An estimated 50 to 75 fans of both schools fought in Parking Lot 1 near the Brookside Golf Course at about 4:20 p.m., some three hours before the crosstown-rivalry game between the Bruins and Trojans was set to start, Pasadena police Cmdr. Darryl Qualls said.
One person was stabbed in the cheek, the other in the back, Qualls said. Both were taken by ambulance to Huntington Memorial Hospital. He described their condition as stable.
One officer was treated for a sprained hand, the other for a sprained ankle, and both were released, Qualls said.
Two men who police believe stabbed the victims were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and were being held in Pasadena City Jail on $1 million bail, Qualls said. A third man was arrested for investigation of assault on a police officer, Qualls said.
The names of the victims and suspects were not immediately released.
It was not immediately clear what sparked the brawl, but police said the school rivalry and tailgate party drinking were major factors.
"The fans are pretty passionate about their football teams," Qualls said.
Qualls said that the last time the annual rivalry game was held at the Rose Bowl in 2008, there were about 50 arrests, but does not believe any of them were for assault.
"It doesn't happen at normal college football games," he said.
