Thanksgiving Day’s all about family, friends, and, let’s be honest, a marathon of sports. This year’s lineup? It’s a wild mix of NFL, college football, and college basketball—enough to keep just about anyone on the couch all day.
From the classic NFL tripleheader to a handful of college games, there’s no shortage of action. Here’s a rundown of what’s on tap and what you might want to keep an eye on.
Thanksgiving Day NFL Tripleheader
The NFL’s Thanksgiving slate is a tradition, and honestly, it’s tough to imagine the holiday without it. This year, three games are on the menu:
Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions
Things get rolling at 1 p.m., with the Packers heading to Detroit to face the Lions on FOX. The Lions have been hosting Thanksgiving games since 1934—kind of their thing. They’ll try to hold off the Packers in what could be a pretty feisty NFC North matchup. Watch Lions vs. Packers live on Fubo.
Kansas City Chiefs at Dallas Cowboys
Next up, at 4:30 p.m., the Cowboys host the Chiefs on CBS and Paramount+. Dallas is basically synonymous with Thanksgiving at this point. The Chiefs, with Patrick Mahomes at the helm, bring a ton of firepower, so you might want to expect a shootout. Watch Cowboys vs. Chiefs live on Fubo.
Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens
After dinner, at 8:20 p.m., it’s Bengals vs. Ravens on NBC and Peacock. Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson squaring off under the lights? That’s a pretty great way to wrap up the NFL portion of the day. Watch Ravens vs. Bengals live on Peacock.
College Football Showdowns
Thanksgiving isn’t just about the NFL—college football sneaks in, too. Here’s one to circle:
Navy at Memphis
At 7:30 p.m., Navy takes on Memphis on ESPN. Navy’s triple-option offense is always interesting, while Memphis leans on its passing game. Should be a fun contrast in styles.
College Basketball Extravaganza
If football’s not your thing, there’s a full slate of college basketball. Here’s what’s lined up:
ESPN Events Invitational
This invitational has several games throughout the day:
- 11 a.m.: Richmond vs. Furman on ESPN2
- 1:30 p.m.: Charlotte vs. Illinois St. on ESPN2
- 5 p.m.: BYU vs. Miami on ESPN
- 7:30 p.m.: Georgetown vs. Dayton on ESPN2
Battle 4 Atlantis
The Battle 4 Atlantis tournament brings some solid matchups:
- Noon: Semifinal on ESPN
- 2:30 p.m.: Semifinal on ESPN
- 5:30 p.m.: Consolation Game on ESPN2
- 8 p.m.: Consolation Game on ESPNU
Fort Myers Tip-Off
There’s also the Fort Myers Tip-Off, with these games on the schedule:
- Noon: St. Bonaventure vs. E. Carolina on Fox Sports 1
- 4:30 p.m.: Michigan St. vs. North Carolina on Fox
Acrisure Series
The Acrisure Series throws in a few more matchups:
- 2 p.m.: San Francisco vs. Colorado on CBSSN
- 4:30 p.m.: Washington vs. Nevada on CBSSN
- 7 p.m.: Santa Clara vs. Saint Louis on CBSSN
- 9:30 p.m.: Stanford vs. Minnesota on CBSSN
Rady Children’s Invitational
For the Rady Children’s Invitational, here’s what’s happening:
- 3 p.m.: Florida vs. TCU on Fox Sports 1
- 5:30 p.m.: Wisconsin vs. Providence on Fox Sports 1
CBS Sports Thanksgiving Classic
And at 8 p.m., CBS has the Thanksgiving Classic—Duke vs. Arkansas. That one’s definitely worth a look if you love big-time college hoops.
Players Era
The Players Era tournament has some pretty lively late-night action in store:
- 8 p.m.: Championship on TRUTV, HBO Max
- 10:30 p.m.: Third Place Game on TRUTV, HBO Max
- 10:30 p.m.: Oklahoma St. vs. Northwestern on Peacock
Thanksgiving Day really does feel like a sports fan’s dream, doesn’t it? Between football and basketball, there’s something going on pretty much every hour.
If you want the full rundown, the complete list of Thanksgiving Day games is over at North Jersey’s sports section.
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