon State
Games at Oregon tend to have higher attendance, but the rivalry games usually sellout, except for last year at Reser Stadium.
103%
90%
Stanford vs. California
This rivalry is clearly fueled by the Cardinals while their northern rivals tend to sell out at least 90% of California Stadium.
100%
Auburn vs. Alabama
The Iron Bowl is an annual sell out, even though the Crimson Tide has been dominant in recent years.
100%
Georgia vs. Georgia Tech
The Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate has been evenly split across the peach state for the past six machups.
105%
99%
Oklahoma vs. Oklahoma State
The Bedlam Series has sold out each year except 2014. Oklahoma State tends to fill its stadium even though it isn’t as successful.
105%
102%
Michigan vs. Michigan State
The last six matchups have been filled to capacity. The Spartans haven’t been quite as full the last few years.
Although USC is known to be the football school out of this rivalry, the game has had the Rose Bowl, conference or division championship on the line. Before the Pac-10 expanded to the Pac-12 in 2011, the Rose Bowl and conference championship were on the line for both teams 20 times and at least one team 37 times. Following conference expansion and the creation of the football divisions with UCLA and USC being in the South Division, the division title and a berth in the Pac-12 Championship game has been on the line for at least one team twice. As of the 2018 season, USC leads the all-time series with 47 wins while UCLA has 32 wins. There have been seven ties in the series.
USC-UCLA Games by point difference
USC
UCLA
Biggest shutout
for USC: 76 pts
1st tie
The beginnings
1929-1949
+7
Did not play each
other for 5 years
+21
UCLA making a statement
1950-1964
Biggest shutout
for UCLA: 39 pts
+27
Glory years
1965 - 1978
+25
+35
UCLA dominance
1979-1998
+20
Vacated wins
+50
USC dominance
1999-2011
+4
+22
Balance
2012-present
+21
USC
UCLA
The beginnings
1929-1949
Biggest shutout
Did not play each
other for 5 years
for USC: 76 pts
1st tie
+7
UCLA making a statement
1950-1964
Biggest shutout
for UCLA: 39 pts
+21
Glory years
1965 - 1978
+25
+27
UCLA dominance
1979-1998
+35
+20
USC dominance
1999-2011
Vacated
Wins
+4
+50
Balance
2012-present
+21
+22
There have been many great games played between these two historic programs the past 90 meetings. However, here are a few that fans, alums, students, and college football pundits still talk about to this day.
The beginnings
USC setting the tone
This is the first aerial photograph of the Olympic Stadium to be made since the rebuilding of the gigantic structure for the 1932 Olympic Games at Los Angeles, shown Sept. 3, 1931. The seating capacity of the stadium is estimated to by more than 105,000 persons. (Associated Press)
Final Score
USC
72-0
UCLA
It was the season opener for both teams and the first game between the schools. USC was coming off its first national championship season while UCLA had just completed its first season in the Pacific Coast Conference. The Trojans were led by legendary coach Howard Jones and defeated the Bruins 76-0, which still stands as the most lopsided score of the series.
The beginnings
Rivalry brewing
Jackie Robinson practices at UCLA on Sept. 20, 1939. Robinson and the Bruins went 6-0-4 in 1939. Photo credit: Associated Press
Final Score
USC
0-0
UCLA
The first game is played with a Rose Bowl berth at stake. Over 103,000 fans filled the Coliseum. UCLA attempted a pass on fourth down with less than five minutes to play instead of a field goal, but USC’s Bobby Robertson knocks down UCLA’s Ned Matthew’s 4-yard pass in the end zone to preserve the tie. USC would go onto the Rose Bowl and defeat Tennessee to win the program’s fourth national championship.
