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The Relationship of a Pop Star Icon and Super Bowl Champion When Super Bowl-winning football players and pop-star icons meet, sparks fly. Travis Kelce, an eight-time Pro Bowler, four-time first-team All-Pro selection, and two-time Superbowl champion has been in the spotlight recently for being seen alongside award-winning artist Taylor Swift, who is a three-time IFPI Global Artist of the Year and has earned forty American Music Awards, twenty-nine Billboard Music Awards, and twelve Grammy Awards. The two have taken the internet by storm, as almost every news outlet from the BBC to Harper’s Bazaar to ESPN has reported on their possible romance. As of right now, they are the couple that the world has their eyes on. Their relationship comes as a surprise to many, as Taylor Swift, a serial celebrity dater, has never actually dated a professional athlete, especially none of Travis Kelce’s caliber. The Kelce and Swift romance began months ago, even before the NFL preseason, when Kelce had his eyes on other things, far from football. Kelce made the first move in the relationship by attending the Eras Tour concert in Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium on July 8th. While at the concert, Kelce attempted to give Taylor his phone number by writing it on a friendship bracelet, with the hope of being noticed by the pop superstar. Despite Kelce’s valiant first effort at meeting Taylor, their paths unfortunately never crossed. As weeks passed and training camp began for the Chiefs, Kelce went on to talk about his Eras Tour experience during an episode of New Heights, a podcast hosted by himself and his older brother Jason, a center for the Philadelphia Eagles. The Kelce brothers poked fun at Travis’ failed attempt and seemingly nothing else transpired between the two celebrities. As September came around, rumors started to surface that Travis and Taylor were hanging out in New York City around Taylor’s home. Fans began to show interest in this unique pairing, Swifties being absolutely enthralled about a possible burgeoning relationship. While Taylor is used to being the center of attention during her stadium concert––a single woman at the very center of thousands of people––this NFL season has proven that she does not need to be on the main stage to take the spotlight. Viewing the game from an elevated, remote suite, Swift has been spotted attending Chiefs games at Arrowhead Stadium. On September 24th, in a game against the Chicago Bears, Swift accepted an invitation to Travis Kelce’s personal box, mingling with Kelce’s mother and the rest of his family––talk about a hard launch! Later that night, after Kelce assisted the Chiefs in their win with a touchdown, the two were seen leaving the game together and even later having a particularly romantic dinner date in the city. The next week against the Jets, Swift again showed up to support her new partner, but this time she brought some celebrity guests with her. Seated in a MetLife suite, Swift’s close friend Blake Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds joined in on the fun; also in attendance was Brittany Mahomes, Patrick Mahomes’ wife. Both Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift have continued to embrace the spotlight, indulging both football and music fans by appearing together in an SNL skit after Taylor attended Travis’ game in Kansas City against the Broncos, her third stadium appearance. Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift's relationship has not just sparked a possible love interest, but it has also allowed both to harness completely different audiences. Since the dating rumors began, Travis Kelce has gained over 1.5 million followers on Instagram, most of them being Swifties. Furthermore, since Kelce and Swift began spending time together publically, the NFL itself has seen a spike in numbers in the past month. The October 1st Chiefs and Jets game was the most watched Sunday football game since the Superbowl, attaining an average of 27 million viewers, with a whopping 22% increase in viewing relative to their previous week three matchup. The NFL even reported that 53% more teen girls are watching football compared to last season; furthermore, there has been a 24% increase among female viewers between the ages of 18 and 24 and a 34% increase in female viewers above 35. In short, Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift have begun to bridge the gap between their two audiences, bringing football fans and Swifties together, each enjoying some classic American entertainment. As long as this power couple continues their relationship and, more importantly, continues to publicize it, it seems that Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift’s popularity will grow even larger. Although there are many theories that say their pairing is simply a marketing stunt, fans are hopeful that this relationship is real and will live on. If nothing else, after dating Joe Alwyn for six years, Taylor Swift realizes that, with Travis Kelce by her side, “tonight's the night when [she] forget[s] about the heartbreaks.” Ryan Wolff

