Black Friday College Football Predictions 2025: Rivalries, CFP Pressure, and Season-Defining Stakes
Krish Dhokia 
Black Friday college football has quietly become one of the biggest days of the season. What used to be a warm-up for Saturday is now a full day of rivalry games, playoff implications, and bowl-eligibility desperation. On Friday, November 28, 2025, several nationally ranked teams take the field—including Georgia, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, Arizona State, and Arizona—turning the day after Thanksgiving into a spotlight moment for the College Football Playoff race.
The latest CFP rankings, released on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, set the stage:
- Ohio State
- Indiana
- Texas A&M
- Georgia
- Texas Tech
- Oregon
- Ole Miss
- Oklahoma
- Notre Dame
- Alabama
For the full Top 25, see the official CFP breakdown from NCAA.com:
https://www.ncaa.com/news/football/article/2025-11-25/oregon-rises-fourth-college-football-playoff-rankings
With playoff pressure rising and few chances left to make a statement, here are the must-watch Black Friday games, predictions, injury notes, and how they impact the postseason picture.
Noon Window (Central Time): Rivalries That Set the Tone
No. 7 Ole Miss at Mississippi State (Egg Bowl)
12:00 PM CT – ABC
Starkville, MS
Game page: https://www.espn.com/college-football/game/_/gameId/401639982/ole-miss-mississippi-st
The Egg Bowl is never predictable, and this year it carries extra weight. Ole Miss enters at 10–1, ranked No. 7 and pushing for a New Year’s Six bid. Mississippi State sits at 5–6, fighting for bowl eligibility and hoping to play spoiler at home.
- Current line and totals: https://www.espn.com/college-football/scoreboard/_/week/14/year/2025/seasontype/2
- Ole Miss RB K. Lacy continues his standout season with over 1,100 rushing yards.
- Mississippi State will lean heavily on QB Chris Parson’s dual-threat ability to try and keep pace.
Prediction: Ole Miss 34, Mississippi State 27.
No. 13 Utah at Kansas
12:00 PM CT – ESPN
Lawrence, KS
Game page: https://www.espn.com/college-football/game/_/gameId/401639983/utah-kansas
Utah has adapted quickly to Big 12 life, sitting at 9–2 and ranked No. 13. Kansas is 5–6 and needs a win to go bowling. With QB Jalon Daniels back in action, Kansas has enough explosiveness to challenge the Utes.
Prediction: Utah 31, Kansas 24.
Iowa at Nebraska
12:00 PM CT – CBS
Lincoln, NE
Game page: https://www.espn.com/college-football/game/_/gameId/401639981/iowa-nebraska
This game has become a Black Friday tradition. Iowa’s defense continues to be one of the best in the nation, while Nebraska is again hovering around .500 and fighting for bowl eligibility.
Prediction: Iowa 20, Nebraska 16.
Afternoon Slate (Central Time): Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate on Center Stage
No. 4 Georgia vs. No. 23 Georgia Tech
2:30 PM CT – ABC
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Game page: https://www.espn.com/college-football/game/_/gameId/401752786/georgia-georgia-tech
The rivalry known as Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate comes with playoff pressure this year. Georgia sits at 10–1, ranked No. 4, and cannot afford a misstep. Georgia Tech is enjoying its best season in a decade at 9–2 and sits No. 23 in the CFP rankings.
- Last week, Georgia cruised past Charlotte: https://www.ncaa.com/news/football/article/2025-11-25/oregon-rises-fourth-college-football-playoff-rankings
- QB Haynes King and the Tech offense pose a legitimate threat.
Prediction: Georgia 38, Georgia Tech 24.
Air Force at Colorado State
2:00 PM CT – FS1
Fort Collins, CO
Game page: https://www.espn.com/college-football/game/_/gameId/401639985/air-force-colorado-state
A Mountain West rivalry worth tuning into. Air Force’s option attack versus Colorado State’s high-volume passing creates an intriguing contrast.
For insight into the Mountain West’s evolving offensive identity, this preview provides useful context:
https://www.mwcconnection.com/utah-state-aggies-football/76407/utah-state-vs-boise-state-preview
Prediction: Air Force 24, Colorado State 20.
