
08/30/2025
Why so much joy today?
From a medical perspective, the start of football season triggers multiple well-documented psychological and physiological effects: pre-game rituals that elevate dopamine, identity boosts through the BIRGing effect, collective energy that enhances belonging, hormonal shifts that reinforce mood, and the natural optimism that comes with a new season.
Together, these five drivers explain why we see such widespread excitement and joy across the country today.