USC vs. UCLA Football Game

With only 12 miles to separate them, that the Bruins and the Trojans annual meeting would grow into one of the NCAA’s ultimate rivalry’s was nearly inevitable. The teams regularly field strong sports programs, with hosts of champions in football, baseball and basketball.

But the football equation presents a unique dynamic – the teams call two of the world’s greatest stadium home – the LA Coliseum and the Rose Bowl, respectively, and they rotate the annual contest between the them.

Though USC has one of the most winning programs in NCAA football, the Bruins regularly make for stiff competition. There have been years where the Trojans were thought to be a shoe-in for the national championship, only to have their dreams dashed in this cross-town rivalry.

The game, of course, has its quirks. Each team takes steps to ensure that their mascots’ campus statues aren’t destroyed or otherwise maligned – the brass “Tommy Trojan” is wrapped in protective tissue for game week, while UCLA’s Bruin statue similarly goes into hibernation.