Battle for the Golden Horseshoe
The Battle for the Golden Horseshoe is the annual college football rivalry between the UC Davis Aggies and the Cal Poly Mustangs. The teams began playing in 1939, and the rivalry got its official name and trophy in 2004.
How the trophy started: In 2004 both schools built trophies for the game. The teams decided that the winner’s trophy would become the official Golden Horseshoe. UC Davis won the first official trophy game 36–33.
Series and trophies: UC Davis leads the all-time series 29–20–2. The trophy has mostly stayed with UC Davis in recent years, but Cal Poly has held it in several years as well (2006, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016). UC Davis won the trophy in 2004, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021 (March and October), 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025. Cal Poly won in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2016.
Big wins and streaks: The largest UC Davis victory was 73–24 in 2021. UC Davis also holds a current nine-game winning streak in the series (2017–present).
Gems controversy: From 2006 to 2008, Cal Poly’s fan group added blue and green gems to the trophy. When UC Davis regained control in 2009, the gems were removed to keep the trophy in its original form.
Where they play: Both schools are California teams. Their football programs compete in the Big Sky Conference, while the schools themselves belong to different state systems—UC Davis is part of the University of California system, and Cal Poly is part of the California State University system.
Origins and culture: The first game in 1939 was in Davis and was broadcast to the Central Coast. About 200 Cal Poly fans traveled north for that matchup. After a lull, the series picked up again in 1976, when the rivalry was often called the Aggie Bowl due to the shared agriculture programs. The rivalry is based on mutual respect and shared California pride.
Recent notes: The latest game was on October 4, 2025, with UC Davis winning 34–27. The next meeting is scheduled for November 21, 2026.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 10:02 (CET).