Are artists like Doja Cat and Sam Smith truly attempting to appear “devilish,” or are there other intentions behind their rambunctious change of music style? Recently, rapper-singer Doja Cat’s latest track “Paint the Town Red” has sparked controversy among listeners for its inconsiderate undertones; however, regardless of the backlash, the song has continued to soar on the charts, becoming the fastest solo female rap song to amass over 100 million Spotify streams. This divide leaves one speculating what it is about the track that has aroused such polarized opinions among people. Viewers can certainly sense a shift in Doja’s artistic intentions. When watching the official music video for “Paint the Town Red,” one can immediately perceive a foreboding ambiance, since it opens with Doja, portrayed as a devilish character smothered in a red blood-like substance, eerily sitting in a dark room. Other scenes depict her riding through the sky on a green demon and communicating with the Grim Reaper, all displayed to the viewer while she sings lyrics like “Mm, she the devil, She a bad lil’ b***h, she a rebel.” Evident from her lyrics and the content of her video, Doja has been accused by many of worshiping the devil and incorporating satanic elements into her music; this is not a new phenomenon, however: the same can be said for artists like Lil Nas X, Sam Smith, and Playboi Carti, who have all communicated demonic undertones in their music videos. This apparent trend in modern music leaves several possibilities for the true intentions of these devilish artists. One motive behind this trend may be to invoke the attention of audiences. Undeniably, the works of these musicians have received numerous accolades and immense listening and viewing. For example, Sam Smith’s “Unholy” and Lil Nas X’s “Montero” have both been No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Songs chart and the aforementioned “Paint the Town Red” by Doja Cat is also remarkably popular, especially on Tiktok. Why then does this music, surrounded by controversy, end up being the most popular? This phenomenon can be attributed to our paradoxical human nature, as we are naturally drawn to novel and unique subjects, no matter their ethics. Furthermore, the novelty of this style is captivating for young audiences. By incorporating controversial topics like Satanism into their music, artists are actively appealing to content-seeking viewers, thus gaining unprecedented prominence. Maybe demonic elements will even constitute a new era in the music industry. Another underlying rationale behind this trend is the artists' desire to express their own beliefs, no matter how rebellious. After Doja shaved her head, she received many negative comments on social media, some even comparing her new look to the devil; later, she defiantly capitalized on this publicity, boosting backlash with her devilish appearance in the video. Many interpret her song “Paint the Town Red” as an attempt to combat her haters’ remarks: with lyrics like “I let all that get to my head, I don’t care, I paint the town red,” Doja declares that she refuses to let the haters affect her spirit. Similarly, in Sam Smith’s “Unholy,” Smith uses the image of the devil to express his own criticism of infidelity in relationships. In an increasingly polarized society, social conflicts arise rapidly, and artists are seeking abstract ways to express their thoughts and convey their ideas. In this sense, musicians like Doja Cat, Sam Smith, and many others employ what is thought to be sacrilege in their music as an outlet to vocalize their dissatisfaction with certain aspects of society. Ultimately, this change to “unholy” music is a focal point for those both inside and outside of the music industry; however, the negative effects of promoting demonism in music have yet to be truly unveiled, and we must be heedful of how this trend progresses. Jessica Wu

Jack Francini Get the inside of the hot dorm room necessities with some of the finest gentlemen of Peabody! One of the residents of Peabody, Jeffery Hernandez ‘25, describes his favorite dorm room decoration as his Ice Spice flag. Ice Spice, an up and coming hip hop artist, is famous for her debut song “Munch” expresses a confident swagger in her songs. Ice Spice’s confidence is what inspires Jeffery to be the confident and courageous man he is. Overall, Jeffrey's productivity has skyrocketed since his extravagant purchase, proving the effectiveness of Ice Spice’s influence on the youth. New Student Edoardo Fiorelli ‘25 favorite dorm room possession is his magnificent Nespresso coffee/espresso maker. Besides blessing his roommates with the aromatic smell of fresh coffee in the morning, Edoardo is able to wake up with a fresh cup of coffee to start his day. His clever and intuitive setup is what gives him and his neighbors the upper edge in class. Very