In their Winning Era? Indiana students note connection between Taylor Swift and Colts victories

PLAINFIELD, Ind. — The worlds of Colts fans and Swifties collide in just a couple weeks when Taylor Swift comes to Lucas Oil Stadium.

But a pair of central Indiana teachers have found a possible connection between the music icon and success on the football field.

Forget touchdowns and turnovers — the true measure of whether the Colts will win may be decided in the suites at Kansas City's Arrowhead Stadium.

Erin Bangel, a third-grade teacher at Clarks Creek Elementary in Plainfield, and Stefanie Husenjovic, who teaches kindergarten in Decatur Township, have used Colts games as part of their lesson plans for years. The teachers post a graph on their doors with the Colts schedule, marking if they won or lost each week. 

Bangel said her students look forward to updating the graph and will use it to try to determine if they Colts will win on Sunday. 

A pair of self-described Swifties, Bangel and Husenjovic added a new graph this year to celebrate Swift's Indianapolis tour stop. The second chart marks whether or not the superstar attended that week's Kansas City Chiefs game.

"Adding the Taylor graph has been fun because it gives students two pieces of data to compare in a fun way — not just on a test," Bangel said.

While the teachers are hoping each week to celebrate both a Colts win and a Swift sighting, a pattern has emerged this season.

"We've seen a big trend in data. If Taylor goes to a Chiefs game, the Colts lose," Bangel said. "If she doesn't go, the Colts win."

The students' observations check out.

Swift was in her suite cheering on boyfriend Travis Kelce and the Chiefs the first two weeks of the season, while Indianapolis fell to 0-2. While Taylor missed the next two games, the Colts won back-to-back games over Chicago and Pittsburgh to even their record at 2-2.

A week later, Swift was back in Kansas City, but the Colts came up just short in Jacksonville. Last week, Indianapolis got back in the win column, but the Chiefs had a bye week, which meant no game for Swift. 

"We always hope for the Colts to win but we have figured out we cannot have a Taylor sighting and a Colts win in the same week!" Bangel said.

If this pattern holds, the resumption of The Eras Tour could mean big things for the Colts. 

Swift is scheduled to perform in Miami and New Orleans the next two Sundays, while the Chiefs play in San Francisco and Las Vegas. Indianapolis hosts Miami and travels to Houston over the next two weeks.

While Swift will be performing in Indianapolis on Sunday, Nov. 3 — hours after the Colts play the Vikings in Minnesota — the Chiefs don't play until Monday, Nov. 4, hosting Tampa Bay on Monday Night Football, potentially a return to Kansas City for a game before the Eras Tour heads to Canada.