Michigan football, ‘Mr. Brightside’ and the video game that will have you belting lyrics in the Big House
Michigan Wolverines head coach Sherrone Moore hypes up fans before Michigan football hosts the University of Southern California at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024.
ANN ARBOR, MI — A familiar resounding voice sweeps across Michigan Stadium every fall.
There’s one song that Wolverine fans have engrained into the fabric of game day in Ann Arbor.
It’s a song with lyrics you may question as an anthem, but when it starts up, the entire crowd roars singing along word-for-word to the chorus, and even when the music cuts out, the student section and alumni alike continue to scream it louder in unison.
That song, to nobody’s surprise unless you’ve been living under a rock, is “Mr. Brightside.”
And now, through the recent resurgence of college football through EA Sports in the video game realm, you can sing along to the song as it appears in real-time game play whether it’s a Saturday this fall or any day or night you want to play out your Michigan football dreams digitally.
Michigan fans cheer on their team during the game on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022 in Ann Arbor.
EA Sports released the deluxe edition of College Football ’26 Monday, and releases the regular edition today, July 10.
EA Sports continues to build into making the atmosphere for gameplay closer and closer to the actual game day experience, which includes more control over the players, coaches being in the game, as well as school traditions.
And while the 2003 hit song by The Killers is a newly-adopted tradition, it has become a fan favorite quickly, played between the third and fourth quarters.
Michigan fans cheer on the Wolverines during the first half as No. 5 University of Michigan football faces off against No. 10 Penn State on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022 in Ann Arbor.
At Michigan Stadium, the song is often muted at some point and the fans take over, acapella.
And, you guessed it, that’s exactly what happens in the game.
The first time “Mr. Brightside” blared through the Big House speakers was on Oct. 1, 2016, during a game against Wisconsin.
Michigan fans cheer as Michigan football hosts the University of Southern California at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024.
Freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood can be spotted on the packed “deluxe” cover of the video game as well.
The cover art, published above, shows Underwood in the second row wearing his Michigan uniform. The former five-star recruit enters the fall pushing for the starting job against veteran Mikey Keene, a transfer from Fresno State.
Behind Underwood on the deluxe cover is another familiar face to Michigan fans, former quarterback Denard Robinson. Robinson played for the Wolverines from 2009 to 2012, capturing All-American and Big Ten MVP honors in 2010.
Fans rush the field after Michigan defeated Ohio State 30-24 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Nov. 25 2023.
He would go on to grace the cover of EA’s College Football ’14 video game, the last one produced before the brand’s revival in 2024.
Michigan fans celebrate as Michigan football hosts the University of Southern California at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024.
The 2026 cover photo was shot in March at the Rose Bowl, an event Underwood and Robinson were invited to.
Michigan fans sing Mr. Brightside during the game on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022 in Ann Arbor. Michigan defeated Michigan State 29-7.
Michigan running back Donovan Edwards was one of several players to appear on the cover of the College Football ’25 video game last year.
Players have the choice to “opt in” to have their name, image and likeness appear in the the game. EA has increased the payments to $1,500 this year, along with a free copy of the game. By appearing on the cover, Underwood is expected to receiver a larger payment.
Michigan fans watch on as quarterback J.J. McCarthy calls a play during the first half as No. 5 University of Michigan football faces off against No. 10 Penn State on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022 in Ann Arbor.
The game is set to be released on July 10, with the standard edition retailing at $69.99 and deluxe edition at $99.99.
Michigan fans celebrate after Michigan Wolverines quarterback Alex Orji (10) scored on a rushing touchdown on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024 in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines defeated the Spartans 24-17.
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Michigan fans celebrate after Michigan Wolverines quarterback Alex Orji (10) scored on a rushing touchdown on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024 in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines defeated the Spartans 24-17.
