Notre Dame–Stanford football rivalry

Notre Dame vs. Stanford
Teams	Notre Dame Fighting Irish Stanford Cardinal
Originated	1925 (Modern Series 1988)
Series	Notre Dame leads, 17–9
Current Champion	Stanford
Trophy	Legends Trophy

The Notre Dame–Stanford football rivalry is an American college football rivalry game played by the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team of the University of Notre Dame and the Stanford Cardinal football team of Stanford University. As of 2011, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Stanford Cardinal have met 26 times, beginning in 1925 (though the modern series began in 1988).^[1] The Notre Dame–Stanford game has been played annually since 1997, and the game site alternates between Notre Dame Stadium in even-numbered years and Stanford Stadium in odd-numbered years.

Trophy

The Legends Trophy, an Irish crystal glass on a California redwood base awarded to the winner of the annual Notre Dame – Stanford football game, has resided at Stanford since 2009.

The winner of the game gains the Legends Trophy, an Irish crystal glass on a California redwood base.^[1][2][3][4] The trophy was presented for the first time in 1989 by the Notre Dame Club of the San Francisco Bay Area.^[1][5][6]

Series history

The series began on January 1, 1925 (the end of the 1924 season) when Notre Dame's Four Horsemen and head coach Knute Rockne faced Stanford's Ernie Nevers and head coach Pop Warner at the 1925 Rose Bowl.^[7][8][9] Notre Dame's 27–10 victory earned their first-ever national championship and the first of four national titles to come via bowl victories.^[1]

After the two teams' first meeting at the 1925 Rose Bowl, they did not play each other again until 1942.^[7] They did not meet again until playing two games in 1963 and 1964. Those four games were the only games before the modern series began. Notre Dame and Stanford have played the modern series annually since 1988 (except in 1995 and 1996).^[1]

Game results

As of 2011, Notre Dame leads the series 17–9.^[1] The Fighting Irish hold the longest win-streak in the series, with 7 wins from 2002–2008.^[1][7] The Cardinal's back-to-back wins in 2009 and 2010 are the school's first consecutive victories; the 2011 victory also made it Stanford's first three-game streak.^[1] Notre Dame is 10–3 at home while Stanford is 6–6 at home.^[1][7] Notre Dame won the only game played at a neutral site at the 1925 Rose Bowl.^[7]
Notre Dame victories are shaded ██ blue. Stanford victories are shaded ██ cardinal.

References