This year’s Super Bowl match-up is set following last weekend’s AFC and NFC championship games. The 2026 game is a rematch of Super Bowl XLIX between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots.
The game where the infamous throw on the goal line happened. The game that left football fans around the world wondering why Seahawks coach Pete Carroll did not give the ball to the most dominant running back in football at the time, Marshawn Lynch.
Fast-forward 11 years. These two teams have blazed different paths back to the Super Bowl.
In Seattle, they were making noise throughout the season with a dominating defense that led the league in fewest points allowed per game (17.2). On offense, the Seahawks are led by journeyman quarterback Sam Darnold and dynamic playmaking wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
On the other side, the Patriots brought in head coach Mike Vrabel prior to this year after back-to-back 4-13 seasons. The franchise won its first division title since Tom Brady left the Patriots for Tampa Bay.
New England is led by a top-five offense and defense in the scoring category. On offense, NFL MVP finalist Drake Maye has enjoyed a breakthrough season. The second-year quarterback was drafted third overall in the 2024 NFL Draft.
“Kenneth Walker will be the reason Seattle wins the game,” said junior Dylan Klenoshek. The Zoo and Aquarium Science major said he believes that Walker’s rushing will help open up the pass game for the Seahawks, as it did in last week’s NFC championship game versus the Rams.
“Walker will run all over the Patriots defense and Seattle will win, 24-18,” Klenoshek predicted.
Junior Andrew “Guppie’ Stewart thinks that the Patriots will be the ones holding the trophy on Super Bowl Sunday.
“Vrabel has (coaching) experience and Super Bowl experience,” said the junior from Lake Orion, Michigan. “Their offense complements their defense. The Seahawks don’t have the experience.”
Junior Physician Assistant major Drew Sill believes the Seahawks are the better team and does not think the game will be close.
“Seattle is the better team, up and down the roster,” said Sill.
A match-up to watch will be Smith-Njigba versus the Pats’ Christian Gonzalez, one of the best defensive backs in the league. Another match-up that could change the outcome is Drake Maye versus the Seahawks’ stingy defense.
Seattle has gone 27 games without allowing a 100-yards rusher. This could force Maye and the Patriots to become one dimensional and adopt a pass-first approach, which will put the game on Maye’s shoulders.
My prediction? Seattle 34, New England 14. Super Bowl MVP: Sam Darnold.
