The first top-ten matchup of the 2024 college football is turning out to be a star-student event. Celebrities from all walks of fame, be it Chris Webber or Matthew McConaughey and Michael Phelps, have made it on the “College GameDay” and “Big Noon Kickoff.” But perhaps one of the most anticipated names on the guest list is MLB legend and Hall of Fame Derek Jeter. While Jeter has plenty of ventures on his plate, football is not his next. He was chosen as the Michigan honorary captain. If you saw the camera pan to him more than twice, you know that’s the reason. But that’s not the only reason.

Derek Jeter’s love for the ‘Maize and Blue’ is no secret—he has been seen multiple times attending the games and showing his support. But why? The New York Yankee icon has a deep connection with Michigan—it’s where he grew up and first fell in love with baseball. Plus, this was the place that catapulted his journey to the major league. Derek Jeter wasn’t born in Michigan but in New Jersey. But as a child, his family moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan. His father, Sanderson, played baseball in college and later went to serve in the military. And it is here that he met Jeter’s mother Dorothy and later together, they raised Jeter in Kalamazoo.

Jeter attended the central high school there, and he was a standout athlete from the get-go. He hit .557 with seven home runs as a junior in 1991 and followed up with a .508 batting average, four home runs, and 12 stolen bases in just twenty-three games his senior year. 

This led Derek Jeter to the USA Tokay High School Baseball Player of the Year. And while his mother had all the plans for him to attend Notre Dame, he was committed to playing baseball. But the Hall of Famer did attend Michigan University for the fall semester of 1992, just after his short stint in the minor leagues with the Yankees. But he withdrew in 1993 and then the rest is history!

And now, years later he is the honorary guest, it’s a full-circle moment for sure. Just ahead of the Texas vs. Michigan game, FOX’s Thomas Cook asked Jeter how much Michigan means to him. Jeter said, “It’s where I grew up.” Derek Jeter even talked about having the opportunity to give back to the place by being able to renovate his high school and how great it feels to be able to do that. So, this Saturday he wasn’t just representing a team—but a place he considered as home. 

Matthew McConaughey takes a dig at Derek Jeter!

The star power was off the charts at the 2024 college football season’s first top-ten showdown. It was Michigan Wolverines who were hosting the No.3 Texas Longhorns. And if you were to go by Derek Jeter’s words—there were a lot many Texas fans present there! But the celebs were divided into two sides with Michigan’s own Derek Jeter and Olympic champion Michael Phelps supporting the Wolverines and Hollywood legends Matthew McConaughey and Will Ferrell cheering on the Longhorns. Except, the Interstellar star was nowhere on the scene!

Matthew McConaughey was on air and running behind his schedule. But in the age of video messages, he sure did drop on a rather ‘challenging’ message to Jeter. Nothing serious, just friendly trash talk saying, “Jeter I hope today is going to be a loooooong day for your Big Blue.” But Jeter is anything but notorious for his comebacks and said, “We rerouted his plane and added circles before he got here. Way too many Texas fans.”  This playful exchange added another layer of fun leading up to the already highly anticipated game. The event was more than just a visit for Derek Jeter, it’s him coming back to his roots. He has always given back to the community and is always up for it.

What’s your take on Jeter and McConaughey’s conversation? Share below.