The greatest Sunday in the sports world is nearly upon us. In a matter of days, people across Chico and the rest of the world will be screaming at TVs, laughing at commercials and stuffing down more food than they care to remember.

That’s right — it’s Super Bowl Sunday.

In the midst of all of this hysteria, hosts are frantically trying to throw together the best Super Bowl party they can. That’s where I am as well, as the last-minute host with last-minute ideas and last-minute breakdowns. But what’s saving my sanity, or what’s left of it, is my Super Bowl essentials checklist. Hopefully this list can help others who are as panicked as I once was. Here it is:

1. Venue

This one was tough for me at first. I live in an apartment that already contains two people and four animals, so adding seven to 10 more doesn’t seem like a great fit. But I held on to the idea that we had a sizable TV, decent speakers to amplify those bone-crunching hits and enough seating for all.

The keys here are the TV and the seating. We don’t have the most state-of-the-art set, but we have a reliable one that will display what we need — the game.

Returning to the seating. I cannot say enough about the seating. Too many times I’ve left my perch at a party to scrounge over chips and dip, only to come back to my spot being gone. The most frustrating thing in the world is getting duped purely for your love of good dip. I vowed to never let that happen at my bashes.

2. Food

I had yet another task ahead of me for my Super Bowl shindig. The appetizers are easy. Some homemade guacamole and salsa will do wonders for a hungry bunch of college kids, with some occasional cookies and such to get some variety in the mix.

But what about the main course? I can’t do the usual burgers and brats menu of parties past. This is the Super Bowl for crying out loud. After hours of thought, an idea struck. Something I don’t normally do, and something perfect for this magnitude of an event — baby back ribs.

I’m popping those puppies into the Crock-Pot early Sunday morning, complete with a family seasoning, and letting them tenderize all day. When the appetizers have been demolished these ribs will be ready to go.

3. Atmosphere

Typically, my biggest worry when having people over is making sure everyone has a good time. Luckily, this is one time of year that I get to sit back and relax because the Broncos and Seahawks will do that for me.

I won’t have to fumble through my jumbled music playlist searching for a mythical song that will please everyone. I also won’t have to worry about awkward silences, because even when everyone is chowing down on my juicy ribs, shouts of “Omaha” will be ringing through the apartment.

So it looks like my checklist is complete, just in time for some Super Bowl madness. There is just one more question to be answered.

Are you ready for some football?

Nick Woodard can be reached at [email protected] or @nwoodard25 on Twitter.