This article serves as a comprehensive summary of today’s happenings in the world of sports, compiling essential insights and updates from various leagues and sports.
Happy Thanksgiving to all sports enthusiasts! As we gather around for a day filled with festive meals, we’re also treated to an exciting lineup of NFL games and college basketball competitions. There’s nothing quite like the thrill of sports during the holidays, especially the highly anticipated Chiefs-Cowboys showdown on CBS.
For families watching together, we’ve also curated a helpful cheat sheet for discussing football topics with relatives. Plus, if you’re curious about today’s sports highlights, we’ve got a special in-depth edition focused on both Thanksgiving and Black Friday festivities. So, let’s dive in!
⚾ Key Updates to Know This Thanksgiving
- Blue Jays Make a Major Move with Dylan Cease – The Toronto Blue Jays are set to ink a monumental deal with pitcher Dylan Cease, reportedly a seven-year agreement worth $210 million. This contract marks the largest in the franchise’s history, surpassing the previous record by a whopping $60 million. Although Cease struggled last season with a 4.55 ERA for the Padres, he is recognized as a top-tier arm in the free-agent market, expected to significantly strengthen a rotation narrowly missing a World Series title.
- Michigan Triumphs in Players Era Men’s Championship – The No. 7 Michigan Wolverines dominated No. 12 Gonzaga, clinching the tournament crown with a remarkable 101-61 victory. Not only do they take home the championship title, but they also earn an additional $1 million on top of their initial winnings. Meanwhile, Kansas secured third place by defeating No. 17 Tennessee, 81-76.
- Arsenal Claims Victory Against Bayern Munich – In a thrilling Matchday 5 encounter of the UEFA Champions League, Arsenal showcased their prowess with a 3-1 victory over Bayern Munich, establishing themselves as the only undefeated team remaining in the tournament. As the Gunners gear up for future challenges, they appear to be the front-runners in the quest for international club acclaim. Conversely, Liverpool suffered a disheartening 4-1 home loss against PSV, marking a troubling trend as they now face five defeats in their last seven matches.
- College Football Rivalry Week Kicks Off – The anticipation builds as college football rivalry week features a series of exciting matchups on Friday. Notable games include No. 4 Georgia facing off against No. 23 Georgia Tech, with the Bulldogs favored by two touchdowns. Additionally, No. 3 Texas A&M looks to maintain its unbeaten regular season against No. 16 Texas, while No. 20 Arizona State takes on No. 25 Arizona in the renowned Territorial Cup. All eyes are also on No. 7 Ole Miss as they prepare for the Egg Bowl against Mississippi State—speculation surrounds Coach Lane Kiffin’s future in Oxford, with announcements expected soon.
- Coaching Changes in College Football – The college football landscape is shifting as Colorado State looks to bring in Jim Mora Jr. from UConn, anticipating changes ahead of their transition to a revamped Pac-12. In another significant move, Southern University appears poised to hire former NFL star running back Marshall Faulk, currently serving as the running backs coach under Deion Sanders at Colorado.
🏀 NBA Cup Group Stage Approaches Finality
The NBA continues its in-season tournament with an action-packed Friday, featuring 11 games that could determine the final spots in the knockout stage. Standout matchups include the Milwaukee Bucks facing the New York Knicks and the Dallas Mavericks matching up against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Luka Dončić, the Mavericks’ rising star, expressed concerns about the playing conditions, citing repeated slips on the decal-heavy court during their recent victory over the Clippers—a situation he described as hazardous. Meanwhile, teams already secured for the knockout stage include the Raptors and Lakers, promising an exhilarating competition ahead.
🏈 NFL Thanksgiving and Black Friday Game Previews
Thanksgiving Day signifies a feast of football, and this year features four exciting NFL matchups spread across the two holidays. The action kicks off at 1 p.m. ET as the Detroit Lions host the Green Bay Packers, marking a notable time change for the Thanksgiving game that hasn’t occurred in 43 years. This adjustment offers an extra half hour of rest for West Coast fans eager to join the festivities.
Here’s a comprehensive overview of the Thanksgiving and Black Friday games to look out for, along with key storylines that will unfold throughout the day.
👍👎 Highlights from Other Sports
As Thanksgiving rolls in, sports fans have plenty to keep an eye on beyond the major leagues, with a variety of events across various disciplines. Whether you’re into college basketball, NFL, or international sports, there’s something for everyone this holiday season.
📺 Viewing Schedule for Thursday and Friday
Thursday
🏀 Battle 4 Atlantis: No. 24 Vanderbilt vs. VCU (M), Noon on ESPN
🏈 Packers at Lions, 1 p.m. on Fox
🏀 Rady Children’s Invitational: No. 10 Florida vs. TCU (M), 3 p.m. on FS1
🏈 Chiefs at Cowboys, 4:30 p.m. on CBS/Paramount+
🏀 Fort Myers Tip-Off: No. 16 North Carolina vs. No. 11 Michigan State (M), 4:30 p.m. on Fox
🏀 ESPN Events Invitational: No. 9 BYU vs. Miami (M), 5 p.m. on ESPN
🏈 Navy at Memphis, 7:30 p.m. on ESPN
🏀 CBS Sports Thanksgiving Classic: No. 4 Duke vs. No. 22 Arkansas (M), 8 p.m. on CBS/Paramount+
🏀 Players Era Festival championship: No. 2 South Carolina vs. No. 4 Texas (W), 8 p.m. on truTV
🏈 Bengals at Ravens, 8:20 p.m. on NBC
🏀 CBS Sports Thanksgiving Classic: Northwestern vs. Oklahoma State (M), 10:30 p.m. on Big Ten Network
🏀 Players Era Festival (third place game): Duke vs. No. 3 UCLA (W), 10:30 p.m. on truTV
Friday
⛳ The Skins Game, 9 a.m. on Prime Video
🏈 No. 7 Ole Miss at Mississippi State, 12 p.m. on ABC
🏈 Iowa at Nebraska, 12 p.m. on CBS/Paramount+
🏈 No. 13 Utah at Kansas, 12 p.m. on ESPN
🏀 Eastern Illinois at No. 1 Purdue (M), 12 p.m. on Big Ten Network
🏀 No. 13 Illinois vs. No. 5 UConn (M), 12:30 p.m. on Fox
🏒 Rangers at Bruins, 1 p.m. on TNT
🏀 Battle 4 Atlantis championship, 1 p.m. on ESPN2
🏈 Bears at Eagles, 3 p.m. on Prime Video
🏀 ESPN Events Invitational championship, 3 p.m. on ESPN2
🏈 No. 4 Georgia at No. 23 Georgia Tech, 3:30 p.m. on ABC
🏈 Boise State at Utah State, 4 p.m. on CBS/Paramount+
🏀 Rady Children’s Invitational championship, 5:30 p.m. on Fox
🏀 Acrisure Holiday Classic championship, 4:30 p.m. on truTV
🏒 Penguins at Blue Jackets, 7 p.m. on NHL Network
⚽ Women’s international friendly: United States vs. Italy, 7 p.m. on TNT
🏀 NBA Cup group play: Bucks at Knicks, 7:30 p.m. on Prime Video
🏈 No. 3 Texas A&M at No. 16 Texas, 7:30 p.m. on ABC
🏈 No. 2 Indiana at Purdue, 7:30 p.m. on NBC
🏈 No. 25 Arizona at No. 20 Arizona State, 9 p.m. on Fox
🏀 NBA Cup group play: Mavericks at Lakers, 10 p.m. on Prime Video
