The day after Thanksgiving is a day of continued rest, relaxation, more food and football for many.
And boy, are there some good football games on the docket for Black Friday across college football (and the NFL with a spicy AFC East rivalry matchup).
There are plenty of games of significance in both the Power 5 and the Group of 5 conferences. Eight teams ranked in the top 25 of the College Football Playoff standings are in action Friday, looking to improve their résumés, while some other teams jockey for bowl eligibility.
Let’s discuss all the matchups ahead for Black Friday.
NFL
Dolphins (7-3) at Jets (4-6) - 3 p.m. ET, Prime Video
This is the first start for Tim Boyle in a Jets uniform, as New York looks to cure its offensive woes in the absence of Aaron Rodgers under center. Meanwhile, the Dolphins will look to defeat a divisional opponent to move one step closer to clinching the AFC East title in the only NFL game of the day.
College Football - Power 5
TCU (5-6, 3-5 Big 12) at No. 13 Oklahoma (9-2, 6-2) - noon ET, Fox
This matchup is quite simple. TCU needs a victory against Oklahoma on the road to become bowl eligible. For Oklahoma, a victory clinches a New Year’s Six bowl berth and a significant building block for Sooners coach Brent Venables heading into year three. The Sooners also need a win to keep their chances alive of reaching the Big 12 title game. Entering rivalry week, Oklahoma is in a three-way tie for second place in the conference with Oklahoma State and Kansas State. A win aids the Sooners’ chances significantly.
No. 17 Iowa (9-2, 6-2 Big Ten) at Nebraska (5-6, 3-5) - noon ET, CBS
This game undoubtedly will be a slugfest. The game total is 24.5 at SI Sportsbook, which is the lowest betting total in FBS history. Iowa needs a victory for its fourth 10-win season since 2015. Iowa already has clinched a Big Ten title game berth and will play the winner of Saturday’s tilt between Michigan and Ohio State in Ann Arbor. Nebraska needs a home victory to reach bowl eligibility in Matt Rhule’s first season in Lincoln.
Miami (6-5, 2-5 ACC) at Boston College (6-5, 3-4) - noon ET, ABC
These two teams are playing for pride. It’s senior day at Boston College, which should be enough motivation for the Eagles to show up and play hard. As for Miami, the Hurricanes primarily are playing for optics. A loss to this version of Boston College would be a tough look.
No. 9 Missouri (9-2, 5-2 SEC) at Arkansas (4-7, 1-6) - 4 p.m. ET, CBS
Missouri is playing for a New Year’s Six bowl berth. Arkansas, meanwhile, is playing for pride amid a disappointing season in Fayetteville.
Texas Tech (6-5, 5-3 Big 12) at No. 7 Texas (10-1, 7-1) - 7:30 p.m. ET, ABC
Texas Tech would like nothing more than for its seventh win to come against a bitter conference rival in their final meeting before the Longhorns bolt to the SEC. What would make it even sweeter for the Red Raiders is to do it when the Longhorns have their College Football Playoff hopes at stake. A loss to Texas Tech would knock the Longhorns out of the national title conversation, even if Texas wins the Big 12 championship next Saturday.
No. 11 Penn State (9-2, 6-2 Big Ten) at Michigan State (4-7, 2-6) - 7:30 p.m. ET, NBC
Michigan State is playing for pride, as the Spartans wrap up a tumultuous season in which their coach was fired for cause for off-field transgressions. Michigan State will not be playing in a bowl game this winter, but a win over Penn State to knock a conference rival out of a New Year’s Six game is likely enough motivation to show up and play hard on senior day in East Lansing.
No. 16 Oregon State (8-3, 5-3 Pac-12) at No. 6 Oregon (10-1, 7-1) - 8:30 p.m. ET, Fox
This is the game of the day in the Power 5. Oregon needs a win to keep its College Football Playoff hopes alive ahead of next Friday’s Pac-12 title game, while Oregon State is looking to prove it’s better than its 8-3 record may indicate. This game has a chance to be a very interesting battle in Eugene, even with the Ducks slated as nearly a two-touchdown favorite.
College Football - Group of Five
Memphis (8-3, 5-2 American) at Temple (3-8, 1-6) - noon ET, ESPN
A win over a far inferior Temple team would earn Memphis its first nine-win season since 2019. That’s one way to take yourself off the hot seat, Ryan Silverfield.
Toledo (10-1, 7-0 MAC) at Central Michigan (5-6, 3-4) - noon ET, ESPNU
In theory, this should be nothing more than a tune-up game for Toledo, which will play in the MAC title game next week against Miami (Ohio). Central Michigan has plenty of motivation in this spot though, fighting for bowl eligibility and looking to send the seniors out the right way in their final home game.
Ohio (8-3, 5-2 MAC) at Akron (2-9, 1-6) - noon ET, CBS Sports Network
Ohio is seeking its second consecutive nine-plus win season of the Tim Albin era against host Akron. The Bobcats may have fallen short of the MAC title game this year, but it’s still been a strong third season for Albin at Ohio.
UTSA (8-3, 7-0 American) at No. 23 Tulane (10-1, 7-0) - 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC
This is the game of the day in the Group of 5. The winner reaches the AAC title game next week. The loser is out of conference title game consideration if SMU beats Navy on Saturday at home. It would be especially interesting if UTSA clinches a conference title berth, as it is the Roadrunners’ first year in the AAC after competing in Conference USA.
A spot in the conference title game would only strengthen UTSA coach Jeff Traylor’s résumé for a Power 5 job. The same goes for Willie Fritz at Tulane, who just clinched his second consecutive 10-win season a week ago.
Utah State (5-6, 3-4 Mountain West) at New Mexico (4-7, 2-5) - 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network
A win here clinches bowl eligibility for Utah State, which enters the contest as a slight road favorite over New Mexico.
The Air Force-Boise State matchup is the second-biggest game of the day, as a spot in the Mountain West title game next week is on the line. The winner will play against UNLV, which is enjoying a spectacular season under the direction of Barry Odom.
