The long sports-filled Thanksgiving weekend is a time when many Americans enjoy gathering with friends and family for good food, good company and hopefully not too much political conversation.
Also on the menu — all the NFL and college sports you can handle.
Here’s a roadmap to one of the biggest sports weekends of the year, with a look at marquee games over the holiday and how to watch.
What to watch Thursday
Bears at Lions, 11:30 a.m. (CBS-2): Rookie quarterback Caleb Williams and the Bears go against the Lions, who are one of the favorites to reach the Super Bowl in February.
Giants at Cowboys, 3.30 p.m. (Fox-32): The Giants and Cowboys are both suffering through miserable seasons and are now using backup quarterbacks for different reasons. But if Dallas can figure out a way to win, it will still be on the fringe of the playoff race.
College Football: Memphis at No. 18 Tulane, 6:30 p.m. (ESPN). If college football is your jam, this is a good warmup for a big weekend. The Tigers try to ruin the Green Wave’s perfect record in the American Athletic Conference.
Dolphins at Packers, 7:20 p.m. (NBC-5/Peacock): The Packers stumbled slightly out of the gate but have won six of their past seven games. They’ll need a win against Miami (5-6) to try to keep pace in the NFC North.
What to watch Friday
Oregon State at No. 11 Boise State, 11 a.m. (Fox-32): The Broncos try to stay in the College Football Playoff hunt when they host the Beavers.
Oklahoma State at No. 23 Colorado, 11 a.m. (ABC-7): The Buffaloes and Coach Prime are still in the hunt for the Big 12 championship game when they host the Cowboys.
Raiders at Chiefs, 2 p.m. (Prime Video): A rare Friday showdown features the league-leading Chiefs and quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who are 12-point favorites over the Raiders.
Battle 4 Atlantis championship, 4:30 p.m. (ESPN): One of the premier early season tournaments, the eight-team field includes No. 3 Gonzaga, No. 14 Indiana and No. 24 Arizona.
Rady Children’s Invitational, 5 p.m. (Fox-32): It’s the championship game for a four-team field that includes No. 13 Purdue and No. 23 Mississippi.
Georgia Tech at No. 6 Georgia, 6:30 p.m. (ABC-7): The Bulldogs are on pace for a spot in the CFP but host what could be a tricky game against rival Georgia Tech.
Oklahoma City at Los Angeles Lakers, 9 p.m. (ESPN): The Thunder look like one of the best teams in the NBA’s Western Conference. They’ll host Anthony Davis, LeBron James and the Lakers.
What to watch Saturday
Michigan at No. 2 Ohio State, 11 a.m. (Fox-32): The Wolverines are struggling one season after winning the national title. They could make their fan base a whole lot happier with an upset of the Buckeyes.
No. 7 Tennessee at Vanderbilt, 11 a.m. (ABC-7): The Volunteers are a fairly big favorite and have dominated this season, but the Commodores have been a tough team this season and already have achieved a monumental upset over Alabama.
No. 16 South Carolina at No. 12 Clemson, 11 a.m. (ESPN): The Palmetto State rivals are both hanging on the edge of the CFP playoff race. A win — particularly for Clemson — would go a long way toward clinching its spot in the field.
No. 3 Texas at No. 20 Texas A&M, 6:30 p.m. (ABC-7): The Aggies host their in-state rival for the first time since 2011 after the Longhorns joined the SEC.
Washington at No. 1 Oregon, 6:30 p.m. (NBC-5): The top-ranked Ducks have been one of the nation’s best teams all season. They’ll face the Huskies, who would love a marquee win in coach Jedd Fisch’s first season.
Golden State at Phoenix, 8 p.m. (NBA TV): Steph Curry and the Warriors are set to face the Suns’ Big Three of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal in a star-studded clash.
What to watch Sunday
Manchester City at Liverpool, 10 a.m. (USA Network/Telemundo). English soccer fans have a marquee Premier League matchup. The two top teams meet with Manchester City trying to shake off recent struggles.
F1 Qatar Grand Prix, 10 a.m. (ESPN2). It’s the penultimate race of the F1 season. Max Verstappen already has clinched his fourth consecutive season championship.
Steelers at Bengals, noon (CBS-2): Joe Burrow is having a great season for the Bengals, who are struggling in other areas. They need a win to stay in the playoff race, hosting a Steelers team that’s 8-3 and won five of their past six.
Cardinals at Vikings, noon (Fox-32): The Cardinals are tied for the top of the NFC West while the Vikings are 9-2 and have been one of the biggest surprises of the season with journeyman Sam Darnold under center.
Eagles at Ravens, 3:25 p.m. (CBS-2): Two of the league’s most electric players will be on the field when Saquon Barkley and the Eagles travel to face Lamar Jackson and the Ravens
Celtics at Cavaliers, 5 p.m. (NBA TV): It’s a matchup of the best teams in the Eastern Conference. The defending champion Celtics travel to face the Cavs, who won their first 15 games to start the season.
49ers at Bills, 7:20 p.m. (NBC-5/Peacock): The 49ers try to get back to .500 against the Bills, who have won six straight.
