Football jerseys flowing down to their knees, young fans stare at a TV screen in awe. Cheering with a fiery passion, football fans savor “Super Bowl Sunday.” Last year, 127.7 million people viewed the Super Bowl  — the annual championship game of the National Football League  (NFL). That number is expected to be broken this year, with Super Bowl viewership steadily increasing over the past four years.

The Super Bowl was initially created because of a merger agreement between the National Football League and its rival at the time, the American Football League. A merger agreement combined the leagues into a single entity. In this case, the American Football League and National Football League became the NFL. Within the NFL, the leagues have been transformed into two 16-team conferences: the American Football Conference and the National Football Conference. The Super Bowl annually hosts the best team in both conferences and deems one team the champion. The first Super Bowl was dubbed Super I in 1967, and ever since, the NFL has clarified the Super Bowl game number through roman numerals. 

Over the years, the Super Bowl has become a hallmark of the American calendar —  the event has become a reason for family gatherings and parties. In addition, the Super Bowl is like a second Thanksgiving, with the day marking the second largest amount of food consumption in the US. This year, Americans are predicted to eat about 1.48 billion chicken wings. Between commercials, food, the halftime show and the game itself, the Super Bowl has something for everyone. Here’s what you should know about 2026 Super Bowl LX, taking place on Feb.8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.

1. An unlikely matchup

Do you love an underdog story? If you do, then this year’s Super Bowl is perfect for you. Both the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots were massive underdogs at the start of this season. The Seahawks ended the 2024 season with a 10-7 record, 15th in the NFL of thirty, with a mediocre offense and defense. They lacked the discipline that is required of a playoff team, with 120 penalties (the fifth most in the NFL). In addition, they struggled to capitalize on their chances, with a 57.1 % red zone (area between the goal line and the 20-yard line) efficiency, and four red zone interceptions. The Patriots were worse than the Seahawks, ending the 2025 season with a 4-13 record. They were ranked as having the second-worst offense in the NFL. One of the main reasons for this ranking was their poor quarterback protection. The offensive line allowed 222 pressures and 52 sacks. The Patriots’ quarterbacks, Drake Maye and Jacoby Brissett, were never allowed the time to make smart plays. As a result, the Patriots finished the 2024-25 season 30th in points scored and 31st in total yards.

At the beginning of this season, the preseason odds of the Seahawks winning the Super Bowl were +6000 (60 to 1). The Patriots had odds of +8000 (80 to 1).  The odds are calculated mainly by statistical models such as the Bayesian theorem but also factor in preseason moves, roster strength and injuries. These models use previous season performances as a building block, adding new information as changes are made to each team. When betting companies such as Bet GM post the odds for sporting events, they rank favored teams like the Kansas City Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles  and Buffalo Bills below zero and underdogs at above 100. Therefore, the 2026 championship teams’ odds of 60 to 1 and 80 to 1 were poor probabilities compared to the rest of the NFL. 

This is the first Super Bowl in NFL history where both competing teams had preseason odds of +6000 or greater. For the Patriots, even after they posted a 14-2 record this season, their ability to make it to the Super Bowl was seriously doubted. Critics claimed the Patriots’ schedule was one of the easiest in the NFL. In short, this year’s Super Bowl is the ultimate underdog story.

2. Maye returns

The New England Patriots’ Super Bowl berth could not have been possible without standout quarterback Drake Maye. Drafted by the New England Patriots in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft, Maye has had a record-breaking second NFL season. Not only was Maye nominated for the NFL’s “Most Valuable Player ” award this year, but at 23, he is one of the youngest quarterbacks to bring his team to the Super Bowl. At the Super Bowl LX news conference hosted by the NFL on Feb. 2, Maye explained how it felt as though his life had come “full circle,” because as a kid, he attended Super Bowl 50.

Maye and his father attended Super Bowl L to support the Carolina Panthers in 2016. Since he attended the Super Bowl a decade earlier, Maye has worked tirelessly to return and perform on the championship field.  Maye’s stats demonstrate his growth: his completion rate improved by 5.4%, and his touchdown-to-interception ratio improved from 1.5:1 to 3.88:1. Also, Maye was ranked first in Total Quarterback Rating; he had a rating of 77.7, was ranked fourth in passing yards with 4,394 yards and set a franchise record for the single-season completion rate, at 72%. Finally, Maye won the Pro Football Writers’ Association “Most Improved Player,” which is an award given to players who make significant improvements in their careers, improving personal stats and consistently performing at a high level. Today, Maye will be the starting quarterback for the New England Patriots.

