Super Bowl The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League ( NFL ) , the highest level of professional American football in the United States , culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year . The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game , rather than the year in which it is held . For example , Super Bowl I was played on January 15 , 1967 , following the regular season played in 1966 , while Super Bowl XLV was played on February 6 , 2011 , to determine the champion of the 2010 regular season . The game was created as part of a merger agreement between the NFL and its then - rival league , the American Football League ( AFL ) . It was agreed that the two leagues ' champion teams would play in an AFL – NFL World Championship Game until the merger was to officially begin in 1970 . After the merger , each league was redesignated as a " conference " , and the game was then played between the conference champions . The day on which the Super Bowl is played is now considered a " de facto " American national holiday , called " Super Bowl Sunday " . It is the second - largest day for U . S . food consumption , after Thanksgiving Day . In addition , the Super Bowl has frequently been the most - watched American television broadcast of the year . Super Bowl XLV played in 2011 became the most - watched American television program in history , drawing an average audience of 111 million viewers and taking over the spot held by the previous year ' s Super Bowl , which itself had taken over the # 1 spot held for twenty - eight years by the final episode of " M * A * S * H " . The Super Bowl is also among the most watched sporting events in the world , mostly due to North American audiences , and is second to Association football ' s UEFA Champions League final as the most watched annual sporting event worldwide . Because of its high viewership , commercial airtime during the Super Bowl broadcast is the most expensive of the year . Due to the high cost of investing in advertising on the Super Bowl , companies regularly develop their most expensive advertisements for this broadcast . As a result , watching and discussing the broadcast ' s commercials has become a significant aspect of the event . In addition , many popular singers and musicians have performed during the event ' s pre - game and halftime ceremonies because of the exposure . Origin . The Super Bowl was created as part of the merger agreement between the National Football League ( NFL ) and its competitive rival , the American Football League ( AFL ) . After its inception in 1920 , the NFL fended off several rival leagues before the AFL began play in 1960 . The intense competitive war for players and fans led to serious merger talks between the two leagues in 1966 . The name derives from a college football game which started in Pasadena , CA in 1902 , was subsequently named the Tournament of Roses , and which moved to the Rose Bowl stadium in 1923 . The Pasadena stadium was called " Rose " because it was built to host the Tournament of Roses football game , and " Bowl " because it resembles a bowl . Demonstrating a confusion between its venue and the contest itself , the Tournament of Roses soon became known as the Rose Bowl . Exploiting the popularity of the Rose Bowl stadium and the college championship game of the same name , the Orange Bowl and Sugar Bowl football games were created in 1935 , followed by the Cotton Bowl in 1937 ( at a bowl - shaped stadium called the Cotton Bowl in Dallas , Texas ) . " Bowl " thus became a standard term , and other " bowl games " were created in later years . The NFL championship started in 1967 when the bowl games were already well known to football fans . The NFL and AFL agreed to merge before the 1966 season . The first championship game between the two leagues ; champions was to take place after that season . Kansas City Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt first used the term " Super Bowl " to refer to this game in the merger meetings . Hunt would later say the name was likely in his head because his children had been playing with a Super Ball toy . ( A vintage example of the ball is on display at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton , Ohio . ) In a July 25 , 1966 , letter to NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle , Hunt wrote , " I have kiddingly called it the ' Super Bowl , ' which obviously can be improved upon . " Although the leagues ' owners decided on the name " AFL - NFL Championship Game , " the media immediately picked up on Hunt ' s " Super Bowl " name , which would become official beginning with the third annual game . After the NFL ' s Green Bay Packers won the first two Super Bowls , some team owners feared for the future of the merger . At the time , many doubted the competitiveness of AFL teams compared with NFL counterparts , though that perception changed with the AFL ' s New York Jets ' defeat of the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III in Miami . One year later , the AFL Kansas City Chiefs