It’s an annual tradition that we started here at Buckeyes Wire. We take a look at the past year and put together the one thing each Big Ten football program wants most for Christmas. However, we don’t stop there, we peer into the crystal ball and see what each team will actually get for Christmas and beyond instead. After all, some are on the nice list, while others appear on the naughty list.
Remember, these are just for fun and it’s all just in jest, but we did actually get some of these right last year (yes, we also got some wrong).
So here it goes, what every Big Ten football program asked for for Christmas and what each will actually get. And as always, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy Hanukkah, and whatever else you are celebrating this season from your friends at Buckeyes Wire.
Illinois Fighting Illini
The Christmas Wish
A bowl win in Tampa to wrap up a welcome back to relevancy in the Big Ten year
What’ll SHow up in the Stocking
Warm weather, a trip to Bush Gardens, and a door prize that includes a loss in Tampa Bay. It’ll all lead to a reality check in 2023.
Indiana Hoosiers
The Christmas Wish
To bottle up the magical 2020 year that seemed to set the program up for some great momentum moving forward
What’ll SHow up in the Stocking
A good — not great — basketball program to go with continued disappointment on the gridiron.
Iowa Hawkeyes
The Christmas Wish
A real, live offense
What’ll SHow up in the Stocking
A real, live defense and an offense that has most of its dynamic yardage comeing in the form of multiple quarterback sneak packages.
Maryland Terrapins
The Christmas Wish
A winning record in the Big Ten after years of playing well in the nonconference only to lose more games once conference play begins
What’ll SHow up in the Stocking
The template is set. Coal comes in the form of being in the East Division and not having enough depth to win consistently in the Big Ten.
Michigan Wolverines
The Christmas Wish
A College Football Playoff national championship
What’ll SHow up in the Stocking
More awkward press conferences from Jim Harbaugh, and a welcome back to Earth beatdown in the College Football Playoff.
Michigan State Spartans
The Christmas Wish
A bounce-back year in 2023 to show that 2021 wasn’t a flash-in-the-pan event
What’ll SHow up in the Stocking
A lifetime membership to the transfer portal for recruiting.
Minnesota Golden Gophers
The Christmas Wish
To get over the hump and be a real player in the Big Ten West division
What’ll SHow up in the Stocking
More oars to row the boat that can’t seem to stay out into open waters long enough to make it to the desired destination.
Nebraska Cornhuskers
The Christmas Wish
A return to glory under new head coach Matt Rhule
What’ll SHow up in the Stocking
A return to the same old story of trying to change the culture under new head coach Matt Rhule.
Northwestern Wildcats
The Christmas Wish
A way to sustain some consistency year-over-year
What’ll SHow up in the Stocking
Your guess is as good as mine. It’s hard to figure this team out from year to year, to game to game, to quarter by quarter.
Ohio State Buckeyes
The Christmas Wish
A win over Georgia in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl and a shot at redemption in the CFP national championship game opposite Michigan
What’ll SHow up in the Stocking
More fans screaming about what a terrible job Ryan Day is doing as head coach.
Penn State Nittany Lions
The Christmas Wish
To win the Rose Bowl over Utah and become an “elite” program
What’ll SHow up in the Stocking
More unrealized expectations and a heaping of very good (not elite) years.
Purdue Boilermakers
The Christmas Wish
For new head coach Ryan Walters to be the guy to get the program to new heights
What’ll SHow up in the Stocking
Engineers. Purdue will graduate a lot of engineers. But not a ton of great football teams.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
The Christmas Wish
For the program to take the next steps forward under head coach Greg Schiano
What’ll SHow up in the Stocking
Another plaque commemorating Rutgers with the first-ever college football game and the same general results on the field.
Wisconsin Badgers
The Christmas Wish
For Luke Fickell to be the real deal as the new head coach
What’ll SHow up in the Stocking
For Fickell to do really well (not great) in Madison and then eventually move on to be the head coach at Ohio State.
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