MTSU Marketing Students Analyze Super Bowl Commercials Through USA Today Partnership
A marketing class at Middle Tennessee State University recently had the opportunity to connect classroom learning with a national media project, reviewing this year’s Super Bowl commercials as part of the university’s ongoing partnership with USA Today.
As part of the discussion, USA Today Senior Content Strategist Rick Suter joined the class via Zoom, answering student questions and breaking down how brands evaluate the success of their ads after the big game. The collaboration began three years ago as a way to bring Gen Z perspectives into the national advertising conversation and has continued to grow each year.
During the session, students examined how elements such as music choices and celebrity appearances influence audience reactions. The goal was to sharpen their critical thinking skills while helping them better understand how advertising connects with viewers.
For the professor, the experience represents true experiential learning. Rather than simply watching commercials, students debated their effectiveness, compared reactions and discussed why certain ads resonated while others fell flat.
One student shared that the discussion highlighted the importance of gathering broad perspectives and finding common ground. Hearing a range of viewpoints helped deepen their understanding of how audiences interpret advertising differently.
Moments like this are designed to move learning beyond the textbook. By analyzing high-profile campaigns like Super Bowl commercials, students gain insight into the strategies and decision-making behind the ads they see not only during the big game but in everyday life.
Faculty members say this type of hands-on experience is exactly what they want for their students. The objective is for students to leave class feeling they have gained practical knowledge and can apply what they have learned. Instead of passively consuming advertisements, they walk away with a clearer understanding of what they are watching and why it works.
With interest in the partnership continuing to grow, organizers hope to expand the collaboration even further in the future, keeping students connected to real-world industry conversations right here in Murfreesboro.