neat Eduardo. Another resident Will Frank ‘25 believes that his Masters Tournament flag is what really pulls his room together. Along with his many pictures, stringed lights, and posters on his wall, Will Frank is able to create the ultimate cuddle territory for him and his friends to rest after a long day of calculus. Clearly, Jeffery ‘25 feels safe and sound inside of Will's snuggly room. Will definitely knows how to decorate a dorm room. Truly inspiring. Highly revered Rubik's Cube Head and Football Captain Felix Juves ‘24 poses next to his infamous “Rubik’s Cube Club” poster. Felix’s pastime adds a bit of spice to his already incredible room setup. A truly magnificent poster, some say it even rivals works of the great Pablo Picasso and Vincent van Gough. Most of all, Felix is able to flex on his various visitors as they leave respecting Felix a little more knowing that he can indeed solve a Rubik’s Cube. Second Floor resident Hudson Hinckley ‘25 poses next to his not one, not two, not three, but four potted plants atop his dresser. Hudson’s room is very special since it is one of the only rooms in Peabody to contain indoor plants. Hudson’s plants add a unique sense of balance after walking back from a challenging work day. Hudson’s plants also help to represent his “growing” gardener aesthetic. You rock! Jack Francini

With the temperature getting colder, the question of what to wear is becoming more prominent around campus. As fall gradually begins to settle on campus, students are beginning to wonder what to wear during this new season. Are uggs in? Are leggings and sweaters a cute combination? Is it too cold for shorts? Are bright colors no longer in style? As all these questions arise, a few students at Middlesex may have the answer you are looking for. Kat Stephens ‘27 shared that “pajama pants and slippers, especially the ones that show someone’s toes, are out of style” and should not be worn in the fall. Furthermore, she expressed that there is almost no error when it comes to how a student dresses; what a student wears should reflect who they are. “Everyone has their individual style and should wear what makes them feel most comfortable,” she explained. Many other students agreed with her opinions and another freshman, Caroline Wolford, shared that she believes “people should wear fall colors like red and orange” to match the changing of the leaves. She also stated that everyone should wear “lots of layers” as the temperature begins to get cooler. Layers are a way to stay warm, while also looking put together. Additionally, they provide a great deal of room for individual style given that there are no rules to how someone layers their clothing. Addie Dennes ‘26 also liked the idea of layering, but further expressed that “Uggs and chunky sweaters are a great staple” for this fall season. Other clothing items such as jeans are another good basic to have for when you are unsure of what to wear that day. However, she made it clear that leggings paired with nice sweaters and skinny jeans are no longer in style for this fall. Another sophomore, Hayley Wilson, shared that “fall is the time for neutrals and an even better time for expressing yourself; it is sweater weather.” Similarly to Dennes, she believes warm knitted sweaters are a must-have given that they provide comfort and are fun regardless of how someone styles them. Hayley also made the connection to the famous Television series Gilmore Girls, specifically how its “time for people to start living their Rory Gilmore life” especially through the way in which they dress. Ultimately, regardless of students’ personal opinions, fall, like every other season, allows people to find a way to express themselves through the way they dress. Whether you prefer leggings, dresses, jeans, or even sweatpants, at the end of the day, what matters is how you feel while wearing your outfit. Marina Sabater

The News Section polled the study body to find out where they stand on a variety of questions - these are the findings… Welcome to the News Section Poll! This month’s article will cover some hot topics regarding student opinions on school, music, and more! I came up with this mailbag-style poll and started with something on a lot of minds right now: college. MX students’ favorite eight colleges are MIT, Columbia, Brown, Harvard, Dartmouth, Stanford, Princeton, and Yale. Among these institutions, the number one favorite, not surprisingly, is Harvard! Below is a graph showing the distribution of student preferences among the top eight colleges and universities. Next, I asked students to name their favorite songs released in 2023. MX students provided a variety of answers with some claiming 2023 songs to be “trash,” while others offer some personal favorites such as “Vampire” and “Lacy” by Olivia Rodrigo, “Back on 74” by Jungle, “Meltdown” by Travis Scott, and “Last Night” by Morgan Wallen. Among subjects, the title for being the most dreaded is Science (scars from honors Chem run deep) English comes next, known