defeated the NFL Minnesota Vikings 23 – 7 and won Super Bowl IV in New Orleans , the final world championship game played between the champions of the two leagues , as the league merger finally took place later that year . Beginning with the 1970 season , the former AFL teams and three NFL teams formed the American Football Conference and the remaining NFL teams formed the National Football Conference , with the AFC and NFC champions meeting in each year ' s Super Bowl . The game is played annually on a Sunday as the final game of the NFL Playoffs . Originally , the game took place in early to mid - January , following a fourteen - game regular season and two rounds of playoffs . Over the years , the date of the Super Bowl has progressed from the second Sunday in January , to the third , then the fourth Sunday in January ; the game is currently played on the first Sunday in February , given the current seventeen - week ( sixteen games and one bye week ) regular season and three rounds of playoffs . Also , February is television ' s " sweeps " month and it affords the television network carrying the game an immense opportunity to pad its viewership when negotiating for advertising revenue . The progression of the dates of the Super Bowl was caused by several factors : the expansion of the NFL ' s regular season in 1978 from fourteen games to sixteen ; the expansion of the pre - Super Bowl playoff field from eight to twelve teams , necessitating the addition of a third round of playoffs ( also in 1978 ) the addition of the regular season bye - week in the 1990s ; and the decision to start the regular season the week following Labor Day . The winning team receives the Vince Lombardi Trophy , named after the coach of the Green Bay Packers , who won the first two Super Bowl games and three of the five preceding NFL championships in 1961 , 1962 , and 1965 . Following his death in September 1970 , the trophy was named the Vince Lombardi Trophy , and was first awarded as such to the Baltimore Colts at Super Bowl V in Miami . Game history . The Pittsburgh Steelers have won six Super Bowls , while two other teams , the Dallas Cowboys and the San Francisco 49ers , have each won five . Fourteen other NFL franchises have won at least one Super Bowl . Only four active NFL franchises , the Cleveland Browns , Detroit Lions , Jacksonville Jaguars and the Houston Texans , have not appeared in the Super Bowl : The Browns and Lions have both won NFL championships prior to the Super Bowl era , while the Jaguars ( who joined the NFL in 1995 ) and Texans ( 2002 ) joined the league after the era began . 1966 - 1967 : Packers early success . The Green Bay Packers won the first two Super Bowls , defeating the AFL Kansas City Chiefs and the AFL Oakland Raiders following the 1966 and 1967 seasons , respectively . The Packers were led by quarterback Bart Starr , who was named the Most Valuable Player ( MVP ) for both games . These two championships , coupled with the Packers ' NFL championships in 1961 , 1962 , and 1965 have led many people to consider the Packers to be the " Team of the ' 60s . " , USA . " 1968 – 1980 AFL / AFC dominance . In Super Bowl III , behind the guarantee of quarterback Joe Namath and former Baltimore Colts coach Weeb Ewbank , the New York Jets defeated the eighteen - point favorite Baltimore Colts 16 – 7 . The win demonstrated the AFL as a legitimate contender with the NFL . In Super Bowl IV the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Minnesota Vikings 23 – 7 . In time , the AFC dominated the 1970s , though five of those wins were by pre - merger NFL teams that had been moved to the AFC ( Colts and Steelers ) . The Dallas Cowboys were the only NFC franchise to claim a Super Bowl during the 1970s decade , winning Super Bowl VI and Super Bowl XII . Dominant franchises . During the 1970s , the majority of the Super Bowls were won by just three teams , the Dallas Cowboys , the Miami Dolphins , and the Pittsburgh Steelers , winning a combined eight championships in the decade . Dallas won Super Bowls VI and XII . Miami won Super Bowls VII and VIII . The first of these Super Bowl wins capped the only undefeated and untied season in the history of the NFL at 17 - 0 . The Minnesota Vikings played in four Super Bowls in the 1970s , but lost each of them . The Steelers dominate late 1970s . Pittsburgh won Super Bowls IX , X , XIII , and XIV between 1974 and 1979 , behind the leadership of head coach Chuck Noll , and the play of offense stars Terry Bradshaw , Franco Harris , Lynn Swann , John Stallworth , and Mike Webster and their " Steel Curtain " dominant defense led by " Mean " Joe Greene , L . C . Greenwood , Ernie Holmes , Mel Blount , Jack Ham , and Jack Lambert . The coaches and administrators also were part of the dynasty ' s greatness as evidenced by the team ' s " final pieces " being part of the famous 1974 draft . The selections in that class have been considered the best by any pro franchise ever , as Pittsburgh selected four future Hall of Famers , the most for any team in any sport in a single draft . The Steelers were the first team to win three and then four Super Bowls and appeared in six AFC Championship Game s during the decade , making the playoffs in eight straight seasons . Nine players and three coaches and administrators on the team have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame . Pittsburgh still remains the only team to win back - to - back Super Bowls twice and four Super Bowls in a six - year period . The late 1970s also featured the Dallas Cowboys advancing to three Super Bowls , losing two of them to the Steelers , and winning Super Bowl XII . 