The Big Game

      Through college football, rivalries are one of the biggest contributions to its competitive atmosphere. Rivalries like Michigan vs. Ohio State, Alabama vs. Auburn, or USC vs. Notre Dame are very competitive, but historic rivalries like Army vs. Navy or Harvard vs. Yale provide the same amount of pressure over bragging rights. One of the oldest rivalries in collegiate football, the local game between Cal and Stanford is what many people around the Bay watch. Known as the "Big Game", the annual event was first played in 1892 and alternates between location every year.  They compete for possession of the "Stanford Axe" Both colleges have had pregame traditions that include rallies, parties, and other athletic events. At Berkeley, they have a pep and bonfire rally  in Hearst Greek Theatre on the eve of Big Game called The Big Game Bonfire Rally" while Stanford has a rally on Angell Field organized by the Stanford Axe Committee. What this rivalry made ways in the 1980s was the 1982 Big Game which etched its name into college football history.

    The 85th Big Game was the most important game for both teams, as the Pac-12 title were far away from the 5-5 Cardinals and the 6-4 Bears. Even though Cal had the better record, there was more on the line for Stanford because if they won, they could be bowl eligible. The entire game was quite normal, with Cal scoring 10 in the first half and Stanford scoring 14 in the 3rd quarter, but the quarter being the most important. With Cal leading 19-17 later in the quarter, Stanford lead by John Elway, future NFL star and GM of the Denver Broncos, overcame a 4th-and-17 and scored a field goal with 8 seconds on the clock left. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty was called on Stanford after their field goal moving their kickoff from their 40-yard line to their 25-yard line. Rushing to make the field with only 4 seconds left, Cal could only get 10 players onto the field as Cal received the kick-off at their 45. They lateralled the ball five times as they had to run through the Stanford band who prematurely celebrated their victory. The Bears scored the touchdown, but the legitimacy of the play has remained controversial.

   Today, many Stanford fans continue to deny the play, and whenever Stanford has possession of the axe, they change the score back to 20-19. Although "The Play" only happened in 4 seconds, it amplified the rivalry between Stanford and Cal fans.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Play_(American_football)
http://www.sportsbusinesssims.com/cal-stanford-big-game-history.htm