Upcoming Stanford Cardinal Football dates
Dates and live ticket listings appear here as soon as they are on sale. The guide below covers what to know before you buy.
Stanford football in brief: Rose Bowls, quarterbacks and the Farm
The Stanford Cardinal play home football games at Stanford Stadium, a 50,424-seat open-air stadium on the Stanford University campus next to Palo Alto. Home games fall on Saturdays from late August or September through late November, and since 2024 Stanford has played in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) after more than a century in the Pacific Coast Conference and its successors, ending with the Pac-12.
Stanford played in the first Rose Bowl, against Michigan in 1902, and has appeared in the game 15 times, the third-most of any school. It claims national championships in 1926, under Pop Warner, and 1940, when Clark Shaughnessy's T-formation "Wow Boys" went unbeaten. The program is known for quarterbacks: Jim Plunkett won the 1970 Heisman Trophy, the only Stanford winner, and John Elway and Andrew Luck both finished second in the voting. Bill Walsh coached here twice, and Jim Harbaugh's 2007 team beat No. 1 USC as a 41-point underdog, often called the biggest upset in college football history.
The 2010s were the program's modern peak, with three Rose Bowl trips in four seasons and a No. 3 final ranking after the 2015 season. The nickname has changed over the years: Stanford teams were the "Indians" from 1930 to 1972 and the "Cardinals" through 1981, and the singular "Cardinal" has been used since the 1982 season.
Where to sit at Stanford Stadium
The current stadium opened on September 16, 2006, after the original 1921 bowl, which once held more than 85,000 and hosted Super Bowl XIX in 1985, was demolished at the end of the 2005 season. The rebuild removed the running track and cut capacity to about 50,000, bringing every seat closer to the field. The playing surface sits 29 feet below ground level, so you enter at the concourse and walk down to most seats.
The layout is a rectangle. The sideline sections run 43 rows deep and the end zones only 22 rows, with 30 rows below the skybox. That geometry is useful when you buy: even the top of an end zone section is not far from the field, and the upper rows of the sidelines have a clear, high view of the whole play.
Sideline vs. end zone
Sideline seats between the 30-yard lines are the best views. Because the end zones are shallow, an end zone seat is a reasonable budget choice for watching goal-line plays, but the far end of the field is a long look away. Corner seats in the lower sideline rows offer a middle ground for both price and sightline.
Sun and shade
The field runs northwest to southeast. For afternoon games, the stands on the southwest side have the sun at their backs, while the northeast-side stands look toward the afternoon sun. On a warm early-season afternoon, sunscreen and a hat are worth bringing for the northeast side; for night games and late-season kickoffs, the difference fades.
Premium seating
Stanford sells several premium options, including Director's Level seating, Field Boxes and Archway Cabanas that hold groups of up to 20, and the Sky Deck Lounge for larger parties. These are sold through the athletics ticket office rather than on the open market in most cases.
The Big Game and the Stanford home dates that draw
The Big Game against California, first played in 1892, is the oldest rivalry in the western United States. The winner takes the Stanford Axe, a trophy awarded since 1933. The game alternates sites: odd-numbered years at Stanford and even-numbered years in Berkeley. It is traditionally played in late November or early December, and the week before brings rallies at both schools, including Stanford's Gaieties, a student theatrical production that pokes fun at the rivalry. The 1982 game produced "The Play," Cal's five-lateral kickoff return through the Stanford band, the rivalry's most famous moment.
Notre Dame is the other marquee name; the teams play for the Legends Trophy and have met almost every year since 1988. In the ACC, Stanford's protected annual opponents are California and SMU, with the rest of the 17-team league rotating through. The ACC moved to a nine-game conference schedule in 2026. Long-standing series with Oregon and UCLA went dormant after the Pac-12 broke apart.
- Highest demand: the Big Game in odd years and Notre Dame home games.
- Moderate demand: top ACC visitors and Homecoming.
- Easiest tickets: early-season non-conference games.
Gameday on the Farm: the band, the Tree and tailgating
The Leland Stanford Junior University Marching Band, founded in 1893 and almost entirely student-run since the 1960s, bills itself as "The World's Largest Rock and Roll Band." It traded military-style marching music and uniforms for a mostly rock and roll repertoire, and its mascot is the Stanford Tree.
Tailgating is permitted in the designated campus lots, which open five hours before kickoff, according to Stanford Athletics. Group tailgate packages are offered on Maloney Field and Avery Plaza. Inside the stadium, beer, wine and ready-to-drink cocktails are sold through the third quarter, and outside alcohol is not allowed.
Getting there
Transit is unusually good for a college stadium. The Palo Alto Caltrain station is a short walk from the stadium, and the free Marguerite shuttle loops the campus. BART, SamTrans and VTA connect to the area, and rideshare drop-off is designated near the Oval. Parking requires a valid pass, and cash is not accepted in several general lots. Check Stanford's football gameday page for the current lot list and transit details.
How Stanford football tickets work
Stanford sells season tickets, a three-game flex plan, single-game tickets and group tickets for parties of 15 or more, along with parking passes and premium spaces. Donor giving through the athletics fund generally drives priority for the best season seats, and students attend through the Red Zone student program. Season ticket members also get first access to road-game tickets before the public on-sale.
For most of the schedule, getting a seat is not difficult in a stadium of this size. The exception is the Big Game in odd-numbered years and a Notre Dame visit, when sideline seats tend to go early and resale becomes the main route in. Prices for those games tend to climb as kickoff approaches if both teams arrive with something to play for. Every GoodSeats order is backed by a 100% guarantee.
Stanford Stadium bag policy and entry
As of the 2026 season, Stanford requires clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bags no larger than 12 by 6 by 12 inches, or small clutches up to 4.5 by 6.5 inches, at all athletics events. Gates open about 90 minutes before kickoff, and security screens bags with metal detectors. Tickets are mobile only: add them to your phone's wallet before you arrive, since screenshots are not accepted. Policies can change, so check Stanford Athletics before you go.
Frequently asked questions
How many people does Stanford Stadium hold?
Stanford Stadium seats 50,424. It was rebuilt in 2006 after the original 1921 stadium, which held more than 85,000, was demolished.
When is the Big Game played at Stanford?
The Big Game against California alternates sites, with Stanford hosting in odd-numbered years and Berkeley in even-numbered years. It is traditionally played in late November or early December.
Can you take Caltrain to Stanford football games?
Yes. The Palo Alto Caltrain station is a short walk from Stanford Stadium, and the free Marguerite shuttle also serves the campus.
What conference is Stanford football in?
Stanford joined the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2024 after the Pac-12 broke apart. Its protected annual ACC opponents are California and SMU.
What bags are allowed at Stanford Stadium?
As of the 2026 season, clear bags up to 12 by 6 by 12 inches and small clutches up to 4.5 by 6.5 inches are allowed. Check Stanford Athletics for the current policy before you go.