1981 – 1996 : The NFC ' s winning streak . NFC teams won fifteen of sixteen Super Bowls during this period , including a thirteen game - win streak from 1984 to 1996 . All of the NFC winners during this period are considered apart of the NFL " royalty , " older franchises with long rivalries and multiple championships in several decades . The 49ers lead the NFC domination of the 1980s . The most successful franchise of the 1980s was the San Francisco 49ers , who won four Super Bowls in the decade ( XVI , XIX , XXIII , and XXIV ) . In addition to the Super Bowl championships , the 49ers made the playoffs nine seasons between 1981 and 1990 , including eight division championships . They were best known for head coach Bill Walsh and his west coast offense . The offense was led by three - time Super Bowl MVP quarterback Joe Montana Super Bowl MVP wide receiver Jerry Rice and Tight End Dwight Clark . The 1980s also included the 1985 Chicago Bears led by quarterback Jim McMahon and legendary running back Walter Payton , who finished the season with an 18 – 1 record , winning Super Bowl XX . The Oakland Raiders were the only AFC franchise to win a Super Bowl in the 1980s , winning Super Bowls XV , and XVIII ( as the Los Angeles Raiders ) . The Washington Redskins won Super Bowls XVII and XXII , while their NFC East rivals , the New York Giants , won Super Bowls XXI and XXV . The Cowboys in the early 1990s . The Dallas Cowboys became the dominant team in the NFL in the mid - 1990s . After championships by division rivals New York and Washington to start the decade , the Cowboys won three of the next four Super Bowls . With Super Bowl XXIX , the 49ers became the first team to win five Super Bowls and also appeared in 5 NFC Championship games in the 90 ' s . Including 4 of the first 5 of the decade and 1 versus the Packers following the 1997 season with Green Bay continuing on to the Super Bowl that year . The Cowboys also won their fifth title ( Super Bowl XXX ) in the decade and appeared in four NFC championship games as well , winning with both a balanced offense and dominant defense . The 49ers and the Cowboys faced each other in three consecutive NFC championships . As both teams began to lose their dominance late into the decade , another NFC powerhouse , the Green Bay Packers , led by three time MVP quarterback Brett Favre , emerged , winning Super Bowl XXXI following the 1996 season . The early 1990s also featured the Buffalo Bills , who became the only team to date to appear in four consecutive Super Bowls ; however , they lost all four . 1997 – 2006 : the AFC rises again . In Super Bowl XXXII , John Elway led the Denver Broncos to an upset victory over the defending champion , the Green Bay Packers , snapping the NFC ' s thirteen - game winning streak , and beginning their own streak , in which AFC teams would win eight of the following ten Super Bowls . The Broncos would defeat the Atlanta Falcons the following season in Super Bowl XXXIII , which was John Elway ' s final game . After an NFC win by the St . Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXIV , the AFC followed with wins by the Baltimore Ravens and New England Patriots . The Patriots dominate the early 2000s . The New England Patriots became the dominant team throughout the early 2000s , winning the championship in three out of four years early in the decade . In Super Bowl XXXVI , Super Bowl MVP quarterback Tom Brady led his team to a 20 – 17 upset victory over the Rams . The Patriots also won consecutive Super Bowls XXXVIII and XXXIX . In the 2007 season , the Patriots went 16 - 0 in the regular season and were strong favorites in Super Bowl XLII , however they lost that game to the New York Giants . The Patriots became the only team to finish the season 18 – 1 and not win the Super Bowl . That Super Bowl began a three - game playoff losing streak for the Patriots , even though they were heavy favorites in each game . 