It’s that time of year again! January has come and gone, and the stage is set to play for the biggest prize in football — the Vince Lombardi Trophy. The Super Bowl is back, and it’s taking place this year at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles.
People watch the Super Bowl for numerous reasons. Since it is a football game, fans from across the country tune in to watch the game and, if they’re lucky, cheer on their favorite team as they make their final push for the coveted Lombardi Trophy. Others, however, simply watch for the unique commercials or the glamorous halftime show.
For those looking for a place to watch the game, or just the halftime show, I asked some Conn students what their plans are.
First and foremost, there will be a Super Bowl watch party in Cro’s Nest which many people will surely be attending. Organized by the Student Activities Council, the event will have food and some prizes. This is open to everyone in the community, so make sure to get there early if you want to get a seat. The get-together at Cro’s Nest is a perfect opportunity for students to meet new people and enjoy time with other members of the Conn community.
For some people, football is a family tradition that they are involved with whether they like it or not. Quinn Furgueson ‘24 said that even though his favorite team, the Dallas Cowboys, will not be in the big game, he said he would still watch it with his father: “I watch it because my dad enjoys it and I like spending time with him,” he said. The best part of the Super Bowl for everyone is getting the chance to hang out with friends. This is what Annabella Melillo ‘25 intends to do: “I’m not a huge football fan,” she said, “but I do like watching it to hang out with my friends.” This is also the attitude of many students on campus, especially from those who don’t follow football throughout the season.
For fans who were rooting for the Cincinnati Bengals or the San Francisco 49ers, the teams that were eliminated in the previous round, the sting of defeat still lingers, and they now watch for other reasons. “Now, we watch for the halftime show,” one said.
Another student told me, “I’m hoping for a really close, high-scoring game with lots of errors by both teams and a slim win margin.” This game certainly has a great chance to be that way.
For those watching for a good football game, the Chiefs and the Eagles consist of two of the most explosive offenses in football, so expect a lot of action. They are each led by an MVP candidate at quarterback, with Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts. Not only do both teams have incredible quarterbacks, but they also have numerous playmakers that burn through defenses. The Hurts to AJ Brown connection is one of the best in the NFL for the Eagles. On the other side, Mahomes always has his reliable, all-pro tight end in Travis Kelce, along with solid receivers like Juju Smith-Schuster, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and Kadarius Toney.
The backfield is also worth paying attention to. For the Eagles, Miles Sanders reached over 1000 rushing yards for the first time in his career and has developed into one of the top running backs in the league. Isaiah Pacheco has burst onto the scene in his rookie year for the Chiefs, adding yet another weapon for the offensive juggernaut. One other storyline to follow is one of the Kelce Brothers; the aforementioned Travis Kelce, and his brother, Eagles center Jason Kelce, will become the first pair of brothers to play each other in Super Bowl history.
Both teams have already been in the big game multiple times throughout history, especially in recent years. For the Chiefs, this is their third appearance in the last four years. They won against the 49ers in 2020 and then lost to the Brady-led Tampa Bay Buccaneers the very next year. The Eagles made the Super Bowl in 2018 where backup quarterback Nick Foles, replacing the injured Carson Wentz, led the team to a victory over the New England Patriots in a back-and-forth offensive game. Expect this game to be the same.
This game has the chance to be one of the greatest Super Bowls we’ve seen in a while. So grab your pizza and wings and settle in for the last evening of football. •
