The Seattle Seahawks defeated the New England Patriots 29-13 on Sunday, Feb. 8, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, to win Super Bowl LX and secure the franchise’s second Vince Lombardi Trophy. Behind a dominant defense and a run-heavy offense led by running back Kenneth Walker III, Seattle took control early and never really gave it back.

Courtesy of NBC News

Before kickoff, UC Santa Barbara students shared their predictions in a poll on the Daily Nexus Instagram story, where 72 percent picked the Seahawks to win (151 votes) and 28 percent chose the Patriots (58 votes). Since Seattle was widely expected to win, most Gauchos went with the safer pick.

Seattle set the tone early with a 33-yard field goal from kicker Jason Myers, who went on to make five field goals in the game, setting a new Super Bowl record and giving Seattle points even when their drives stopped short of the end zone. The Seahawks leaned on a physical run game, while their defense, nicknamed the “Dark Side,” kept pressure on New England and repeatedly disrupted the Patriots’ offense. 

Kenneth Walker III earned Super Bowl Most Valuable Player (MVP) honors after rushing for 135 yards on 27 carries and adding 26 receiving yards. He became the first running back to win a Super Bowl MVP in nearly three decades, showing just how important he was to Seattle’s offense. Though a long touchdown run was wiped out by a penalty, his consistency kept the Seahawks moving and prevented the Patriots’ defense from settling in.

Defensively, Seattle pressured the Patriots’ young star quarterback Drake Maye all night, recording multiple sacks and forcing turnovers that prevented any real comeback attempt. Under constant pressure, Maye often looked rushed in the pocket and was forced into difficult throws as Seattle’s defense closed in. New England did not reach the end zone until the fourth quarter, when Maye connected with wide receiver Mack Hollins on a 35-yard touchdown pass, but by that point, it was already too late. 

While the game was hundreds of miles away, the excitement reached Isla Vista. Students packed into apartments and residence halls to watch, with Bad Bunny’s halftime show drawing just as much attention as the action on the field. UCSB even has its own connection to Super Bowl history, as the Green Bay Packers practiced at Harder Stadium ahead of the very first Super Bowl in 1967.

In the end, the Seahawks delivered the outcome most UCSB students expected. As Seattle celebrated a championship built on defense and a relentless run game, the Gauchos had their own small victory: their Instagram poll turned out to be right, adding a bit of campus pride to the national story.