2007 – present : Parity . The second half of the 2000s featured parity among both conferences . The Pittsburgh Steelers and Indianapolis Colts continued the era of AFC dominance by winning Super Bowls XL and XLI respectively , with the Steelers winning an NFL record sixth Super Bowl championship in Super Bowl XLIII . With three NFC teams , the New York Giants , New Orleans Saints , and Green Bay Packers , logging Super Bowl victories in the next four seasons , the NFC has shown an increased parity when it comes to the League championship . The Super Bowls of the late 2000s are marked by the performances by the winning quarterbacks . Peyton Manning , Eli Manning , Drew Brees , and Aaron Rodgers each had a memorable MVP performance as they added championships to their lists of individual accomplishments . Television coverage and ratings . For many years , the Super Bowl has possessed a large US television viewership , and it is often the most watched television program of the year . The game tends to have high Nielsen television ratings , which is usually around a 40 rating and 60 share . This means that on average , 80 to 90 million Americans are tuned into the Super Bowl at any given moment . A frequently misquoted figure from NFL press releases has led to the common perception that the Super Bowl has an annual global audience of around one billion people . In reality , the NFL states one billion as the game ' s " potential " worldwide audience , or the number of people able to watch the game . 2011 ' s Super Bowl XLV holds the record for total number of U . S . viewers , attracting an average audience of 111 million viewers , making the game the most viewed television broadcast of any kind in U . S . history . The highest - rated game according to Nielsen was Super Bowl XVI in 1982 , which was watched in 49 . 1 percent of households ( 73 share ) , or 40 , 020 , 000 households at the time . Ratings for that game , a San Francisco victory over Cincinnati , may have been aided by a large blizzard that had affected much of the northeastern United States on game day , leaving residents to stay at home more than usual . Also , because network television was still the predominant means of viewership and pay television services ( cable , and later satellite ) were still relatively unavailable , there were not many choices of things to watch on television . Super Bowl XVI still ranks fourth on Nielsen ' s list of top - rated programs of all time , and three other Super Bowls , XII , XVII , and XX , made the top ten . Following Apple Computer ' s 1984 commercial introducing the Macintosh computer , directed by Ridley Scott , the broadcast of the Super Bowl became the premier showcase for high concept and expensive commercials . Famous commercial campaigns include the Budweiser " Bud Bowl " campaign and the 1999 and 2000 dot - com ads . Prices have increased every year , with advertisers paying as much as $ 3 million for a thirty - second spot during Super Bowl XLIII in 2009 . A segment of the audience tunes in to the Super Bowl solely to view commercials . The Super Bowl halftime show has spawned another set of alternative entertainment such as the Lingerie Bowl , the Beer Bottle Bowl , and other facets of American culture . Non - US viewing . While available to watch in many countries due to the prevalence of American channels on multichannel TV ( cable , satellite , etc . ) the Super Bowl is rarely watched outside of the Americas . For example , the US viewing figure for 2011 is 111 million - the worldwide viewing figure for 2011 is also 111 million . Super Bowl on TV . The first Super Bowl was simultaneously broadcast by CBS and NBC , with each network using the same video feed , but providing its own commentary . Super Bowls I – VI were blacked out in the television markets of the host cities , due to league restrictions then in place . Lead - out programming . The network that airs the Super Bowl typically takes advantage of the large audience to air an episode of a hit series , or to premiere the pilot of a promising new series in the lead - out slot , which immediately follows the Super Bowl and post - game coverage . Entertainment . Early Super Bowls featured a halftime show consisting of marching bands from local colleges or high schools ; but as the popularity of the game increased , a trend where popular singers and musicians performed during its pre - game ceremonies and the halftime show , or simply sang the national anthem of the United States , emerged . Unlike regular season or playoff games , thirty minutes are allocated for the Super Bowl halftime . The first halftime show to have featured only one star performer was Michael Jackson during Super Bowl XXVII in 1993 . The NFL specifically went after him to increase viewership and to continue expanding the Super Bowl ' s reputation . Another notable performance came during Super Bowl XXXVI in 2002 , when U2 performed ; during their second song , " Where the Streets Have No Name " , the band played under a large projection screen which scrolled through names of the victims of the September 11 attacks . The halftime show of Super Bowl XXXVIII in 2004 generated controversy when Justin Timberlake removed a piece of Janet Jackson ' s top , exposing her right breast with a star - shaped ring around the nipple . Timberlake and Jackson have maintained that the incident was accidental , calling it a " wardrobe malfunction " . The game was airing live on CBS , and MTV had produced the halftime show . Immediately after the moment , the footage jump - cut to a wide - angle shot and went to a commercial break ; however , video captures of the moment in detail circulated quickly on the internet . The NFL , embarrassed by the incident , permanently banned MTV from conducting future halftime shows . This also led to the FCC tightening controls on indecency and fining CBS and CBS - owned stations a total of $ 550 , 000 for the incident . The fine was later reversed in July 2008 . For six years following the incident , all of the performers in Super Bowl halftime shows were artists associated with the classic rock genre of the 1970s and 1980s , with only one act playing the entire halftime show . The halftime show returned to a modern act in 2011 with The Black Eyed Peas . Excluding Super Bowl XXXIX , the famous " I ' m going to Disney World ! " advertising campaign took place at every Super Bowl since Super Bowl XXI , when quarterback Phil Simms from the New York Giants became the first player to say the tagline . The Walt Disney Company ran the ad several times during the game , showing several players from both teams practicing the catch - phrase . Venue . Twenty - six of forty - four Super Bowls have been played in New Orleans ( nine times ) , the Greater Miami area ( ten times ) , or the Greater Los Angeles area ( seven times ) . Stadiums that do not host an NFL franchise are not , by rule , prohibited from hosting the Super Bowl , and non - NFL stadiums have hosted the game seven times , with the Rose Bowl accounting for five of these . To date , however , no market or region without an NFL franchise has ever hosted a Super Bowl ; all five Rose Bowl Super Bowls were hosted before the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Raiders left for St . Louis and Oakland respectively in 1995 . No team has ever played the Super Bowl in their home stadium . The closest have been the San Francisco 49ers who played Super Bowl XIX in Stanford Stadium , rather than Candlestick Park , and the Los Angeles Rams who played Super Bowl XIV in the Rose Bowl , rather than the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum . Besides those two , the only other Super Bowl venue that was not the home stadium to an NFL team at the time was Rice Stadium in Houston : the Houston Oilers had played there previously , but moved to the Astrodome several years prior to Super Bowl VIII . The Orange Bowl was the only AFL stadium to host a Super Bowl and the only stadium to host consecutive Super Bowls , hosting Super Bowls II and III . Traditionally , the NFL does not award Super Bowls to stadiums that are located in climates less than 50°F ( 10°C ) unless the field is completely covered by a fixed or retractable roof . Only three Super Bowls have been played in northern cities : two in the Detroit area — Super Bowl XVI at Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac , Michigan and Super Bowl XL at Ford Field in Detroit — , and one in Minneapolis — Super Bowl XXVI . Super Bowl XLVI will also be played in a northern city , Indianapolis . On March 5 , 2006 , Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City , Missouri , a " cold weather " city , was awarded the rights to host Super Bowl XLIX in 2015 ; however , the game was contingent on the successful passage of two sales taxes in Jackson County , Missouri on April 4 , 2006 . The first tax would have funded improvements to Arrowhead , home of the Chiefs , and neighboring Kauffman Stadium , home of the Kansas City Royals Major League Baseball team . The second tax would have allowed the construction of a " rolling roof " between the two stadiums . The second tax failed to pass . With increased opposition by local business leaders and politicians , Kansas City eventually withdrew its request to host the game on May 25 , 2006 . Before that , Super Bowl XLIV , slated for February 7 , 2010 , was withdrawn from New York City ' s proposed West Side Stadium , also to have been a retractable roof facility , because the city , state , and proposed tenants New York Jets could not agree on funding . The game was then awarded to Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens , Florida . Despite not having a retractable roof , New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford , New Jersey was chosen for Super Bowl XLVIII in 2014 , in an apparent waiver of the warm - climate rule . Super Bowl XXVII was originally awarded to Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe , Arizona , but was moved to the Rose Bowl , because Arizona at the time did not recognize Martin Luther King Day . Selection process . The location of the Super Bowl is chosen by the NFL well in advance , usually three to five years before the game . Cities place bids to host a Super Bowl and are evaluated in terms of stadium renovation and their ability to host . The NFL owners then meet to make a selection on the site . On October 16 , 2007 , NFL commissioner Roger Goodell suggested that a Super Bowl might be played in London , probably at Wembley Stadium . The game has never been played in a region that lacks an NFL franchise ; seven Super Bowls have been played in Los Angeles , but none since the