Sports fans live for weekends like this—two thrilling games, four legendary teams, and an unforgettable experience. Here’s a rundown of our three-day trip.
We took a red-eye flight on Friday night to Chicago, and even with a three-hour layover, we couldn’t resist mimicking Home Alone as we raced through the airport. Afterward, we hopped on a flight to Detroit and made the half-hour drive to Ann Arbor for USC's debut in the Big Ten.
Visiting Michigan Stadium, also known as "The Big House," is a must for any college football fan, but one downside is the limited food options around the stadium. There is also a no bag policy and you can't enter the stadium until 90 minutes before kick-off.
As big Steve Fisher fans, we couldn't pass up the chance to visit the Crisler Center. We made our way over to catch a quick glimpse of the court and admire the iconic 1989 championship banner that hangs proudly in the arena.
Inside the stadium, we saw the USC Trojan Marching Band and we ran into former band director Dr. Bartner, a proud Michigan alum. This visit was particularly special for him, as it marked his return to Michigan Stadium for the first time in 62 years.
Although Michigan and USC had faced off ten times previously, with eight of those meetings occurring in the Rose Bowl, this was their first regular-season encounter since 1958.
The game started off on a high note for Michigan, as they quickly built a 14-0 lead in the first half. However, our Trojans fought back, scoring 24 unanswered points to take the lead. But with just 37 seconds left on the clock, Kalel Mullings surged two yards for the game-winning touchdown on a critical fourth-and-goal situation.
After the game, we hit the road for a two-hour drive to our Airbnb along the shores of Lake Erie in Huron, Ohio. We had a delicious breakfast at Jordan's Country Diner before heading to Pittsburgh.
As we arrived at the stadium, we saw many people wearing "I'm still calling it Heinz Field" shirts. Depite the name change to Acrisure Stadium, the iconic ketchup bottle that used to fill up with every touchdown still stood tall.
Despite an early touchdown pass from Justin Herbert, the Chargers struggled against a relentless Steelers pass rush, failing to capitalize on offensive opportunities in the fourth quarter. After witnessing two previous losses to the Chargers, Dylan was thrilled to finally see the Steelers clinch a 20-10 victory in person.
Of course, Dylan had to celebrate the win at Primanti Brothers with a classic Pitts-burger, a mouthwatering creation that has become a Pittsburgh staple. Known for its unique take on sandwiches which include fries and coleslaw.
On the final day of our trip, we drove to our nation’s capital before catching our flight out of Dulles. We soaked in the iconic sights of Washington, D.C., including the Washington Monument, the WWII Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, and the American History Smithsonian Museum.
It was the perfect way to cap off an incredible weekend filled with sports, history, and unforgettable moments.
Comments