The Cal Bears have known for months that they were hosting the first Big Game of the ACC era, and Monday the rivalry game against Stanford was assigned a kickoff time: 12:30 p.m.
The 127th Big Game on Nov. 23 at Memorial Stadium will also be broadcast on the ACC Network, the league and the schools announced Monday.
Cal (5-4, 1-4 ACC) has won the past three Big Game matchups and four of the last five, including a 27-15 victory at Stanford Stadium last season in their final game as members of the Pac-12 conference.
Stanford (2-7, 1-5 ACC) last won the Axe during the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season, holding on for a 24-23 victory when Thomas Booker blocked Cal’s potential game-tying extra-point attempt with 58 second remaining after the Bears had just completed a 90-yard scoring drive. Because of the pandemic, the only fans in the stands for the game were two Cal students guarding the Axe from the front row behind the Cal bench.
BERKELEY, CA – NOV. 27: Two Cal Rally Committee members guard the Stanford Axe before the 123rd Big Game at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 27, 2020. No fans will be allowed into the stadium due to the pandemic. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
This year’s Big Game will be the final regular home game of the regular season for the Bears, who can become bowl eligible by winning one of their final three games. Cal plays host to Syracuse (6-3, 3-3 ACC) on Saturday at noon and ends the season on Nov. 30 at SMU.
Stanford also has three regular season games remaining. The Cardinal play its final home game Saturday at 12:30 against No. 22 Louisville and ends the season at San Jose State on Nov. 29 in the first Bill Walsh legacy game since 2013.