UCLA vs USCVictory Bell
A 295-pound locomotive bell that set off a prank war between UCLA and USC, then became their trophy.
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Start a pick'em contestHow the Victory Bell came to be
UCLA's Alumni Association gave the locomotive bell to the UCLA student body in 1939, and Bruin cheerleaders rang it every time UCLA scored.
In 1941, six USC students (Trojan Knights who also belonged to the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity) posed as helpers at UCLA's season opener against Washington State, got the bell loaded onto a truck, pocketed the truck key and drove off with it.
USC kept the bell hidden for more than a year, moving it among the SigEp house basement, the Hollywood Hills, Santa Ana and other spots. The theft set off a prank war that included UCLA students painting the Tommy Trojan statue blue and USC students burning their school's letters into UCLA lawns.
When school officials threatened to call off the game, the two student body presidents, UCLA's Bill Farrer and USC's McKay, signed an agreement on November 12, 1942, in front of Tommy Trojan, making the bell the prize for the annual game. As part of the deal, USC's student body bought a half-interest in the bell for $150.
UCLA won the first game played for the bell, 14-7, on December 12, 1942.
The trophy itself. A 295-pound brass bell that once hung on a Southern Pacific railroad locomotive, mounted on a wheeled carriage. The winner keeps it for a year and repaints the carriage in its color: blue for UCLA, cardinal for USC.
Victory Bell history
- 1929
First meeting: USC beats UCLA 76-0 on September 28, 1929, still the most lopsided result in the series.
- 1939
UCLA's Alumni Association gives the Southern Pacific locomotive bell to the UCLA student body.
- 1941
Six USC students steal the bell at UCLA's opener against Washington State, touching off a prank war between the campuses.
- 1942
Student body presidents sign the Victory Bell agreement on November 12; UCLA wins the first trophy game 14-7 on December 12.
- 1967
No. 4 USC beats No. 1 UCLA 21-20 with the conference title and a Rose Bowl berth at stake; O.J. Simpson's 64-yard fourth-quarter run decides it, and UCLA's Gary Beban still wins the Heisman.
- 1998
UCLA's 34-17 win at the Rose Bowl completes eight straight victories (1991-1998), the longest winning streak in the series.
- 2010
NCAA sanctions vacate USC's December 2004 and 2005 wins, including two wins over UCLA, so those games are left out of official series records.
- 2025
USC beats UCLA 29-10 at the Coliseum on November 29, keeping the bell for a second straight year.
Recent results
| Season | Result | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | USC Trojans 29, UCLA Bruins 10 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum |
| 2024 | USC Trojans 19, UCLA Bruins 13 | Rose Bowl |
| 2023 | UCLA Bruins 38, USC Trojans 20 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum |
| 2022 | USC Trojans 48, UCLA Bruins 45 | Rose Bowl |
| 2021 | UCLA Bruins 62, USC Trojans 33 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum |
Victory Bell facts worth knowing
The bell weighs 295 pounds and started out on a Southern Pacific locomotive.
Whoever holds the bell repaints its carriage: blue at UCLA, cardinal at USC.
USC's student body bought a half-share in the bell for $150 as part of the 1942 deal that made it a trophy.
UCLA and USC had played each other every season from 1936 through 2025, 89 straight years according to UCLA Athletics.
USC's official series record leaves out two vacated wins over UCLA (2004 and 2005). Counting them, the on-field record would be 54-34-7.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Victory Bell?+
The Victory Bell is the trophy UCLA and USC play for in college football, first awarded in 1942. A 295-pound brass bell that once hung on a Southern Pacific railroad locomotive, mounted on a wheeled carriage. The winner keeps it for a year and repaints the carriage in its color: blue for UCLA, cardinal for USC.
How did the Victory Bell come to be?+
UCLA's Alumni Association gave the locomotive bell to the UCLA student body in 1939, and Bruin cheerleaders rang it every time UCLA scored.
Who has the Victory Bell right now?+
USC holds the Victory Bell after winning the 2025 game, USC 29, UCLA 10. The live block on this page updates as soon as the next meeting is played.
Who leads the UCLA-USC series?+
USC leads the all-time series 52-34-7 as of the end of the 2025 season. In games played for the Victory Bell since 1942, USC leads 47-34-4. Official record, which excludes USC's vacated 2004 and 2005 wins.
When is the next Victory Bell game?+
USC Trojans play at UCLA Bruins on Saturday, Nov 28, 2026 at Rose Bowl. Odds and the community lean post on the matchup page as the game approaches.
Where can I bet on the Victory Bell game?+
You can bet UCLA vs USC on BettorEdge, a peer-to-peer marketplace where you trade with other bettors rather than a sportsbook, so the price carries no built-in house vig. You can also run a free pick'em contest for the game with your group.
More college football
Records and the current holder are as of the end of the 2025 season; the next-game block and recent results update from ESPN. Official record, which excludes USC's vacated 2004 and 2005 wins.Sources: en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org, uclabruins.com, newsroom.ucla.edu.
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