for its effective but extremely demanding curriculum. Overall, History was voted the least number of times so History teachers, give yourself a pat on the back! As for the best dressed faculty member, Mr. Kulas, Señor Brady, and Mr. Herath tie. Catch them breezing through the hallway like they are walking on the runway! MX is hard. And that statement has definitely been proven according to our results. Up to 27% of the student population reported having cried more than 10 times since the beginning of the school year due to stress over excessive workload. It should also be noted, however, that a majority of the school community reports not crying more than three times this year. Somewhat surprisingly, what wakes MX students up in the morning, coffee or tea? The answer is both! 50% of MX students are enthusiastic coffee drinkers while the other half root for tea! Celine Ding

Last year, the previous head of the HERD, Layne Morris appointed George Leness and Ally Haines to be this year's heads. I followed them around to profile them on their efforts to lead and expand the HERD. Each of them brings their own unique set of tools to form a dynamic duo. George, who plays goalie for the Varsity Soccer Team, is a super fan. You could spend 3 hours getting caught in one of his rants on the Patriots (you can catch his monthly column on the Patriots later in the paper).  Ally, the captain of the Girl’s Soccer team, is a stellar athlete who knows firsthand the importance of support on the sidelines. George and Ally wasted no time getting the HERD involved with our fall athletic games this year. Together they both led rowdy fan sections for the under the lights games with dual microphones, and there was an unnamed student running up and down the sidelines in the iconic zebra costume. The football game was also a spectacle. The atmosphere was electric, and players couldn't help but feel an extra surge of adrenaline as they played their hearts out for the HERD.  Under the Friday night football lights, Boys’ Football championed their way to their first win in two years against St. Marks, in a 25-7 win. The following night, the Herd showed out again under the twilight sky of the Girls’ soccer match, where they brought a similar level of intense energy and support. Rather than focusing solely on one sport, the HERD now plans to rotate its attention, featuring different teams each week. “A big struggle for fans during the winter is an overlapping of games,” George noted.  “Basketball never watches hockey, and hockey never watches basketball.”  That being said, the “game of the week” system seems to remove many of these major frustrations.  “We have optimized our rotation so that every team has their moment in the limelight,” George proudly remarked.  This approach guarantees that all levels of hockey, basketball, wrestling, and other teams will all have their moments to shine in the spotlight. Even with such a massive presence in Middlesex athletics, The HERD's vision extends far beyond sports. George and Ally are determined to see the HERD evolve into an integral part of the entire school community, moving beyond the boundaries of athletics. Arts, for instance, offer a perfect avenue for the HERD's expansion. By cheering on the performers at school concerts, musicals, and art exhibitions, the HERD can provide the same enthusiastic support that athletes receive. Students involved in extracurricular activities like debate, robotics, or drama could benefit greatly from the HERD's presence, boosting their confidence and morale.  “Our biggest goal for this year,” observes Ally, “is to transform the image of the HERD from being just about athletics, into something bigger.” As George and Ally work tirelessly to propel the HERD into greater heights of excellence, they are carving a legacy that extends well beyond their time at our school. Their dedication to fostering school spirit, their commitment to inclusivity, and their expansive vision for the HERD's role in the community are inspiring.  With George and Ally at the helm, there's no doubt that the HERD will continue to be the driving force behind our school's spirit, both on and off the field. Danny Cai

Luca offers his perspective on Christmas and human relationships. Recently, a terrible war has erupted in Israel. The clatter of rockets makes the divine midnight sky burn like hell. The roar of black smoke scatters rubble. The rattling of rounds of gunfire against the heavy wails of mothers, teardrops, and blood drops stain the streets. Whispers ache for hope. But war is nothing new, for this habit of mankind reflects the timelessness of hatred and division. It seems as though the heart of humanity has not ceased to fester. Nevertheless, within a historic moment of war exists the greatness of humanity. In 1914, the hum of carols in the trenches brought British and German soldiers of World War I to meet in “no man’s land” where they greeted each other with songs, exchanged tobacco and wine, and proceeded to play a game of