UCLA vs. Cal: the rivalry continues on social media

In the academic world, people frequently pit UCLA and Cal (UC Berkeley), two of the nation's finest public universities, against each other. However, rather than a brutal online rivalry, these two California public universities engage in a friendly intellectual competition. They frequently find themselves side by side on various university national rankings. Despite some mockery and comparisons on social media, the general consensus is that this rivalry is ultimately friendly, unlike Alabama vs. Auburn or Michigan State vs. Michigan.

While both universities have strong reputations, they also have their unique strengths as institutions of higher education. They frequently swap positions across various lists. For instance, Berkeley consistently ranks high on research-focused lists, while UCLA excels on those that prioritize student experience. Recent rankings have sparked an online competition between students from both colleges to determine which public school is the best. Opinions vary on the nature of the competition between these two prestigious colleges within the same system; some view it as a spirited academic rivalry, while others see it as a contentious battle.

UCLA may have started the "playful banter" with a TikTok hashtag of Still #1.

Cal Berkeley may have ignited the debate by using the hashtag #HolyAirBall to support their claim of being the best public university in the country.

UCLA alums may then, in response, continue to post this former social media response "playfully" and not to "cross the line" in this in-state academic rivalry.

However, they have both partnered in the past, boycotting the U.S. News & World Report law school rankings for various reasons. UCLA, though, proudly posts about its overall rankings from the national publication.

UCLA, though, still recognizes and promotes their overall national ranking for U.S. News & World Report.

Both sides have referenced articles in the past, such as the one from 2019 via the San Francisco Chronicle. In the article it begins with, "California’s most important educational institution is UCLA—and the contest really isn’t close.”

Regardless, there is nothing wrong with a classic rivalry between two renowned and respected California state universities.