UCLA making a statement
UCLA golden year
USC coach Jess Hill talks with quarterback Jim Contratto in Pasadena in preparation of the Rose Bowl game on Dec. 30, 1954. UCLA beat USC 34-0 and were PCC champions, but the Bruins were not eligible to play in the Rose Bowl because of the "no repeat" rule at the time. (Associated Press)
Final Score
USC
0-34
UCLA
No. 2 UCLA poured it on in the fourth quarter and blanked the Trojans 34-0 en route to the Bruins’ only national championship season. UCLA scored 27 points in the fourth quarter. It is the last time the Bruins shut out the Trojans.
Glory years
Game of the Century
USC halfback O.J. Simpson heads down field behind teammate Bob Klein during a 64–yard touchdown dash in fourth quarter against UCLA at the Coliseum on Nov. 18, 1967. Simpson gained 177 yards. (Joe Kennedy / Los Angeles Times)
Final Score
USC
21-20
UCLA
The game matched No. 1 UCLA and Gary Beban against No. 4 USC with O.J. Simpson for both the conference and national championships. USC would win 21-20 and go on to the Rose Bowl to beat Indiana and win the national championship. Beban would win the Heisman Trophy.
UCLA dominance
Heisman showcase
UCLA quarterback Troy Aikman prepares to pass against USC on Nov. 19, 1988. (Joe Kennedy / Los Angeles Times)
Final Score
USC
31-22
UCLA
No. 2 and undefeated USC with quarterback Rodney Peete met No. 6 and 9-1 UCLA with quarterback Troy Aikman and the Rose Bowl on the line. Peete and Aikman were legitimate Heisman Trophy contenders. The more than 100,000 spectators at the Rose Bowl set a regular-season attendance record.
UCLA dominance
UCLA finally breaks through
UCLA free safety Marvin Goodwin celebrates after his last-minute, game-winning interception that helped the Bruins beat USC 27-21 on Nov. 20, 1993 at the Coliseum. (Kevork Djansezian / Associated Press)
Final Score
USC
21-27
UCLA
No. 16 UCLA and No. 22 USC met at the Coliseum with the Bruins jumping to an early 17-0 lead behind quarterback Wayne Cook. USC would cut the deficit to 24-21 in the fourth quarter but UCLA made a field goal and key stops to preserve a 27-21 win. The win would send the Bruins to the Rose Bowl and end a 10-game skid with the Rose Bowl on the line for both schools.
USC dominance
“13-9”
USC quarterback John David Booty throws an interception in the final minute of the game to UCLA's Eric McNeal at the Rose Bowl on Dec. 2, 2006. Photo credit: Lori Shepler / Los Angeles Times
Final Score
USC
9-13
UCLA
The Bruins ended the No. 2 Trojans’ 63-game streak of scoring 20-plus points per game and eliminated the Trojans’ from competing in their fourth-consecutive national title game. This was USC coach Pete Carroll’s second loss to a major rival (UCLA or Notre Dame).
USC dominance
“50-0”
USC quarterback Matt Barkley passes under pressure from the UCLA defense in the second quarter on Nov. 26, 2011 at the Coliseum. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
Final Score
USC
50-0
UCLA
USC was unable to play in the first Pac-12 championship game or bowl because of NCAA sanctions. The Trojans treated this game as their bowl game and routed the Bruins 50-0. USC quarterback Matt Barkley threw for 423 yards passing and six touchdowns while receiver Marqise Lee had 224 yards receiving, both records in the rivalry.
Balance
UCLA shocks
USC quarterback Matt Barkley passes under pressure from the UCLA defense in the second quarter on Nov. 26, 2011 at the Coliseum. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
Final Score
USC
27-34
UCLA
It was the first time in the rivalry that both teams came in with a combined 13 losses. UCLA running back Joshua Kelley carried 40 times for a career-high 289 yards, the most yards rushing for a player on either team in the history of the rivalry. The Bruins won 34-27 to end a three-game losing skid to the Trojans.
What the fans have to say
"As a fan this rivalry means everything to me , ucla has always been the underdog so beathing usc always tastes that much sweeter ,it's a unique rivalry as the 2 universities are literally in the same town and households are divided."
Jesse Saenz · 28 · Bell, CA
