Rivalry Week Watch List

It’s rivalry weekend in college football and we are thankful for a full spread of games this holiday weekend. This week, we’ll start with Thanksgiving night and go until Saturday after dark to make sure we keep helping ourselves to all the goodness this college football weekend has to offer. Here’s the Rivalry Weekend watch list.

Thanksgiving

No. 18 Mississippi State @ Ole Miss, 7:30 PM, ESPN

The Egg Bowl features a Bulldogs (7-4) team looking to move up in the SEC West rankings and a Rebels (5-6) team looking for a .500 season. Drink each time they show the egg trophy.

Black Friday

Noon:

No. 14 Texas @ Kansas, 12:00 PM, FS1

WVU could still make the Big 12 title game if they lose to OU, but they need the Jayhawks (3-8) must beat the Longhorns (8-3). It sounds crazy, but it’s happened before. Drink each time they show KU downing UT in 2016.

Houston @ Memphis, 12:00 PM, ABC

An American Conference shootout that will determine the AAC West division winner. The Cougars (8-3) and Tigers (7-4) will do battle for a spot in the conference title game. Drink for each mention of Ed Oliver not playing.

Afternoon:

Virginia @ Virginia Tech, 3:30 PM, ABC

The Cavaliers (7-4) and Hokies (4-6) square off for the Commonwealth Cup, but surprisingly, it’s UVA that is road favorite. Drink every time you hate VT.

No. 9 UCF @ USF, 4:15 PM, ESPN

The War on I-4 will be exceptionally heated as the Bulls (7-4) try to be the first team to knock off the Knights (10-0) in 24 tries. Drink for each mention of Power 5 vs. Group of Five.

Primetime:

No. 16 Washington @ No. 8 Washington State, 8:30 PM, FOX

The Apple Cup’s stakes have never been higher. The Cougars (10-1) need this win to clinch a Pac-12 title game spot and (hopefully) a likely CFP appearance while the Huskies (8-3) are trying to steal the division from their rival. Drink each time you see a stern-looking Chris Peterson.

Saturday

Noon:

No. 4 Michigan @ No. 10 Ohio State, 12:00 PM

One of the fiercest rivalries in college football will determine a division champion, a likely conference champion, and potentially a College Football Playoff berth. The Wolverines (10-1) must travel to Columbus to try to defeat the Buckeyes (10-1) for the first time in the Horseshoe since 2000. Drink each time they show somebody punching someone. Two drinks if it’s Woody Hayes.

Baylor @ Texas Tech, 12:00, FS1

The BUTT Bowl remains at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Both the Red Raiders (5-6) and Bears (5-6) need this win to make a bowl game this season, raising the steaks for Kliff Kingsbury, one would think. Drink each time the “Texas Farm Bureau Shootout” graphic appears on the screen.

Afternoon:

Minnesota @ Wisconsin, 3:30 PM, ESPN2

One of the best rivalry trophies out there, the Golden Gophers (5-6) need to reclaim Paul Bunyan’s Axe to secure a bowl bid while the Badgers (7-4) want to finish the season strong. Drink each time you realize how cold it is in Wisconsin.

Auburn @ No. 1 Alabama, 3:30 PM, CBS

Can the Crimson Tide (11-0) finish off their perfect season? Will the Tigers (7-4) mar their unblemished record while also putting their seemingly assured playoff berth in jeopardy? Drink each time they mention NFL players from these two teams.

Primetime:

Kansas State @ No. 25 Iowa State, 7:00 PM, FS1

Farmageddon will go a long way in determining a Big 12 title game spot. If the Cyclones (6-4) win, they can find their way in with a WVU and Texas loss. The Wildcats (5-6) are searching for bowl qualification in what could be their head coach’s final season. Drink for every mention of the Big 12 Football Championship.

No. 3 Notre Dame @ USC, 8:00 PM, ABC

The Fighting Irish (11-0) essentially needs to win this game to have a shot at a spot in the CFP. The Trojans (5-6) can do the college football world some good by defeating them to gain bowl eligibility for themselves. Drink each time either team plays their fight song.

After Dark:

BYU @ No. 17 Utah, 10:00 PM, FS1

Ah, yes, the Holy War. This annual face-off between two of the most similar yet most different fan bases in college football may not have the same dazzle as it did, but the Cougars (6-5) and Utes (8-3) will feature two pretty stout defenses. Take a drink for every turnover.

No. 21 Utah State @ No. 23 Boise State, 10:45 PM, ESPN

A budding rivalry in the Mountain West, the Aggies (10-1) and the Broncos (9-2) can win both the Mountain West Mountain division and the hosting privileges for the conference championship game next weekend. Drink each time the broadcast crew mentions other conference championship games.

Hopefully you have enough Thanksgiving leftovers to get you through all the football games this weekend. As always, have fun, drink some beer and enjoy the penultimate weekend of college football.