The secret to success in college football is having a deep understanding of your rivalry. It will provide you with less-expected happenings as well as the path of proper preparedness. The oldest and most competitive CFB team, Stanford Cardinal, can also use it. The team’s two major rivals, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the California Golden Bears, are evident if we delve very deeply into the squad’s past. Now, check out their rivalry.

Let’s start with the Big Game, the rivalry between Stanford and the Golden Bears. In the Pac-12 and the western United States, this rivalry was the oldest and most illustrious. The California and Stanford Cardinals played a game each year, generally in late November or early December. The Stanford Axe was given to the winner of the game. Most recently, they faced off in an NCAAM game on March 7, 2024, with Stanford defeating the Golden Bears 80-58. Proceed to the next now.

Do you know what the Legends Trophy is? Well, the Fighting Irish and the Cardinal are vying for this trophy. Every year since 1997, the game has taken place in Stanford Stadium in odd-numbered years and Notre Dame Stadium in even-numbered years. So, this year, on Saturday, October 12, 2024, in Notre Dame Stadium, the No. 11 Notre Dame (4-1) takes on the Stanford Cardinal (2-3).

However, not only Notre Dame and Golden Bears but the Stanford Cardinal have more rivalries in college football. Let’s explore it in detail.

Stanford Cardinal’s other rivalries

After USC won three national titles in five years, the rivalry between the Stanford and Trojans really got going in the 1930s. Following a heartbreaking 1932 setback to an unbeaten USC squad, a group of freshmen at Stanford made a vow never to lose to USC again. Safe to say, the “Vow Boys” delivered on their threat, defeating the Trojans in their next three meetings, starting with the 1933 victory that ended USC’s 27-game-winning run. Recently, Stanford defeated USC 99-68 on February 10, 2024.

The Stanford football programs occasionally play against a number of collegiate football powerhouses, therefore, their rivalry list doesn’t end here. However, the aforementioned rivalries are the most important.

In addition, they faced up against teams like Virginia Tech and Oregon. Troy Taylor is in his second season leading the Cardinals as their head coach right now. As a result, the team joined the ACC after quitting the Pac-12 Conference. In addition, the squad has had highs and lows; on August 30, 2024, they lost to the TCU Horned Frogs 27-34 in the season opener. However, the crew continued to jump and get ready for the next.