Look: The strange tradition of the Stanford Axe

In many rivalries, there are unique traditions that take place before, during, and after the game, and Stanford-Cal is no exception.

Both teams play for the Stanford Axe, the trophy that's awarded to the winning side. Each year, with under two minutes to go, the committees for both sides head down to the field's 50-yard line and engage in "The Stare Down."

When the game ends, the winning committee accepts the trophy until the game is played the following year. Depending on who wins, the score of their 1982 game is changed on the trophy, but is always restored to the official result before next season's rivalry meeting.

In 1982, Cal won the game on one of college football's famous plays: The Stanford band ran onto the field thinking it was over, when in fact it wasn't. When the Cardinal hold the axe, the score is switched from California 25, Stanford 20 to California 19, Stanford 20.

The Cardinal won 45-31 for the seventh straight year Saturday, so the 1982 score will be 20-19 once again.