Picture this. It’s September 2020. You’re watching Michigan’s home opener and wishing you were there with 110,000 of your closest friends singing “Mr. Brightside” by The Killers.

A year later, that was the sight at The Big House in Ann Arbor — and what a sight it was. After the past year and all the uncertainty surrounding college football, this is such an incredible moment.

College football is all about the fans, which is one of the many reasons why the 2020 season was so different. There were no bands playing during dead balls, no fans chanting during plays or trying to distract kickers and no fans singing 2000s cult favorite songs.

Week 1 of the 2021 season meant the return of fans to the stands. All the sights and sounds we know and love from college football games were back in full force.

Let’s hope we never have to see an empty stadium again.