Super Bowl Mentions: Over $8M Traded on Mentions in 2026

Mention markets to watch in 2027

Over $8 million was traded on Super Bowl mention markets in 2026. The most popular terms included “no good,” “safety,” and “schedule.” There was also interest in whether “Taylor Swift” would be mentioned, while other traders bet on whether Bad Bunny would protest against ICE. Reddit was abuzz with discussions about terms like “wind” and “Pro Bowl,” which created a great deal of excitement among NFL fans.

According to our data, mention markets soared in popularity during the 2025 season. Traders were risking less than $500,000 per game at the start of the NFL season, but volumes hit $3.55 million on the AFC and NFC championship games. More than $47 million had been staked on mention markets before the Super Bowl. Kalshi and Polymarket took over $8 million on the big game, so total trading exceeded $55 million for the season.

The momentum is likely to continue in 2026-2027. ESPN will broadcast Super Bowl LXI, so we can look forward to an announcing team of Joe Buck and Troy Aikman. This will be the seventh Super Bowl that they’ve called together. Here are some potential terms to look out for:

• Hall of Famer: Buck is notorious for constantly referring to Aikman as “Hall of Famer,” so that’s a term to watch.
• Terrible call: Aikman has stopped caring so much about what other people think, according to Buck. Since moving to ESPN, Aikman has been unafraid to call about bad officiating, sloppy play, or poor individual performances. In December 2025, he called a taunting decision against the Dolphins a “terrible call,” so that could be another one to watch.
• Not gonna keep my mouth shut: This is perhaps Aikman’s most recognized, recurring phrase , so it could gain traction.
• Tough game: Buck doesn’t really have any catch phrases, as he favors a minimalist approach, but Aikman is renowned for saying “tough game.” He likes to remind viewers that football is a tough game for tough people.

What are mention markets?

Mention markets let you bet on whether specific words, phrases, or names will be spoken during a specific speaking event or broadcast, including the Super Bowl. Think of them as Super Bowl prop bets for the commentary booth. Will the announcers reference Taylor Swift? Will someone say “greatest of all time”? These markets turn the broadcast itself into a betting event, separate from what happens on the field.

Kalshi’s markets are scoped specifically to the broadcast announcers. A mention only counts if the announcers say the term during the game coverage. Polymarket’s global platform (not available to US traders) resolves yes if anyone says the term during the broadcast, including players, coaches, sideline interviews, or in-game audio picked up by field mics.

A term like “Taylor Swift” might trade at different odds across platforms not because traders disagree on likelihood, but because Polymarket’s wider resolution criteria could make a mention more likely. When comparing odds or analyzing market efficiency, the resolution rules are as important as the numbers themselves.

Kalshi vs. Polymarket resolution rules

Understanding these resolution criteria is essential before betting on what’s said during the Super Bowl.

Kalshi’s mention markets resolve based solely on what the designated broadcast announcers say during game coverage. For Super Bowl LX, that means Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth on NBC. Pre-game, halftime, and post-game commentary don’t count. Neither do graphics, chyrons, or on-screen text. The term must be spoken aloud by one of those voices during the game broadcast window.

Polymarket uses a wider lens. Their markets resolve yes if the term is spoken by anyone during the broadcast, regardless of who says it. This includes announcers, but also player mic’d-up audio, sideline interviews with coaches, referee announcements, and any other audio that makes it to air. This structural difference is why identical terms often trade at higher yes prices on Polymarket. More voices means more opportunities for a mention.

Both platforms require exact phrasing unless otherwise specified in the market rules. Nicknames, abbreviations, and partial matches typically don’t count unless the market explicitly includes them. Neither platform counts mentions during commercials. Also important to note: both rely on broadcast audio and official transcripts of the broadcast for resolution confirmation, leaving some room for interpretation or error.

Other markets to consider:

Mention markets are only one of the smaller niche markets to bet on for the Big Game. Prediction markets offer a variety of events, all based on specific outcome questions. Our live odds pages compare odds and are updated hourly. 

If looking for promos, you can compare all prediction market promos leading up to the Super Bowl 2027. Kalshi is offering new players $10 free with first $100 in trades when you use our Kalshi referral code DEFI.  We also offer a free football squares generator. No sign-up required. 

Certain words hit more frequently than others

Certain terms consistently price high across mention markets because they’re near-locks to come up in any Super Bowl broadcast. References to previous Super Bowl appearances, championship history, and the host city are standard announcer fare. Player names tied to major storylines also tend to trade at higher pricing because broadcasters build narratives around them throughout the game. 

For bettors looking to wager on what’s said during the Super Bowl rather than what happens on the field, mid-range markets between 30% and 60% offer the most balanced risk. These often include pop culture references, specific stats or records within reach, and names adjacent to the main storylines.

Strategy considerations

These are live betting markets, and most of the action happens once the game is underway. Don’t be surprised if volume looks thin in the days leading up to kickoff. Safety, the highest-volume Super Bowl mention market right now, is sitting at just $4K. We’ve seen NFL mention markets at $18K the week before a game explode to $1.3M on game day. The bulk of betting on what’s said during the Super Bowl will happen in real time, particularly as the game moves into the later stages and certain terms start to look like locks or longshots.

Announcing teams also have patterns:

• Cris Collinsworth is known for detailed breakdowns and player anecdotes, which can increase variance on fringe mentions. 
• National broadcasts also lean heavily on established storylines, so tracking the pre-game media narrative gives you a read on what topics are likely to get more airtime.
• Game flow influences mentions directly. A blowout means more filler commentary and deeper dives into background stories; a close game keeps focus tight on the action and could make certain terms like “comeback” etc. more likely. 
• Player performance dictates which names get repeated—a receiver who scores twice will get mentioned far more than one who’s quiet all game.

For Polymarket specifically, the sideline access expands the pool and will likely attract more Super Bowl mention betting than Kalshi. Coaches will get interviewed after scoring drives. Players will get mic’d up. The broadcast will cut to reactions. Any of those moments can trigger a resolution, which is why terms tied to high-profile non-announcers (head coaches, star quarterbacks) carry a little extra weight on that platform.

Finally, watch for line movement in the 48 hours before kickoff. Late money from sharps and volume spikes on specific terms can signal information—whether that’s injury news, a leaked broadcast rundown, or simply coordinated betting action. If you’re going to bet on what announcers say during the Super Bowl, that window is when the market tends to get most efficient.