Toby Gerhart has grown so accustomed to walking by The Axe every day in Stanford's football offices that he doesn't want to go back to the old days where there was only a picture of the prize that goes to the winner of the Big Game against California.

"It was kind of like an 'axe goes here thing,' " Gerhart said. "Now we've gotten used to it being there. It's so much nicer than the picture. We don't want to give that back."

If the Cardinal (5-6, 4-4 Pac-10) can beat the Golden Bears (6-4, 4-3) in their annual rivalry game for a second straight year there will be perhaps an even bigger prize waiting for Stanford.

With a victory in the season finale, the Cardinal will qualify for a bowl game for the first time since 2001 — a momentous step for a program that won just a single game two years ago before coach Jim Harbaugh arrived.

If Stanford beats California, the Cardinal's likely destination will be the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl or San Francisco-based Emerald Bowl.

"It's bigger than one game. It's bigger than just Cal," running back Anthony Kimble said.

The Big Game has rarely had such big stakes for the Cardinal, with cornerback Wopamo Osaisai calling it the most important in his four years at Stanford.

There have been a few other years that beating Cal would have sent the Cardinal to a bowl game, including in the most memorable meeting of all.

In John Elway's final collegiate game in 1982, Cal used five laterals to score on a game-winning, last-second kickoff return, with Kevin Moen flattening a Stanford trombone player as he reached the end zone.

With the loss, Elway finished his career having never gone to a bowl game — a distinction this year's senior class is eager to avoid.

"The way we leave this program will be determined on Saturday," center Alex Fletcher said. "We don't want to be the class of almost. The team is getting better every year and will continue to get better as long as Coach Harbaugh is around. To make our marks as seniors, it all depends on Saturday."

Also, Harbaugh said Tuesday night that he plans to sign a three-year extension after the season, which would put him under contract through 2014.

ESPN, citing an anonymous source, reported that the deal would be worth in excess of $1.25 million per season. The five-year contract Harbaugh signed in December 2006 was believed to be worth about $500,000 annually.

ELSEWHERE

Michigan: Michigan tackle Stephen Schilling is questionable for Saturday's game against No. 10 Ohio State because of a sprained knee. Coach Rich Rodriguez said yesterday that running back Sam McGuffie is expected to play after attending a funeral, and quarterback Steven Threet has practiced with a shoulder injury and is being evaluated as a backup possibility behind Nick Sheridan.