Must-See Sports This Holiday Weekend: Your Ultimate Guide!

Get ready for an action-packed sports lineup. Here are the top games you shouldn’t miss.

Hello, I’m Dan Gartland. I’ll be taking a short break and will be back on Monday. Have a great holiday!

In this edition of SI:AM:

Breaking down the CFP rankings
Reigniting an old rivalry
Significant victory for Kansas

An Exciting Weekend Awaits

Thanksgiving weekend is arguably the best period for sports enthusiasts. You’ve got a lineup of NFL games broadcast nationwide, the last day of the college football regular season, and major college basketball games, along with regular-season NBA and NHL games. The NFL games on Thanksgiving might not be thrilling this year (it’s okay to skip the backup quarterback showdown between the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants), but there are plenty of other must-watch games throughout the weekend. Below is a list of the most enticing games, arranged chronologically along with their broadcast details.

No. 4 South Carolina Gamecocks vs. No. 15 Iowa State Cyclones (Women’s Basketball, 1:30 p.m. ET Thursday on Fox)

South Carolina aims to rebound against a strong Iowa State squad after their 43-game win streak was halted last Sunday by UCLA. This game is part of the Fort Myers Tip-Off in Fort Myers, Fla.

The Cyclones, who advanced to the NCAA tournament’s second round last season, are well-matched against South Carolina. They are led by 6′ 3″ sophomore center Audi Crooks, who dominates the paint with her physical play. This could pose a challenge for the Gamecocks, who are adjusting their interior defense post the graduation of WNBA player Kamilla Cardoso. Although South Carolina managed to focus on UCLA’s Lauren Betts, the rest of the Bruins capitalized on this concentrated defense.

Crooks recently dominated in an 80–78 victory over Drake, scoring 33 points, but she’s not the only threat. Sophomore forward Addy Brown averages 16.2 points per game and ranks sixth in the Big 12 with 8.7 rebounds per game, while fifth-year senior Emily Ryan leads the nation with 9.0 assists per game.

This game starts a challenging three-week nonconference period for Iowa State, who will face No. 22 Iowa (away on Dec. 11) and No. 2 UConn (at home on Dec. 17) before starting Big 12 play against the 6–0 Oklahoma State Cowgirls on Dec. 21.

Winnipeg Jets at Vegas Golden Knights (8:30 p.m. ET Friday on ESPN+)

The NHL is attempting to make Black Friday a staple for hockey, similar to Thanksgiving for the NFL. This year, 28 of the league’s 32 teams will play the day after the holiday, featuring a notable matchup between two top teams in the Western Conference.

The Jets had a phenomenal start, winning 15 of their first 16 games, though they’ve slightly cooled off recently, going 3–3 in their last six. Meanwhile, the Golden Knights have won three straight and currently sit third in the West, tied on points with the Minnesota Wild but with more regulation losses.

This matchup promises excitement, pitting the league’s top offense (Winnipeg) against the No. 2 scoring team (Vegas). Given the Golden Knights’ less robust defense (20th in goals allowed), expect a high-scoring game.

Oklahoma City Thunder at Los Angeles Lakers (10 p.m. ET Friday on ESPN)

While it’s easy to see this as a matchup between the past and future of the NBA, both teams are highly relevant now.

The Lakers, led by the NBA’s oldest active player, nearly 40-year-old LeBron James, and coached by newcomer JJ Redick, are making a solid start (10–7) after an early playoff exit last season.

The Thunder began the season looking like championship contenders, winning eight of their first nine games and outscoring opponents by an average of 15.4 points per game. However, their momentum took a hit when star center Chet Holmgren suffered a fractured hip. Since his injury, OKC is 5–3, including a loss where Holmgren played only five minutes before exiting. Although he’s still on crutches and will be out for some time, the team anticipates his return this season. In the meantime, his teammates, including the elite scoring duo of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, must find ways to keep the team competitive. They received a boost with the recent debut of center Isaiah Hartenstein, who missed the first 15 games with a broken hand.

Big 12 Football Chaos (Friday and Saturday, check your local listings)

While most other college football conferences have a clear picture of their championship game contenders, the Big 12’s championship scenarios are as complicated as Charlie Kelly’s bulletin board. The Arizona State Sun Devils, BYU Cougars, Colorado Buffaloes, and Iowa State Cyclones all share the top spot in the standings at 6–2. If all four teams win this weekend and remain tied, the two title game spots would go to the Sun Devils and Cyclones. However, there are also five teams with 5–3 conference records, two of whom will face each other this weekend (the Baylor Bears and West Virginia Mountaineers). This could result in an eight-way tie for first in the conference at 6–3. The Big 12 told CBS Sports that currently, there are over 250 possible combinations for conference title game participants. The final day of the regular season could be chaotic.

No. 3 Texas Longhorns at No. 20 Texas A&M Aggies (7:30 p.m. ET Saturday on ABC)

The outlook for the SEC championship is much clearer, with the Georgia Bulldogs already securing their fourth consecutive trip. The other spot will be decided between Texas and Texas A&M. This marks the first meeting between the Longhorns and Aggies since 2011. Beyond the excitement of renewing this classic rivalry, the game carries the added weight of determining who advances to the conference title game.

The Longhorns could still make the 12-team College Football Playoff even if they lose, but the Aggies’ only realistic path to the Playoff begins with a victory over Texas. To secure a spot, they would likely need to also defeat Georgia to claim the SEC’s automatic bid.

Last week’s quadruple overtime loss to the Auburn Tigers was a setback for A&M. Can the Aggies rebound in this high-pressure matchup against a more talented rival?

Arizona Cardinals at Minnesota Vikings (1 p.m. ET Sunday on Fox)

Last weekend’s 16–6 loss to the Seattle Seahawks knocked the Cardinals out of first place in the NFC West, and they face the risk of falling further behind in a tight division race as they head to Minnesota. A victory would be just as crucial for the Vikings, who are looking to keep pace with the 10–1 Detroit Lions at the top of the NFC North.

Baltimore Ravens at Philadelphia Eagles (4:25 p.m. ET Sunday on CBS)

This matchup features two teams steadily proving themselves among the best in their conferences. Philadelphia has won seven straight, while Baltimore has taken 10 of its last 12 games. Though it’s too early to label this a potential Super Bowl preview, it’s a clash between two excellent teams hitting their stride at the right moment.

The highlight, however, is Eagles running back Saquon Barkley. Not only is he leading the league in rushing, but he’s also doing it with remarkable style. He had two 70-yard-plus touchdown runs in last Sunday’s victory over the Los Angeles Rams. Every time he has the ball, it’s worth watching.

Boston Celtics at Cleveland Cavaliers (6 p.m. ET Sunday on NBA TV)

The Cavaliers have a chance to avenge their recent loss to the Celtics, who ended Cleveland’s 15-game winning streak at the season’s start. Both teams boast the best records in the NBA, with the Cavs at 17–1 and the Celtics at 15–3, suggesting a potential playoff preview.

Their last encounter was a thriller. The Celtics led by as much as 21 points in the third quarter before the Cavs rallied to cut the lead to five by the end of the quarter. Boston ultimately won by just three points. It’s impressive that Cleveland kept it close, especially since one of their key players, point guard Darius Garland, had a rough night, scoring just eight points on 3-of-21 shooting. Expect a more effective performance from him on Sunday. However, the Celtics will also be a different team with the return of center Kristaps Porziņģis, who missed the first 17 games due to a leg injury.