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Your Guide to the Thanksgiving College Football Schedule

Thanksgiving Day is typically reserved for football at the high school and professional levels.

But this coming Thursday and the ensuing Black Friday, there are a handful of college football games to help digest all the turkey and stuffing.

Below is a holiday viewing guide from The Athletic Leader on what’s on tap for college football on Thanksgiving.

  • Mississippi State (7-4, 3-4 SEC) @ No. 14 Ole Miss (8-3, 4-3 SEC) — Thu, Nov 24, 7 PM | Airing on ESPN
    • The game —  known as the Egg Bowl — has been played every year since 1944, and almost every year from 1902 to 1942. The Rebels and the Bulldogs have been SEC rivals since both became charter members in 1933.

      thanksgivingBut their rivalry predates that and has gone through three eras. They 1st competed against each other as independents, meeting 15 times. Then they met as members of the Southern Conference 11 times (1922-32) until the SEC was formed. Mississippi State averages nearly 400 yards of offense per game while surrendering 371 yards on defense. On the other hand, Ole Miss is averaging about 485 yards while also giving up 371 yards on defense heading into its Thanksgiving matchup.

    • No. 21 Tulane (9-2, 6-1 AAC) @ No. 25 Cincinnati (9-2, 6-1 AAC) — Fri, Nov 25, 12 PM | Airing on ABC
      • The Green Wave enters this game as a slight underdog against the host Bearcats in a battle for the AAC regular season crown. Tulane is led by junior running back Tyjae Spears, who has 996 rushing yards and 12 TDs, and two more receiving scores.

        Cincinnati’s offense is led by senior quarterback Ben Bryant and his 2,732 passing yards to go with a 21:7 TD-to-INT ratio. His top receiver on the year is junior Tyler Scott, who has 888 yards on 53 receptions to go with nine touchdowns.

    • No. 24 NC State (7-4, 3-4 ACC) @ No. 13 North Carolina (9-2, 6-1 ACC) — Fri, Nov 25, 3:30 PM | Airing on ABC
      • With both teams coming off a loss, expect the in-state rivalry to be played with a little more vigor on Friday. Though the Wolfpack are 6.5-point underdogs, their defense has been the strength of the team this season. They give up less than 225 passing yards per game and a little more than 100 yards rushing per game.

        The Tar Heels have been an offensive force, led by dual-threat freshman quarterback Drake Maye. On the year he has 34 touchdowns on 3,614 passing yards. He’s also the teams leading rusher with 597 yards and five scores. This game serves as a tune-up for the Tar Heel’s December 3rd matchup with Clemson for the ACC Title.

    • Florida (6-5, 3-5 SEC) @ No. 19 Florida State (8-3, 5-3 ACC) — Fri, Nov 25, 7:30 PM | Airing on ABC
      • The Gators are 10-point underdogs ahead of its matchup against the Seminoles. Florida State is on a four-game win streak while Florida has three of its last five games. The Seminoles’ defense has given opposing offenses fits throughout the season, allowing 155 passing yards and 138 rushing yards (293 total) per game.
    • Wyoming (7-4, 5-2 Mountain West) @ Fresno State (7-4, 6-1 Mountain West) — Fri, Nov 25, 10 PM | Airing on FS1
      • Fresno State has won six-straight games but won’t want to look past the Cowboys to its Mountain West title game against Boise State in two weeks. Wyoming enters the game as 14.5-point underdogs after dropping a close contest to Boise State, 20-17, last week. The Cowboys previously won four-straight games. Wyoming is led by junior running back Titus Swen, who has 964 yards and eight touchdowns on the year. Fresno State’s senior wideout, Jalen Moreno-Cropper, has been the Bulldogs’ offensive star with 971 yards on 72 receptions with five touchdowns.