Boise State at Utah State
3:00 PM CT – CBS
Logan, UT
Game page: https://www.espn.com/college-football/game/_/gameId/401639987/boise-state-utah-state
A high-stakes regional matchup with Mountain West title implications. Utah State’s offense has been surging, but Boise State remains the more physical team.
Prediction: Boise State 34, Utah State 28.
Primetime (Central Time): Playoff Pressure and Historic Rivalries
No. 2 Indiana at Purdue
6:30 PM CT – NBC / Peacock
West Lafayette, IN
Game page: https://www.espn.com/college-football/game/_/gameId/401639984/indiana-purdue
In the most unexpected twist of 2025, Indiana is 11–0 and ranked No. 2. They’re playing for a Big Ten Championship spot, a playoff bye, and the rarest of rare achievements in Bloomington.
Purdue, meanwhile, is 2–9 and simply playing spoiler.
Prediction: Indiana 41, Purdue 17.
No. 3 Texas A&M at No. 16 Texas
6:30 PM CT – ABC
Austin, TX
Game page: https://www.espn.com/college-football/game/_/gameId/401640200/texas-am-texas
One of the biggest Black Friday matchups in years:
- Texas A&M is 11–0, ranked No. 3, and eyeing a playoff bye.
- Texas is 8–3, ranked No. 16, and still looking for its signature win.
The FOX analysis helps set expectations:
https://www.foxsports.com/college-football/texas-am-aggies-vs-texas-longhorns-nov-28-2025-game-boxscore-42688
Prediction: Texas A&M 31, Texas 27.
No. 25 Arizona at No. 20 Arizona State (Territorial Cup)
8:00 PM CT – FOX
Tempe, AZ
Game page: https://www.espn.com/college-football/game/_/gameId/401639989/arizona-arizona-state
A ranked rivalry to close out Black Friday. Arizona QB Noah Fifita has had another efficient season, while Arizona State brings a powerful backfield and a loud home environment.
- CFP rankings: https://www.ncaa.com/news/football/article/2025-11-25/oregon-rises-fourth-college-football-playoff-rankings
Prediction: Arizona 28, Arizona State 26.
Temple at North Texas
2:30 PM CT – ESPN
Denton, TX
Game preview:
https://www.profootballnetwork.com/cfb/temple-vs-north-texas-preview-head-to-head-grades-prediction-week-14/
North Texas brings one of the more explosive offenses in the AAC. Temple will try to muddy the pace and keep the game in the 20s.
Prediction: North Texas 35, Temple 24.
What Black Friday Will Decide
Georgia’s playoff positioning. A win secures their spot in the top four heading into Championship Weekend. A loss drops them into the dangerous 5–12 range of the new 12-team format.
Texas A&M’s perfect season. A rivalry win sets up a monumental SEC Championship with potential No. 1 seed implications.
Ole Miss’ New Year’s Six argument. If the Rebels close the season at 11–1, their résumé matches up well with other top at-large candidates.
Bowl eligibility. Kansas, Nebraska, and several Group of 5 teams enter Friday with their postseason futures in the balance.
For postseason reference, bowl schedules can be found here:
https://fbschedules.com/college-football-bowl-schedule/
Predictions Summary
- Ole Miss 34, Mississippi State 27
- Utah 31, Kansas 24
- Iowa 20, Nebraska 16
- Georgia 38, Georgia Tech 24
- Air Force 24, Colorado State 20
- Boise State 34, Utah State 28
- Indiana 41, Purdue 17
- Texas A&M 31, Texas 27
- Arizona 28, Arizona State 26
- North Texas 35, Temple 24
Final Thoughts
Black Friday College Football 2025 is shaping up to be one of the most impactful days of the entire season. With rivalry storylines, playoff consequences, and bowl bids on the line, Friday’s results will set the tone for Championship Weekend and reshape the postseason conversation before Saturday even kicks off. Whether it’s Georgia fighting to stay in the top four, Texas A&M protecting a perfect record, or a rivalry game flipping the script late, this slate has everything fans love about college football in late November.
For more college football coverage, weekly predictions, SEC breakdowns, and all major sports updates, visit the THIS Sports section at:
https://thiswithkrish.com/sports
Stay tuned—Championship Weekend coverage begins next, followed by the newly formed CFP playoff schedule.
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