The Zeitgeist List · Rivalries

Battle for the Victory Bell

UCLA34-54-7USC
National Program I#35 of 138▲Power Program I#13 of 138–
See both programs’ full 91-year Zeitgeist History, side by side →
Next meeting: Sat Nov 28 · time TBA, 24 days away.

6 players crossed straight to the rival since 2021 — the turncoat ledger →

USC leads the all-time series 54-34-7. They've met 95 times since 1929. UCLA once took 8 straight.

Current season

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

UCLA
Win total
10.5
Vegas over/under
Transfer portal
-1
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: +46
What fans are saying · player performance
One fan believes Nico's skills haven't improved as expected
His interceptions were some of the worst in all of cfb, and his QBR was in the bottom 10% of all FBS with an easy schedule.
Verified verbatim
USC
Win total
8.5
Vegas over/under
Transfer portal
-21
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: -43
What fans are saying · program direction
fans believe USC's frequent coaching changes hurt team stability
Sark and Kiffin faced uphill battles at USC due to NCAA sanctions and scholarship reductions. Both later learned under Nick Saban, gaining valuable experience from two legendary coaches.
Verified verbatim

Stature & the series, 1929–2025

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 timeUCLAUSCevery meeting (bar height = margin; dark: UCLA won, gray: USC won)19401960198020002020

The identity war

USC has been the more pass-heavy program more often than not.

Across 23 seasons of real play-level data (2004–2026), UCLA led 5 and USC led 18.

more passmore runUCLAUSC2004200620082010201220142016201820202022202420262020USC 20.3 ptsUSC won 43-382011USC 14.7 ptsUSC won 50-02023USC 12.3 ptsUCLA won 38-20
Source team_season_stats (CFBD season totals) · pass rate = passAttempts ÷ (passAttempts + rushingAttempts)

The biggest win was USC by 76 in 1929. The biggest crowd, 93,172, was in 2003.

The coaching duels

Terry Donahue vs John Robinson5-5
Red Sanders vs Jess Hill4-2
Tommy Prothro vs John McKay3-3
Terry Donahue vs Larry Smith2-3-1
Babe Horrell vs Jeff Cravath1-3-1
Bert LaBrucherie vs Jeff Cravath1-4

The draft ledger

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

Draft picks
174-293
USC leads
1st-rounders
27-73
Since
1967
First CFBD-carried draft class
UCLAUSC
1960s4-15
1970s33-59
1980s26-45
1990s27-37
2000s25-61
2010s37-49
2020s22-27

Best picks, either side

1989Troy Aikman Quarterback · Dallas CowboysRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
2024Caleb Williams Quarterback · Chicago BearsRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
1968Ron Yary Offensive Tackle · Minnesota VikingsRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
1969O.J. Simpson Running Back · Buffalo BillsRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
1977Ricky Bell Running Back · Tampa Bay BuccaneersRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
2003Carson Palmer Quarterback · Cincinnati BengalsRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
1991Eric Turner Defensive Back · Cleveland BrownsRd 1, pick 2#2 overall
1995Tony Boselli Offensive Tackle · Jacksonville JaguarsRd 1, pick 2#2 overall

Recent meetings

Gate premium

UCLA1.33×its own average home crowd
USC1.13×its own average home crowd
2025USC29-10
2024USC19-13
2023UCLA38-20USC — USC routed by 18
2022USC48-45UCLA — both ranked, decided by 3
2021UCLA62-33
2020USC43-38
2019USC52-35
2018UCLA34-27
2017USC28-23
2016USC36-14
2015USC40-21
2014UCLA38-20
2013UCLA35-14USC — both ranked, USC routed by 21
2012UCLA38-28

Every meeting since 2018, play by play

Each line is UCLA’s chance to win through that meeting. UCLA is 1-3 in the meetings since 2018 that were still close in the fourth quarter.

2025USC 29-10UCLA lost 10-29 at USC. Chance to win started at 6%, low under 1%, high 30%.Steady
2024USC 19-13UCLA lost 13-19 vs USC. Chance to win started at 40%, low 3%, high 72%.
2023UCLA 38-20UCLA won 38-20 at USC. Chance to win started at 31%, low 31%, high better than 99%.
2022USC 48-45UCLA lost 45-48 vs USC. Chance to win started at 41%, low 6%, high 82%.Busy
2021UCLA 62-33UCLA won 62-33 at USC. Chance to win started at 64%, low 45%, high better than 99%.
2020USC 43-38UCLA lost 38-43 vs USC. Chance to win started at 39%, low under 1%, high 94%.
2019USC 52-35UCLA lost 35-52 at USC. Chance to win started at 24%, low under 1%, high 41%.
2018UCLA 34-27UCLA won 34-27 vs USC. Chance to win started at 38%, low 8%, high 94%.
Read a quote from each meeting
  • 2025
    “I was about to say if another lineman was down field ...”
    A USC fan

Meetings with their own story page

11 meetings in our archive, 2015 to 2025.