Stanford secured the Axe with a dominant 31-10 Big Game victory over California, sparked by a defensive masterclass featuring two fumble returns for touchdowns by Jay Green and Darrius Davis. After trailing 3-0 early, the Cardinal defense took control while quarterback Elijah Brown connected with CJ Williams on a 34-yard touchdown strike to put the game away. Stanford outscored the Golden Bears 17-0 in the second half to claim bragging rights in the storied rivalry.