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The term Black Friday dates back decades with some believing there to be a college football link to the holiday nickname. Stories from the 1950s reference the annual Army-Navy rivalry game in Philadelphia.
The moniker originally held a negative connotation. Police dreaded the day as crowds of people would flood the streets in search of shopping bargains on the day before the big game.
Black Friday took on a different meaning in the 1970s when retailers began competing for business on the day after Thanksgiving. The nickname then began to allude to “being in the black,” a term used to describe profitability.
Since the holiday’s inception, many college football programs have competed on Black Friday. It’s become one of the season’s most anticipated days in the current era.
College Football Games Played On Black Friday.
The NFL has typically dominated Thanksgiving Day. It’s opened the door for college football in the 24 hours that follow.
Here, we’ll go through some of the first college football games to be played on Black Friday dating back to 1960 when the nickname really caught on.
Hawaii vs. BYU (1960)
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Hawaii and BYU played on the Friday that followed Thanksgiving before it was a trend. At the time, more college football teams played on either Thursday or Saturday.
At the time, neither team was highly regarded. Hawaii entered at 2-6 and riding a six-game losing streak. BYU was 3-7.
It was the fourth overall meeting between the two foes, which Hawaii won 13-6.
Miami vs. Northwestern (1961)
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This was the first of two consecutive Black Friday matchups for the Hurricanes and Wildcats, taking place in South Florida. Northwestern saw a strong start to the season with wins over Notre Dame, Indiana, Illinois, and Boston College.
Unfortunately, it faded down the stretch, entering a season-ending matchup with Miami at 4-4 and on a two-game skid. The Hurricanes came in at 5-3, and later improved to 6-3, with a 10-6 win at home.
Miami vs. Northwestern (1962)
The series moved to Illinois the following season to allow Northwestern an opportunity to host. The homefield advantage would prove significant.
Again, the Wildcats entered on a two-game losing streak. This time, though, they finished the year with a 29-7 Black Friday victory. That gave them seven wins, with Miami joining the likes of Ohio State and Notre Dame as Northwestern’s 1962 victims.
Miami finished 6-3.
Miami vs. Notre Dame (1967)
Miami again played on the Friday after Thanksgiving in 1967. This time, they faced off against Notre Dame.
The Fighting Irish were the top-ranked team in the preseason AP Poll. They struggled to a 2-2 start following losses to a pair of Top 10 foes in Purdue and USC.
They were able to right the ship down the stretch, however, to enter a season finale with 6-2 Miami on a five-game winning streak.
Despite this being their third road game in as many weeks, Notre Dame emerged victorious in a 24-22 win.
Florida State vs. Houston (1968)
A year later, it was another Sunshine State school competing on Black Friday. Florida State faced Houston in late November in 1968.
The Cougars were a two-score favorite ahead of the game, which was played in Jacksonville. It didn’t stop the Seminoles from rolling to victory.
Houston entered the game with a 5-0-2 all-time record against Florida State. Led by All-American Ron Sellers, the ‘Noles won 40-20 after blanking the Cougars 25-0 in the first half.
Nebraska vs. Oklahoma (1973)
The next Black Friday college football game wouldn’t come until five years later. Rivals Oklahoma and Nebraska squared off in the debut seasons for two legendary coaches.
Barry Switzer stood on the sideline opposite Tom Osborne. Both would go onto win three national titles in their tenures with their respective schools.
On this night, however, it was all Sooners. The Cornhuskers never ran a play in opposing territory. Oklahoma won easily, 27-0.
The Friday tradition would continue in the rivalry series, as you’ll see later in this list.
Alabama vs. Auburn (1974)
The Iron Bowl was held on Black Friday in 1974. It represented a matchup of two highly rated college football teams.
Auburn was 9-1 at the time of the meeting, boasting a No. 6 ranking in the AP Poll. Alabama was a perfect 10-0 and ranked No. 2.
The game wouldn’t disappoint. The Crimson Tide won a tightly contested battle, 17-13. They’d miss out on a national title opportunity after losing the Orange Bowl to Notre Dame.
Texas vs. Texas A&M (1974)
That same season, another season-ending rivalry matchup was played on the Friday after Thanksgiving. Texas hosted Texas A&M in their final game of the ’74 campaign.
Despite the Aggies having entered with a Top 10 ranking, the Longhorns left victorious with a statement win.
Texas won 32-3 behind a 128-yard performance from freshman Earl Campbell. Both teams finished with identical 8-3 records. The rivalry win landed the Longhorns a spot in the Gator Bowl while the Ags were not invited to the postseason.
Texas vs. Texas A&M (1975)
A year later, the Lone Star State rivals faced off on Black Friday near the end of the 1975 schedule. This time, they matched up as Top 5 foes.
After being beaten soundly the year prior, Texas A&M got its revenge. A second-ranked Aggies team knocked off the 9-1 Longhorns to improve to 10-0. Unfortunately, they’d lose their final two games to Arkansas and USC to end national championship pursuits.
The win over Texas, however, did lock the Aggies into a three-way tie for the Southwest Conference crown.
UCLA vs. USC (1975)
USC beat previously mentioned Texas A&M in a bowl game to end the 1975 season. A game earlier, they’d faced rival UCLA.
Both teams entered that contest with seven wins. The Bruins would emerge with a close victory to continue a three-game winning streak.
UCLA won 25-22 which earned the program a Rose Bowl invite to play the nation’s top-ranked team. The Bruins would upset No. 1 Ohio State to rob the Buckeyes of a national title and finish the year in the Top 5 of the final AP Poll.
Nebraska vs. Oklahoma (1976)
The term “Sooner Magic” was dubbed after this Black Friday matchup between Oklahoma and Nebraska, which saw the Sooners overcome a late deficit to escape with a 20-17 win.
OU trailed 17-13 with less than four minutes left on the clock. A pair of trick plays helped the Sooners take the lead with less than 40 seconds in regulation.
Both teams were ranked in the Top 10 at the time of the meeting. Oklahoma would go onto win the Fiesta Bowl vs. Wyoming while Nebraska won a postseason matchup against Texas Tech.
Penn State vs. Pitt (1976)
This matchup featured a top-ranked Pitt team and a seven-win Penn State squad in the midst of a six-game winning streak. It was the first time the two rivals had ever met on Black Friday, a tradition that would continue in the years to come.
Penn State, in this particular matchup, proved no match for the Panthers. Led by running back Tony Dorsett, Pitt left with a 24-7 win.
They’d go onto beat Georgia in the Sugar Bowl to secure a national championship. Penn State finished 7-5 after losing to Notre Dame in the Gator Bowl.