soccer. Somewhere in France, the world had paused that day because of the unifying spirit of Christmas. In short, it is this universal essence that best represents the beauty and worthiness of humanity. Indeed, popular Christmas songs have rhythms and lyrics that fill our ears with delight and our hearts with lightness. More profoundly, however, the raw harmony between the many voices that exist in the hum of hymns of choirs and carols as one in song is awesome. Song becomes boundless. Song becomes a language that everyone understands. Song breaks barriers. Song becomes freedom. Song becomes an act of love. It is a thread between people that gains, louder and louder, ultimately so that it can catch the wind and be taken high up to the celestial bodies. There, it may reach greater powers and other entities, yet, in doing so, song brings one another closer together. Song is more powerful than religion. Furthermore, Christmas embraces tradition, a core element of humanity. While year after year of fresh evergreen or pine trees, red glossy ornaments, and sparkling little lights might seem special, the personal customs are even more profound. For me, it is the empanada like Sicilian votavotas and Calabrese gaiche that tell me the stories about the Christmases of my ancestors through the same soft potatoes and warm ricotta that they too once ate. It is the muscles and clams that tell me about when my parents were dating. It is the chocolate-covered strawberries that bring me back to me as a child. Likewise with other people, food serves as a way to connect oneself with people of the past, the present, and the future whether it be in yams, in lobster, in tangerines, or in lamb. Food is a symbol of the timelessness of love and creation, a reminder of the selflessness within the roots of tradition. Above all, tying songs and traditions such as food together and extending them, Christmas is about the exchange of love between people. The mistletoe or the exchange of gifts is enchanted by an ambiance of the chance of snow, a crackling fireplace, and bright lights bringing companionship to the forefront of life. Thus, it is the grand culmination of love and the act of sharing that persists as a result of companionship that makes the spirit of one day of the year, Christmas, so special. Beyond being representative of the beauty and worthiness of the whole of the human race, Christmas makes a life with its imperfections and challenges worth living in the end. Luca Raffa

Believe it or not, upperclassmen privileges do affect everyone on campus. Recently graduating as an upperclassman from Fenn, an all-boys middle school just two miles away from Middlesex, I enjoyed receiving the upperclassmen’s special privileges. I also loved stepping up and taking numerous leadership positions on campus. As the captain of varsity cross country and track last year, I learned that for a group to achieve success, there has to be one who leads by example for the rest to follow. I enjoyed impacting new students in a positive way, even minor actions like stopping a new student in the hallway and catching up on how their first years have been goes a long way to make them feel delighted. I also enjoyed sharing my personal story: the highs, the lows, and the lessons I learned throughout the journey to the Fenn community’s members during my senior reflection speech. However, as I graduated from Fenn and came to Middlesex, there was inevitably going to be an enormous change in expectations of my role on campus. From my perspective as a freshman on campus, I respect the privileges that are granted to upperclassmen and look up to them as my role models, because upperclassmen have been at Middlesex for a longer period of time. They are able to learn from the mistakes they made when they first came in. It is thus crucial for freshmen and sophomores to pay their dues to their more knowledgeable peers. Special privileges granted to upperclassmen exist as a method to create respect. Current Junior, Ian Lam’25 suggests he appreciates the push-back in check-in time for upperclassmen. The push-back means a lot to him because it not only offers him more flexibility and freedom but also reminds him constantly of the responsibility to become a model for younger students, which can only be accomplished by holding his actions to high standards. As a faculty member who is currently living on campus, Philip Caspar provides me with a personal experience from the past: during years when he was coaching Cross Country, he discovered that leadership was necessary for a team to achieve success. He claims that upperclassmen were the ones who demonstrated to younger teammates the importance of work ethic. He states that the same concept also applies to our MX community: he firmly believes that in order for our community to have a successful upcoming year, the upperclassmen need to lead Middlesex with strong examples of leadership. While underclassmen are the ones who need more time to adjust to a new school, upperclassmen are students who have been here long enough and should be stepping up and demonstrating to freshmen and sophomores the community norms at MX. Special privileges should only be granted to upperclassmen if their behaviors are indeed guiding our community toward a positive path. Indeed, being over-privileged is not a good state to be in. In fact, I can already imagine that if upperclassmen were permitted with too many privileges on campus, it would likely lead them into making poor decisions. We shall hope for the best—upperclassmen putting privileges to good use—and let us have an amazing year ahead! Sunny Qian

