Calipari says Razorbacks will play Thanksgiving game in Chicago in 2025

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — The Razorbacks will play on Thanksgiving again next year, head coach John Calipari said after his team’s win over Central Arkansas on Saturday.

The announcement comes three weeks after Arkansas’ Thanksgiving game in Kansas City against Illinois averaged 5.1 million viewers on CBS, the second most-watched regular season college basketball game since 2008.

The only game with more viewers in that span was a Thanksgiving game in 2023 between Michigan State and Arizona that averaged 5.2 million viewers on FOX.

Calipari said during the Razorback Sports Network postgame show on Saturday that he could not announce who the opponent will be but “it’s ridiculous.”

Arkansas cruises past in-state D1 foe UCA, 82-57, on Saturday in North Little Rock for Hogs’ fourth straight win

“It’s in Chicago, so I can tell you that; start planning on being in Chicago. That game, my guess will be 6 million will watch, which would be the highest-rated game in the regular season in the last 20 years,” Calipari said.

Arkansas has not played a game in Chicago since 2003 when the Razorbacks lost to Illinois 84-61.

“We’re trying to do those kinds of things to get this thing amped up a little bit, even though I don’t think it needs to be amped up anymore than it’s been,” Calipari said.

Arkansas is 2-3 in games played on Thanksgiving and has played the last two years on the holiday, according to HogStats.