Neither school has produced the season it envisioned. Both have been racked by injuries, Stanford entering 4-6, 3-5 Pac-12 and Cal 5-5, 2-5 Pac-12. The Cardinal boasts a series-high nine-game winning streak, but often, season records in the 121-year rivalry, prove meaningless.

"I have a lot of good friends on their team," he said. "We've been jabbing at each other a little bit and chopping it up. We're going to get after each other."

"I moved here in seventh grade, so I got to go to a couple games," said Jones, who lived in five cities growing up. "I didn't really pull for anybody, but I know it's a heated, long-term rivalry. I just picked up on the emotion that comes with the game."

Freshman running back Austin Jones attended Bishop O'Dowd High in the nearby East Bay and most of his friends are Cal fans. On Saturday, he will play in his first Big Game and try to help Stanford break their hearts.

"It's kind of crazy to hear our coaches talking about it's for the seniors and sitting back thinking, 'Oh, that's me,''' said Robinson. "It's been crazy to win those games with the senior classes and I'm starting to feel the importance of what this game means."

"I kind of felt it right when I stepped on campus," he said. "The Big Game is always circled. It should be fun to finally play in the game and I know there is a bunch of tradition behind it and all the ceremonies."

Stanford junior quarterback Davis Mills grew up in Duluth, Ga. and will experience his first start in the rivalry. He quickly discovered the significance of the contest.

"The records don't matter," said senior inside linebacker Curtis Robinson, who will play for the Axe for the fourth time. "We know that we're going to get their best shot because it's Big Game week. It's always that way."

"We talk about the streak," said Jones. "We always talk about how we don't want to let our seniors down and want them to put their pictures on the wall."

"It means more to us to win the Axe for the Stanford community as a whole," he said. "Obviously, it's very important to our pride as a team. But we understand we're playing for something bigger."

It's the Big Game, what else do you need to know?