Just last week, Nancy Jo Sales, an award-winning journalist and best-selling author, came to the Middlesex School to speak on consent and healthy relationships. After working for Vanity Fair for several years, Sales rose to fame after writing her 2013 book The Bling Ring: How A Gang of Fame-Obsessed Teens Ripped Off Hollywood and Shocked the World. Notably, Sales has dedicated a significant portion of her career to investigating the effects of social media on the dating scene. Though this Tuesday night assembly may have begun in a normal fashion, students and teachers alike quickly realized Sales is no ordinary speaker. After overcoming a series of technical difficulties, Sales began the first portion of her presentation. Although at times humorous and playful, Sales largely adhered to relevant topics and maintained a semi-serious tone. However, as the hour progressed, any semblance of gravitas faded, giving way to a raucous and arguably even shocking speech. Sometimes Sales would spring into a long, convoluted metaphor about Star Wars or avatars. Although confusing at times, there seemed to be a method to Sales’s madness. As Sales embarked on a long, detailed, and embittered journey depicting her dislike for dating apps, tuned-out students quickly regained focus. An assembly originally intended to educate students on a wide breadth of topics all under the umbrella of healthy relationships quickly shifted into a focused speech about the influence of technology on the dating scene. From describing dating apps as a breeding ground for predatory individuals, to predicting the role of “sex robots [who] are coming,” Sales left her audience on the edge of their seats, never certain of what she might say next. Controversy inevitably accompanies a speaker with resolute opinions on a delicate matter and who has a unique style of presentation. Some argue that by delivering a sidetracked and overly humorous speech, Sales undermined the purpose of her speech, effectively minimizing the significance of safety and consent in adolescent relationships. One can blame Sales for misunderstanding her audience, or Middlesex for inviting a speaker who crossed a line into vulgarity, but there is no doubt that some left the assembly feeling somewhat uncomfortable and annoyed. Meanwhile, others left the assembly unexpectedly entertained and informed on an entirely foreign topic. Perhaps Sales purposely rehearsed a striking and unconventional speech. However, it is also possible that, in a stroke of ad lib ingenuity, Sales defeated glazed eyes and recaptured the attention of many wandering minds with the decisive combination of comedy and shock. Whether Sales purposefully or unintentionally created a whirlwind of controversy, laughter, and surprise, it is clear that she has made an impact. Oftentimes, after a prestigious, sage, and celebrated individual comes to Middlesex for a lecture during assembly block, students may be momentarily occupied with a transient sense of interest and curiosity. By the end of the day, the speaker has been washed from the memory of the community, and students go about their day. Sales has certainly disrupted this unfortunate pattern, concocting a speech that remains fresh on students’ minds, refusing to fade into insignificance. Kiki Friedbauer

How soda companies use health buzzwords to market their products, and the reasons we like soda. Zero Sugar: Sounds healthy, doesn’t it? When consumers hear that a drink has  “zero sugar” they immediately think the beverage in question is harmless to their health. In reality, buzzwords such as “diet,” “zero calories” and “zero sugar” are used by marketing agencies to make what can be very unhealthy beverages seem appealing to a generation concerned with their health. “Coke Zero Sugar was meant to resemble the traditional Coke soda … but still appeal to health-conscious consumers by leaving out the sugar,” says James Quincey, the CEO of Coke. Your favorite drink without the consequences may seem too good to be true. By taking out sugar, companies are forced to add outside chemicals and additives in order to preserve the taste consumers crave. There has been a connection identified between Aspartame, the sugar substitute used in Diet Coke, Pepsi Zero Sugar, and various Snapple Drinks. There is “a possible link between aspartame and a type of liver cancer called hepatocellular carcinoma after reviewing