For the past six years, the Big Game has been more dull repetition than bitter rivalry.
Stanford, Cal’s historically biggest foe, has won every year since 2010 and by a whopping average of 23.2 points — including a 63-13 drudging in 2013, Sonny Dykes’ first season with the Bears. As much as Cal football (4-6, 2-5 Pac-12) might want to advertise the rivalry year in and year out, the reality is the Cardinal (7-3, 5-3) have needed to focus more on defeating the likes of USC and Oregon, not their struggling cross-bay opponents.
“There’s so much tradition and so much pageantry and so many great players that played in game.