3. The Patriots are set to appear in the Super Bowl for the 12th time

Following quarterback Tom Brady and head coach Bill Belichick’s Super Bowl win in 2001, a dynasty was established by the New England Patriots. For most football teams, a dynasty is a period of sustained regular-season dominance. For the Patriots, a dynasty means reaching the Super Bowl year after year. From 2001-2020, the Patriots appeared in 11 Super Bowl games, winning over half of them. They stand in a tie with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the most Super Bowl wins in NFL history. 

When Brady left the Patriots for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020, there seemed to be a vacancy that no one was able to fill. The next four years were a struggle for the Patriots, with only one playoff appearance in 2021. In response to one of the worst seasons in the franchise’s history, Belichick was fired in 2024. The downfall of the Patriots’ franchise was celebrated by various NFL fans; the Patriots received hate for their numerous cheating scandals and overall dominance in the league.  Owner Robert Kraf was able to help the Patriots successfully rebuild by selecting Maye in the 2024 draft and hiring Mike Vrabel as head coach at the beginning of the 2025-26 season. 

Vrabel has proven to be a reliable hire time and time again. His achievements led him to be recognized at the NFL honors show as “AP Coach of the Year ” alongside Patriots’ offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who received the award of “AP Assistant Coach of the Year”.

Following all these changes, the Patriots went from one of the worst offenses in the league to one of the best. It is now clear that Maye and Vrabel will carry the foundation that Brady and Belichick created into the future and form their own legacy. The first step in that journey is to win Super Bowl XLIX.

4. A redemption story

For years, the Seattle Seahawks’ quarterback, Sam Darnold, has been ridiculed by fans and experts alike. Picked in the first round of the 2018 NFL draft by the New York Jets, Darnold was supposed to be the savior of a franchise that had been in steady decline for years. However, Darnold wasn’t the answer to the Jets’ problems. His poor performances were exacerbated by a failing Jets system. His wide receivers were poor, and the Jets ranked as the seventh worst in dropped pass percentage. Darnold was never able to settle into his role, as the Jets went through one offensive coordinator after another. 

Darnold was traded to the Panthers in 2021, after the Jets drafted Zach Wilson in the first round of the NFL draft to serve as their starting quarterback. The move was supposed to be a fresh start for Darnold. His time there started well, but also soon fell flat. He moved to the San Francisco 49ers on a one-year deal in 2023 to work with head coach Kyle Shanahan and provide depth after quarterbacks Brock Purdy and Trey Lance experienced injuries. 

When he moved to the Minnesota Vikings at the beginning of the 2024-25 season on yet another one-year deal, Darnold was finally able to showcase the potential he once had as a quarterback for the University of Southern California. While he wasn’t guaranteed a starting spot, quarterback JJ McCarthy’s meniscus tear — a season-ending injury — allowed Darnold to step in as the starting quarterback. He had a career-best season, with 4,319 passing yards, 35 touchdown passes and just 12 interceptions. This was thanks to much stronger targets, such as Justin Jefferson (1533 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns) and Kevin O’Connell’s quarterback-friendly system. Unfortunately, Darnold was the Vikings’ temporary plan; McCarthy, labeled as the future of the franchise, returned to full health and regained his starting spot at the beginning of the 2025-26 season. After the Vikings released Darnold at the end of the 2024-25 season, he was snagged by the Seahawks. While playing for the Seahawks this season, Darnold has formed a stellar partnership with wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Nijba (JSN), with the two connecting for 10 touchdowns. In addition, Darnold is continuing his run from the 2024-25 season with 4,048 passing yards, fifth in the NFL.

5. Jaxon Smith-Nijba is having a season to remember

Drafted as a first-round pick by the Seahawks in 2023, JSN has become a star player of the Seahawks’ offense. JSN led the NFL in receiving yards during the regular season with 1793, was sixth in touchdowns with 10, and stood fourth in postseason receiving yards with 172. His season is among the elite companies;  his 1793 receiving yards set the record of the seventh highest single-season receiving total in NFL history. He also broke the Seahawks’ all-time single-season receiving record in a game against the Tennessee Titans, with eight catches and 167 yards for two touchdowns. 