three large human studies conducted in the U.S. and Europe that examined artificially sweetened beverages” according to a CNBC Article from July. Aspartame isn’t the only ingredient substituted for sugar that raises red flags in diet sodas. The very drinks consumers rely on to help them lose weight are in many cases actually causing them to gain more. “​​While diet soda doesn’t contain real sugar or calories it does contain a lot of additives and artificial ingredients including sweeteners. These ingredients are full of unnatural chemicals that can cause your body to crave more high-calorie and sugar-laden foods” says an article from Penn Medicine. The question we should really be asking is why we crave these soft drinks in the first place. There would be no need for diet or modified sodas if there weren’t a large percentage of the population that would do anything for their drink of choice. It isn’t just a delicious flavor that makes these drinks a core part of society. “Your favorite brand of soft drink is engineered with just the right amount of sweetener, caffeine, and carbonation to make you continuously want to grab and gulp,” says Gery Wenk in an interview with CNN Health. Companies such as Pepsico and Coca Cola can reinvent and capitalize on their products because they have a guarantee that they will sell: the addiction of the people. There is no way to preserve the taste and adrenaline boost one gets from a can of pop without the very chemicals that make it addicting. “Zero-sugar” or not, remember that your drink was created specifically to keep you buying more. Diana Davidson

Despite the looming conference realignment, the PAC-12 have shown up this season, proving they can still garner attention. Meanwhile, Michigan’s JJ McCarthy looks to take the Wolverines deep into the playoffs. As College Football marches into November, the month that truly determines a teams fate, a few major storylines have headlined the fall. This year, the theme of the season has been the revival of powerhouses. From Florida State’s dominant start in ACC play, to a last haraugh for the PAC-12, the landscape of the beloved sport, more than ever, resembles the game of the mid-2010s. When looking at the past five years of PAC-12 football, one word comes to mind: mediocrity. No PAC-12 team has made the playoff since UW did it in 2016 with star wide receiver John Ross, though the Huskies ended up being demolished by the juggernaut Crimson Tide. And though USC and Oregon have established themselves as contenders in the past couple of years, they have never been able to keep up with top teams like Georgia or OSU for consecutive weeks. They inevitably lose big games to teams like Utah or an out of conference opponent. So, as the PAC-12 struggled to make the same sums of money that big conferences like the SEC or BIG 10 pulled in, top teams started to pull out. First USC, then UCLA, then Oregon until only Washington State and Oregon State remained in the Conference, all in the name of revenue. Despite this end to West Coast football, the conference has been dominating this year. As of Week 8, six teams are in the AP top 25 with others making occasional appearances throughout the season. Moreover, the conference produced arguably the most exciting contest of the year between the then undefeated and no.8 Oregon Ducks and the currently undefeated and now no.5 Washington Huskies. The game was marked by a high scoring, pass heavy offense highlighted by the two teams quarterbacks, Micheal Penix of Washington and Bo Nix of Oregon, who both appear to be potential Heisman candidates. In the end, Washington came out with a 36-33 victory in their home stadium in Seattle which ended with a Washington TD from Rome Odunze with 1:18 left in the game. Moreover, Oregon State and Utah also seem to have a good chance at the playoff with both teams having one loss apiece. This makes four teams in the conference that have a decent chance of fighting for a National Championship. JJ McCarthy’s Wolverine Team looks ready for Georgia. JJ McCarthy has proven to be an elite quarterback throughout his junior year. So far this season, he has thrown for 18 TD’s and has held an impressive 78.1% completion percentage throughout 8 games. But stats are a shallow analysis of JJ’s game. When watching him play, his evolution is apparent as he’s a run-first QB with the guts to throw the ball whenever he gets flushed out of the pocket, and he still has the ability to rush. So far, this change in his game has made Michigan a much more versatile team as they can not only rely on the power rushing of Blake Corum, but also big plays downfield to Colston Loveland along with wheel routes from the ever reliable Donovan Edwards. Because of this, it seems almost impossible to stop the Wolverine offense, an offense which is greatly helped by a defense that has allowed no more than 10 points in a contest so far this season. Obviously Michigan has not seen a true test that they will with Penn State and Ohio State approaching, but