What do playoff college football teams want for Christmas

Christmas time has finally arrived. The time of year people spend months looking forward to. A time to enjoy the company of your family, closest friends and all the important people in your life.

One way many will enjoy the holidays is by watching sports, especially with the new 12-team College Football Playoffs right around the corner.

With the first-ever 12-team playoff on the horizon, and in the giving spirit, I decided to commemorate the occasion by getting one Christmas present for every playoff team.

Time to play Santa.

No. 12 Clemson Tigers - Matthew McConaughey DVDs

We kick things off with the ACC Champions, who head to Austin for their first-round matchup against No. 5 Texas. McConaughey has gained notoriety among college football fans for being on the sidelines at Longhorns games.

Tigers coach Dabo Swinney exclaimed after the first-round matchup “I’m gonna meet Matthew McConaughey,” in an interview with ESPN’s Molly McGrath. By gifting him multiple DVDs, Swinney can get multiple autographs. He can keep one for himself and promise the other copies as a reward to the best players during the game. A motivational gift.

No. 11 SMU Mustangs - A Christmas card that says “You Deserve It”

If you read my article about the Bloodline, and I know you all have, you would know I am a wrestling fan. In wrestling, when a wrestler wins a big match and sometimes a championship, the crowd will chant you deserve it to show their appreciation for said wrestler.

To show my appreciation to the Mustangs for keeping a three-loss Alabama team out of the playoffs, I will send them a card with that message, and maybe it can give them the confidence to go on a deep playoff run.

No. 10 Indiana Hoosiers - Stock in Microsoft

Curt Cignetti famously stated at a press conference earlier this year, “I win. Google me.” While his confidence stands out and shows belief in his team, anything less than a national championship will unfairly invalidate that claim.

If we get him some stock in Microsoft, he won’t have to google the score of Indiana’s inevitable multi-score loss in the playoffs.

No. 9 Tennessee Volunteers - Heaters for their offense

Tennessee’s offense went hot and cold throughout the year while playing in SEC stadiums every week in the South. I am a little concerned about how they will adjust to Columbus in what will be their coldest game by far.

Weather advantage is a thing and the Vols will need all the help they can get to take down the Buckeyes.

No. 8 Ohio State Buckeyes - Noise-cancelling headphones

This one is pretty simple. After their loss to Michigan, Ohio State fans were more than happy to voice their displeasure with the team.

I worry they will be more than happy to continue voicing their displeasure if the Buckeyes don’t return to form in the playoffs. The headphones can help them tune out the noise, and there has the potential to be a lot of it.

No. 7 Notre Dame Fighting Irish - An eraser

Notre Dame really doesn’t need all that much. They have a first-round home game, a potential path to the national title and an elite quarterback. Their only blemish is that loss at home to Northern Illinois, so an eraser can get rid of that.

With that loss now gone, the Irish have a realistic shot at winning their first championship since Ronald Regan was president.

No. 6 Penn State Nittany Lions - A top-five win

James Franklin famously has one win over a top-five team in the decade he has coached Penn State football. In order to win a national championship, I may have to get the Nittany Lions one of those wins, since they can never do it on their own.

No. 5 Texas Longhorns - An excuse to start Archie Manning

Quinn Ewers simply has not looked at himself since getting injured earlier in the year. Archie Manning coming in and briefly inserting himself into the Heisman conversation damaged any confidence Ewers had and it’s showing.

So let’s come up with a reason to put in one of the highest-rated recruits ever. Manning has the ability to carry Texas to a title and would be an upgrade over Ewers at this stage in the game.

No. 4 Arizona State Sun Devils - Melatonin

For Arizona State, this season has been nothing short of a miracle. Projected last in the preseason Big 12 media poll, the Sun Devils went on to win the conference in the biggest underdog story in years. It feels like a fever dream.

In order to keep that dream alive, I am giving the Sun Devils some sleeping medicine. Maybe I can give them enough to get to the title game.

No. 3 Boise State Broncos - A cryotherapy chamber

Ashton Jeanty is probably going to win the Heisman and he more than deserves it. I am slightly worried about the injuries he dealt with towards the end of the season. The Broncos cannot afford to lose Jeanty for any length of time, so for their present, I got them a cryotherapy chamber for Jeanty to stay in during the bye.

He can heal up his body as the Broncos gear up for the biggest game in program history.

No. 2 Georgia Bulldogs - A time machine

Stetson Bennett may not have blown everyone away with his talent, but he did lead the Bulldogs to back-to-back national titles. With Carson Beck’s availability in question, they may need to take a trip back in time to get the mailman.

No. 1 Oregon Ducks - Sydney Sweeney’s phone number

The Oregon Ducks are a juggernaut, with nothing standing between them and the national title. The team has no needs, but their mascot does. Remember on College Gameday when the Oregon Duck asked Sweeney for her number? Let’s spread some holiday cheer and be his wingman.

Nate Johns is a first-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email jzn5275@psu.edu.