Beyond his receiving statistics, JSN has been extremely effective in other ways this season. Because the Seahawks have a poor passing game, they do not end up passing JSN the ball as much as other high-caliber NFL receivers. JSN took advantage of the few opportunities he got, posting 4.61 yards per route this season —higher than any player with at least 50 routes in league history. The Seahawks clearly trust JSN; this season, he was thrown the ball 36% of the time, which led him to average a league high 66.4% first-down completion rate. JSN was rewarded for his performances this season when he won the “AP Offensive Player of the Year” award on Feb. 5.

6. Bad Bunny to perform at the halftime show

Roc Nation, the company headed by Shawn Corey Carter, known as Jay-Z, chooses the halftime performer every year. This year, Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, famously known as Bad Bunny, was selected to perform. The Puerto Rican rapper will return to the Super Bowl halftime show after having previously performed as a guest during the 2020 Super Bowl. 

This year, Bad Bunny is in the prime of his career — he recently won a Grammy Award for the “Album of the Year” category. His 17-song “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS” beat out other standouts like Justin Bieber’s “SWAG” and Sabrina Carpenter’s “Man’s Best Friend.” Bad Bunny is also currently the number one artist on Spotify. Americans are excited to see the rapper perform, especially those of the younger generations. 

Bad Bunny’s anticipated performance has come with significant controversy. The rapper recently criticized the Trump administration for their anti-immigration and deportation agenda. In response, President Donald Trump undermined the NFL’s decision to select Bad Bunny as the performer of the Super Bowl halftime show. 

The NFL has stood by its commitment to Bad Bunny mainly because Bad Bunny is popular among a large number of the roughly 68 million Latino people living in the US. Moreover, Latinos are a rapidly growing fan base for the NFL and football in general. The desire to increase the NFL’s Latino audience is connected to the NFL’s international outreach program. This season, the NFL held games in Sao Paulo, London, Berlin, Dublin and Madrid.

7. A rematch of Super Bowl XLIX

Super Bowl XLIX on Feb. 1, 2015, was one of the most entertaining Super Bowls in recent memory. The Patriots erased a ten-point deficit against the Seahawks to take the lead in the fourth quarter of the game. With only a couple of seconds left on the clock, the former Seahawks quarterback Russel Wilson threw the ball. The Patriots’ cornerback Malcom Butler intercepted the pass, winning the Super Bowl for the Patriots.

The baggage from that game has carried on to the current Super Bowl. A reporter recently asked  Darnold a hypothetical question: what he would do in the same situation that Wilson faced in Super Bowl XLIX, but instead of having one timeout remaining, he had none. Darnold explained he would choose to pass the ball. 

8. A thirty-second Super Bowl commercial costs 8 million dollars

Do you watch the Super Bowl only because of the commercials? If you do, then you are part of a large percentage of Super Bowl viewers. In fact, close to half of the people watching the Super Bowl are doing so because of the commercials. It’s one of the only sporting events where people actually invite commercial breaks. The massive viewing audience entices companies to pay millions of dollars for commercials that last a maximum of one minute. The commercials are forced to come up with high-quality and entertaining videos because of the amount of competition that takes place. For example, beer company Michelob Ultra aired a commercial during the 2024 Super Bowl that featured Lionel Messi on the beach playing soccer. This commercial cost around 14 million dollars to make, but was a huge success thanks to the growing popularity of Messi in the US ever since he moved from France to Miami in 2023. One of the main attractions for Super Bowl commercials is the opportunity to see celebrities. Celebrities are purposefully brought in by companies, as their fame often leads to increased consumption. Some of the most anticipated commercials for this year contain numerous familiar celebrities: A Bud Light commercial featuring Peyton Manning, Post Malone and Shane Gillis, a Dunkin’ Donuts commercial featuring Ben Affleck and a  Salesforce commercialfeaturing Mr. Beast. One of the most iconic Super Bowl commercials was aired in 2019 — the NFL celebrated its 100th anniversary. Some of the greatest NFL players, such as Jerry Rice, Joe Montana, Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, participated in one of the most loved commercials in Super Bowl history. It summed up the true meaning of what a Super Bowl commercial is supposed to be: entertainment and NFL spirit.

There are numerous reasons to be excited for this year’s Super Bowl. Whether you’re a Seahawks fan, Patriots fan, or a neutral observer, this year’s Super Bowl is an event you won’t want to miss out on.