Big Ten teams as Thanksgiving dishes

Thanksgiving probably looks a bit different this year for many of us. I hope that you are still finding a safe way to eat good food, spend time with family and watch a whole lot of football.

In the mean time, here are some comparisons that absolutely no one asked for.

Ohio State — Pumpkin Pie

Pumpkin pie is what everyone is really thinking about while they consume the other dishes. There’s also many people who despise pumpkin pie, and the people who hate pumpkin pie never shut up about how they hate pumpkin pie.

Michigan — Jello

Jello hasn’t been good since you were a kid but your grandma keeps making it and hyping it up because she still thinks it’s a good dish.

Nebraska — Corn

I don’t need to explain this.

Penn State — Turkey

Turkey so desperately wants to rival Pumpkin Pie as the main event of the day. But every single year, we take that first bite of turkey and we’re like...okay, I’m done. Where’s the pie?

Indiana — Brussels Sprouts

Sometimes, brussels sprouts are one of the most underwhelming dishes on the table. But when they’re cooked just right— roasted, crispy, buttery, crispy, perfectly seasoned— they become pretty hard to beat.

Northwestern — Gravy

You truly never know what you’re gonna get with gravy. Oftentimes, gravy is pretty bland, but when its good, it makes the entire Thanksgiving eating experience much more interesting.

Wisconsin — Mashed Potatoes

A solid, consistently good side dish (when made correctly). However, some years they turn out lumpy and unseasoned. Enter: Gravy.

Illinois — Bread Rolls

You kind of forget about them until they’re put on the table. There’s certainly nothing bad to say about bread rolls, but they’re...nothing to write home about.

Minnesota — Glazed Carrots

Like, its not the worst side on the table but it’s certainly not the best.

Michigan State — Green Bean Casserole

When you think of casseroles, you usually think of a big hearty pan of deliciousness, right? There’re mac and cheese casseroles, chicken alfredo casseroles, enchilada casseroles, buffalo chicken casseroles, etc. Yet every single year, the casserole that shows up to the table is a...green bean casserole?

Maryland — Stuffing

On paper, stuffing doesn’t seem like it would be very good. However, it usually ends up being okay under the right circumstances (cook, texture, etc.). Like, I’ll have a helping, but I’m not going back for seconds.

Purdue — Mac and Cheese

Mac and cheese is kind of a flaky side. It isn’t served every year, but when it does show up, it always takes over the spotlight for a hot sec, which sometimes has the potential to humble pumpkin pie fans.

Iowa — Sweet potatoes

Sweet potatoes are good, but they have to work for it. They have to have the brown sugar, marshmallows, etc. If they don’t, it’s hard to consider them the best type of potato on the table.

Rutgers — Cranberry Sauce

I feel like we keep serving cranberry sauce on Thanksgiving because the people who started Thanksgiving did. It’s tradition. And it’s not like we hate it, but the other dishes don’t really need it to make their statement as the best dish on the table. But hey, it can’t be worse than green bean casserole!