Each year, the 32 teams in the NFL compete to go head-to-head in one of the biggest American sports events: the Super Bowl. And each year, two teams of adorable puppies face off in the Puppy Bowl. But which event is better? How could you ever choose? Hopefully, this article will help you decide in the future.
One junior preferred to watch this year’s Super Bowl instead of the Puppy Bowl because she wanted “the [C]hiefs to get crushed and [was] happy to see Kendrick and SZA” perform the halftime show. This musical performance is an event people look forward to every year. Nicholas Ang (‘25) says the “[S]uperbowl has been a staple of [A]merican tradition for over 50 years.” It also allows him to “keep up to date on current trends and culture via the ads and shows.”
However, some people aren’t interested in the Super Bowl for various reasons, including but not limited to the teams playing, the sport itself, and its commercialization. The same junior from earlier admitted that “no matter how hard I try, I’ll never fully be able to understand football,” despite favoring the Super Bowl. I’ll confess, even I have to spend some time staring at the field before I remember how the game is played. Maleah H. (‘25) said she wouldn’t want to watch the Super Bowl because she’s “Just not a big sports fan.” The Super Bowl is famous for its fascinating ads, but according to Nicholas, companies “bombarding the audience with nonstop ads and product placements” can annoy some viewers with their quantity.
Interestingly, most people who answered my question preferred the Puppy Bowl over the Super Bowl. Clara (‘26) stated “I care about dogs a lot more than I care about football,” when having to choose. It’s hard to enjoy a big sports event when you don’t care about either of the teams. Malia Ozoa (‘25) and Jackson Gilchrist (‘27) are in it for the cute puppies.
My respondents most often said they watched both events every couple of years. Some people seldom watch the Puppy Bowl but frequently watch the Super Bowl. For Jackson, he claims to watch the Puppy Bowl every year and the Super Bowl never. According to Nate Cunningham of Sports Illustrated, the “Super Bowl has surpassed 100 million viewers every year since 2010.” The Puppy Bowl appears less popular than the Super Bowl, although it “reached a strong average of 12.8 million viewers” in 2025, Variety reporter Selome Hailu notes.
So which will you watch? The Super Bowl is the most popular nationwide and provides a mix of entertainment with sports, music, and sensational ads. For some, it’s the obvious choice. But if you’re looking for a lighthearted event, the Puppy Bowl is full of adorable puppies that bring joy to every viewer.