they appear on track for another Playoff run. Overall, College Football feels more entertaining than ever, though it sits in its last year before the dreaded conference realignment. The traditional blue bloods of the sport have made it to center stage, and it feels like Georgia and Bama will finally have some competition with a stronger PAC-12 and elite teams like Michigan, Ohio State, Oklahoma, and Texas. So far this season, we have already seen the Crimson Tide get beaten by the Texas Longhorns so it feels like anything can happen. Don’t count out Alabama’s Nick Saban when the going gets tough, but other power five teams seem stronger than ever. The playoff lineup’s unpredictability makes for a very entertaining month of November across the country, when College Football is truly College Football at its finest. Will Cohen

Although the Patriots recent games look nothing like the Patriots team New England fans have become accustomed to, there is still hope. The Patriots are in serious trouble. They’re off to their worst start in over twenty years. They can’t score on offense. They no longer can stop scores on defense. Their special teams is pathetic. The quarterback play has been dreadful. Elite edge rusher Matthew Judon has a torn bicep, and first round phenom Christian Gonzalez is done for the year with a torn labrum. Going into Week 7, their injury report is twenty players deep. Everything that could possibly go wrong, certainly has gone wrong. And it’s easy to say that the season should be a wash- hang it up, tank for draft position, start over in the spring. I firmly believe that isn’t the answer. Before anything else, I really think this team can still compete. And that isn’t ridiculous to say. The Patriots have played the toughest schedule in the league through six games. They’ve occasionally shown a decent competition level, and while it hasn’t been apparent recently, it could reappear at any time. Bill Belichick, no matter what anyone may think currently, knows how to get the most out of the people in his room. And, may I add, that process sometimes took some time, even at the height of their domination. The Patriots will get healthy, and they will find a rhythm at some point. They’re still just two games off the playoff line. The schedule softens up in a few weeks and will ease the pressure the Patriots have been under. This group, and Mac Jones specifically, as we’ve seen throughout his professional career, can find their rhythm at any time. An in-sync Bill Belichick team is a frightening sight for opposing teams, and many pundits don’t seem to understand how close we could be to our past supremacy. This leads me to the larger point. The Patriots could easily lose the next four games. They could lose all 11 games to close the season (they could also win all 11, by the way). No matter what scenario plays out, though, tanking has just never made any sense to me. Winning cultures are created by winning games. I don’t care what player you draft or free agent you sign or what trade you make in the offseason, no amount of players can surmount a losing culture. And that type of culture is created through the smallest moments. Tanking inherently removes the ability for any of those moments to take place. It basically steals time away from the development of a team. Football is played to win. Players play to win. Players want to come to teams that win. No amount of “potential” or “rebuilding” can replace that. The other major aspect is the enormity of what tanking would mean for this Patriots team. First consider the resources that have been invested in Mac Jones since he arrived. Not only a 15th overall draft choice, but major organizational decisions made in order to put Jones in the best position to succeed (including, but not limited to the hiring of Billy O’Brien). Has Jones really played poorly enough to throw that all away? If so, what really is there to gain from pulling the plug midseason? Isn’t there value in letting the Mac Jones era play out fully, in order to ensure it’s the right decision? Next up is Bill Belichick, which is obviously a much larger decision. Bill Belichick unequivocally is the Patriots. He will forever embody everything that makes this organization great. In what world, I ask, would anyone want for Belichick’s final season to end in the manner of tanking? Allow Belichick to work it out, to fight, to make it all work. Write the final chapter the right way, allow him to walk into the sunset the right way. It’s vitally important because it dictates where the franchise goes after his departure. Allow Belichick to leave on his own terms, squeeze the most wins he can out of a poor football team, and pass the baton on to whoever will lead New England into the future, and back to prominence. Winning is the reason everyone invests in the sport: the fans, the players, the front office- everyone. Winning, plain and simple, is more fun than losing games on purpose. So win, win a lot, and see where it goes from there. George Leness