Every August, as the football season approaches, millions of fans participate in fantasy football, a game that has become a cornerstone of sports culture. Participants draft real NFL players to build their own teams and compete against other fans weekly, with each athlete’s real-life performance shaping the outcome of the fantasy games.
Throughout the season, athletes’ real-life performances determine fantasy wins and losses, culminating in playoffs that determine the league’s final standings. After every season, over three million leagues across the country have a tough realization—there’s always a winner, but there’s also always a loser.
Punishments are a substantial part of the fantasy football season. They have a long history in the fantasy world, gaining popularity in the 2000s. The first viral punishment came during the 2017-18 season, when the last-place finisher was forced to spend 24 hours in Waffle House—a challenge every loser wanted to experience.
These challenges have crossed the line more than a few times. One prime example of this was when, in 2019, a loser had to hold a sign reading “I SUCK AT FANTASY FOOTBALL” on the side of the highway while wearing a dress and heels. This punishment was extremely controversial for its gender-based public ridicule. It highlights how fantasy penalties can escalate quickly, evolving from harmless jokes into extreme challenges as leagues push boundaries.
“It’s a great way to be connected closer to your friends,” freshman Kaden Gross said. “[Fantasy football] is such a big thing in high school because it makes football more enjoyable, and it’s just a way to bring friends together.”
“[Our punishments] are usually something really chill, and it’s just a fun incentive for the end and for putting in the work,” junior Juliet West said.
M-A students are participating in a variety of fantasy punishment this year, from the Cage to a twist on the first viral challenge. Here’s a look at the most creative punishments the Bears’ fantasy football community has come up with.
Spencer Harding: The Cage
Junior Spencer Harding served his fantasy punishment in the Cage, an especially tough task. It consists of the loser going in a dog cage and letting the other league mates pour whatever they desire onto them, excluding bodily fluids. “I think I’m gonna excel and rock it,” Harding said. “I think [fantasy punishments] are all in good fun. I’m very excited.” He completed his challenge over mid-winter break.
Jake Pelican: Milk Mile
Freshman Jake Pelican’s fantasy penalty is the milk mile, which he plans to do this summer. The milk mile is a task that requires the loser to run a mile while drinking a gallon of milk. Pelican has varying thoughts about fantasy football punishments as a whole. “I think to an extent, it’s a good thing, but once it gets to something that’s out of hand, it’s not a good thing,” he said. “Usually the winner doesn’t get anything, and people just focus on the loser. I think that’s a little bit weird, but if it’s a light-hearted punishment, that’s fine.”
Hunter Cabral and Owen Kaenel: 24 Hours in IHOP
Seniors Hunter Cabral and Owen Kaenel’s fantasy punishment was the 24-hour IHOP challenge. The challenge requires the loser to spend 24 hours in an IHOP restaurant. However, for every pancake they finish eating, one hour is subtracted from their 24-hour time mark. “[I’m] probably going to stay there for a couple of hours,” H. Cabral said. “I think [fantasy punishments are] kind of fun. I’ve always been interested in football, and I think it’s kind of fun to have a football punishment you and your friends can do together.”
Grant Cabral: Trick-or-Treating in May
Sophomore Grant Cabral’s challenge is trick-or-treating, but not on Halloween. Instead, G. Cabral’s trick-or-treating will occur about four months earlier, in May. “I think [the punishments] add spice to the game and make people actually want to win,” G. Cabral said. “I deserved to win, I got a bunch of injuries,” he said, when asked about losing his league. G. Cabral and his league mates plan on completing the challenge by the end of May.