Los Angeles Raiders and Los Angeles Rams relocated to Oakland and St . Louis respectively in 1995 . Home team designation . The designated " home team " alternates between the AFC team in even - numbered games and the NFC team in odd - numbered games . This alternation was initiated with the first Super Bowl , when the Green Bay Packers of the NFL were the designated home team . Since Super Bowl XIII in January 1979 , the home team is given the choice of wearing their colored or white jerseys . Formerly , the designated home team was specified to wear their colored jerseys , which resulted in Dallas donning their less familiar dark blue jerseys for Super Bowl V . Regardless of being the home or away team of record , each team has their team wordmark painted in one of the end zone s along with their conference designation . While most of the home teams in the Super Bowl have chosen to wear their colored jerseys , there have been four exceptions ; the Cowboys during Super Bowl XIII and XXVII , the Washington Redskins during Super Bowl XVII , and the Pittsburgh Steelers during Super Bowl XL . The Cowboys , since 1965 , and Redskins , since the arrival of coach Joe Gibbs in 1981 , have traditionally worn white jerseys at home . Meanwhile , the Steelers , who have always worn their black jerseys at home since the AFL - NFL merger in 1970 , opted for the white jerseys after winning three consecutive playoff games on the road , wearing white . The Steelers ' decision was compared with the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XX ; the Patriots had worn white jerseys at home during the 1985 season , but after winning road playoff games against the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins wearing red jerseys , New England opted to switch to red for the Super Bowl as the designated home team . Stadiums that have hosted or are scheduled to host the Super Bowl . " italics " indicate a stadium that is now demolished . Future Super Bowl host stadiums The game has never been played in a region that lacked an NFL franchise , though cities without NFL teams are not categorically ineligible to host the event . London , England has occasionally been mentioned as a host city for a Super Bowl in the near future . The most likely venue would be Wembley Stadium , which has hosted several NFL games in the past . NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has openly discussed the possibility on different occasions . Super Bowl 50 Even though the Los Angeles area currently lacks an NFL franchise , the league is considering holding Super Bowl 50 there to mark the fiftieth Super Bowl and to commemorate Super Bowl I , which was held at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum . If Los Angeles were to host the game , it could be held at the Coliseum , the Rose Bowl , a new venue of a proposed Los Angeles Stadium in City of Industry , California or another new venue such as the proposed Farmers Field in Downtown Los Angeles ( L . A . Live ) . The NFL has not had a franchise in the city since the 1994 season and has not played a Super Bowl in the metropolitan area since 1993 . Cowboys Stadium in Arlington , Texas is apparently also interested in hosting Super Bowl 50 . Super Bowl trademark . The NFL is vigilant on stopping what it says is unauthorized commercial use of its trademark ed terms " NFL , " " Super Bowl , " and " Super Sunday . " As a result , many events and promotions tied to the game , but not sanctioned by the NFL , are forced to refer to it with colloquialisms such as " The Big Game , " or other generic descriptions . ( A radio spot for Planters nuts parodied this , by saying " it would be " super " . . . to have a " bowl " . . . of Planters nuts while watching the big game ! " ) The NFL claims that the use of the phrase " Super Bowl " implies an NFL affiliation , and on this basis the league asserts broad rights to restrict how the game may be shown publicly ; for example , the league says Super Bowl showings are prohibited in churches or at other events that " promote a message , " while venues that do not regularly show sporting events cannot show the Super Bowl on any television screen larger than 55 inches . Some critics say the NFL is exaggerating its ownership rights by stating that " any use is prohibited , " as this contradicts the broad doctrine of fair use in the United States . In 2006 , the NFL made an attempt to trademark " The Big Game " as well ; however , it withdrew the application in 2007 due to growing commercial opposition to the move , mostly from Stanford University and the University of California , Berkeley and their fans , as the Stanford Cardinal football and California Golden Bears football teams compete in " Big Game " , which has been played since 1892 ( 28 years before the formation of the NFL and 75 years before Super Bowl I ) . Legislation was proposed by Utah Senator Orrin Hatch in 2008 " to provide an exemption from exclusive rights in copyright for certain nonprofit organizations to display live football games , " and " for other purposes . "