by Dan Trammel

Created on: October 15, 2009   Last Updated: November 22, 2009

Few things are as American as football on Thanksgiving Day. The fourth Thursday in November annually brings turkey, mashed potatoes, and the Detroit Lions. 2009 is no exception. However, besides NFL action in Detroit, Dallas, and Denver, there are also two collegiate matchups of note on the gridiron.

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Texas Longhorns @ Texas A&M Aggies

ESPN8:00 p.m.

Perhaps the biggest game of the day occurs when the Texas Longhorns travel to College Station to take on hated rival Texas A&M Aggies. The Lone Star Showdown, pitting the two oldest public universities within the State of Texas against each other, was first contested in 1894. Although the Longhorns hold a 74-36-5 advantage overall, the Aggies have won 2 of the last 3 meetings.

Behind junior quarterback Jerrod Johnson, the Aggies look to be more competitive than last year's 49-9 shellacking. However, after a 3-0 start to their 2009 season which saw them light up the scoreboard, the Aggies have fallen back to earth, losing 5 of their last 8 games, including a 62-14 beatdown at the hands of the Kansas State Wildcats. Texas A&M is hoping to build on a 38-3 win over the Baylor Bears on Saturday which made them bowl eligible for the first time since 2007. The Longhorns, on the other hand, rank number 3 in the BCS rankings and are sitting pretty at 11-0 headed into this weekend's matchup. Since the teams ranked #1 and #2 play each other, Texas has nothing standing between them and a National Championship Game appearance but the Aggies of Texas A&M.

Tuskegee @ Alabama State

ESPNU4:00 p.m.

The Turkey Day Classic between the Tuskegee Golden Tigers and the Alabama State Hornets dates back to Thanksgiving Day 1924 and is the oldest football classic among the Nation's traditionally Black Colleges. Tuskegee and Alabama State have met 80 times in the Turkey Day Classic and 94 times overall. The Golden Tigers lead the Turkey Day Classic series 46-31-3 and the overall series 58-33-4.

Tuskegee has taken 4 of the last 5 meetings between the schools, including a 64-58 triple overtime thriller in 2007. But Alabama State prevailed 17-13 last season and looks to repeat that success. It will be no easy task, however, against the Golden Tigers who sit at 8-2 and have clinched its fourth consecutive SIAC title. The Hornets are 4-6 after dropping consecutive games to Alabama A&M, Jackson State, and Southern University.

Although there are plenty of college football games on the Friday and Saturday following Thanksgiving, college football fans will have to settle for the Lone Star Showdown and the Turkey Day Classic to get their fix of gridiron action on Thursday.

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