The Zeitgeist List · Rivalries

Legends Trophy

Stanford14-26Notre Dame
Regional Program I#71 of 138–Power Program I#7 of 138–
See both programs’ full 91-year Zeitgeist History, side by side →
This year’s game — the live preview →

Notre Dame leads the all-time series 26-14. They've met 40 times since 1924. Notre Dame has won the last 4.

Current season

Vegas win totals and transfer-portal swing right now, plus what fans are actually saying — not history, this year.

Stanford
Win total
3.5
Vegas over/under
Transfer portal
-13
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: -22
What fans are saying · player performance
One fan believes Andrew Luck could improve the team's offense
We might’ve actually had a chance to win this with Andrew luck in there at qb
Verified verbatim
Notre Dame
Transfer portal
-19
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: -30
What fans are saying · scheme identity
fans believe Notre Dame's defense has practiced against mobile quarterbacks
ND vs Rice - 28-10 Rice is a huge underdog so I expect them to use that spread triple-option to play keepaway most of the game.
Verified verbatim

Stature & the series, 1924–2026

Both programs’ standing over time, each line named at its end, with every meeting beneath — read down to see who was bigger and who won. (Stature is each program’s season-by-season standing on the Zeitgeist List, 1936–present — one score blending on-field performance, program achievement, and roster talent.)

program stature over timeStanfordNotre Dameevery meeting (bar height = margin; dark: Stanford won, gray: Notre Dame won)19401960198020002020

The identity war

Notre Dame was the more pass-heavy program — then Stanford took it over.

Notre Dame threw it more in 11 of 13 seasons, 2004–2016. Since 2017, Stanford has led 10 of 10. Real exceptions: 2004, 2007.

more passmore runStanfordNotre Dame2004200620082010201220142016201820202022202420262017Stanford 4.5 ptsStanford won 38-202004Stanford 9.6 ptsNotre Dame won 23-152007Stanford 1.6 ptsNotre Dame won 21-14
Source team_season_stats (CFBD season totals) · pass rate = passAttempts ÷ (passAttempts + rushingAttempts)

Notre Dame once won 7 in a row. The biggest win was Notre Dame by 51 in 2026. The biggest crowd, 80,975, was in 2012.

The coaching duels

David Shaw vs Brian Kelly5-5
Tyrone Willingham vs Bob Davie3-2
Dennis Green vs Lou Holtz1-2
Bill Walsh vs Lou Holtz1-2
Buddy Teevens vs Tyrone Willingham0-3
Jim Harbaugh vs Charlie Weis1-2

The draft ledger

Every NFL Draft pick either program has produced since the modern era began, decade by decade.

Draft picks
164-262
Notre Dame leads
1st-rounders
19-47
Since
1967
First CFBD-carried draft class
StanfordNotre Dame
1960s7-17
1970s24-36
1980s18-28
1990s26-57
2000s30-42
2010s42-43
2020s17-39

Best picks, either side

1971Jim Plunkett Quarterback · New England PatriotsRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
1983John Elway Quarterback · Baltimore ColtsRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
2012Andrew Luck Quarterback · Indianapolis ColtsRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
1972Walt Patulski Defensive End · Buffalo BillsRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
1969George Kunz Offensive Tackle · Atlanta FalconsRd 1, pick 2#2 overall
1970Mike McCoy Defensive Tackle · Green Bay PackersRd 1, pick 2#2 overall
1976Steve Niehaus Defensive Tackle · Seattle SeahawksRd 1, pick 2#2 overall
1993Rick Mirer Quarterback · Seattle SeahawksRd 1, pick 2#2 overall

Recent meetings

Gate premium

Notre Dame1.10×its own average home crowd

A modest gap over a small sample of games — real, but not a dramatic swing.

2026Notre Dame58-7
2025Notre Dame49-20
2024Notre Dame49-7
2023Notre Dame56-23
2022Stanford16-14Notre Dame — Notre Dame favored by 16.5
2021Notre Dame45-14
2019Notre Dame45-24
2018Notre Dame38-17
2017Stanford38-20Notre Dame — both ranked, Notre Dame routed by 18
2016Stanford17-10
2015Stanford38-36Notre Dame — both ranked, decided by 2
2014Notre Dame17-14
2013Stanford27-20
2012Notre Dame20-13

Every meeting since 2018, play by play

Each line is Stanford’s chance to win through that meeting.

2026Notre Dame 58-7Stanford lost 7-58 at Notre Dame. Never had a real chance.Busy
2025Notre Dame 49-20Stanford lost 20-49 vs Notre Dame. Chance to win started at 3%, low under 1%, high 3%.Steady
2024Notre Dame 49-7Stanford lost 7-49 at Notre Dame. Chance to win started at 6%, low under 1%, high 46%.
2023Notre Dame 56-23Stanford lost 23-56 vs Notre Dame. Chance to win started at 5%, low under 1%, high 12%.Steady
2022Stanford 16-14Stanford won 16-14 at Notre Dame. Chance to win started at 15%, low 13%, high 91%.Steady
2021Notre Dame 45-14Stanford lost 14-45 vs Notre Dame. Chance to win started at 7%, low under 1%, high 12%.
2019Notre Dame 45-24Stanford lost 24-45 vs Notre Dame. Chance to win started at 16%, low under 1%, high 54%.
2018Notre Dame 38-17Stanford lost 17-38 at Notre Dame. Chance to win started at 39%, low 1%, high 53%.
Read a quote from each meeting
  • 2026
    “What more does a man need to do to be made RB1?”
    A fan of another team
  • 2025
    “Marcus is addicted to fake punts”
    A fan of another team

Meetings with their own story page

4 meetings in our archive, 2015 to 2022.