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The remarkable turnaround at Arizona State is one game away from turning into a possible College Football Playoff berth.

After going 3-9 last season, the Sun Devils were picked to finish last place in its first season in the Big 12. Instead, they are on a four-game win streak and are at the top of the conference standings heading into the final week of the regular season. The season finale against Arizona in the battle of the Territorial Cup will be for more than just bragging rights in the state, but for Arizona State, it will be for a chance to win the conference and make the College Football Playoff.

The Big 12 is a wild mess with nine teams still with a chance to make the conference championship game next week. While there is so much possible chaos, Arizona State has one of the easiest paths of the nine teams to clinching its spot at playing in AT&T Stadium.

How does Arizona State make Big 12 championship game?

Even with four teams with a 6-2 conference record heading into Week 14, pretty much all Arizona State needs to do is beat Arizona and it’s in the Big 12 championship game. If the 6-2 teams − Arizona State, Iowa State, BYU and Colorado − all win, the Sun Devils will be in.

However, there is one scenario where Arizona State wins and doesn’t make the conference championship game. This is the only scenario where Arizona State wouldn’t get in even if it wins due to the Big 12 tiebreaking procedure. It involves the very specific scenarios of:

Iowa State beats Kansas State
Colorado beats Oklahoma State
Houston beats BYU
Texas Tech beats West Virginia
Baylor beats Kansas
Cincinnati beats TCU

Who would Arizona State play in Big 12 championship game?

This is where it gets complicated. Here are the scenarios of who the Sun Devils would play depending on the results of this weekend. In all scenarios, assume Arizona State wins:

If Iowa State, BYU and Colorado win: Arizona State vs. Iowa State.
If two of Iowa State, BYU and Colorado lose: Arizona State vs. the other winner.
If Iowa State and BYU win and Colorado loses: Arizona State vs. Iowa State.
If BYU and Colorado win and Iowa State loses: Arizona State vs. BYU.
If Iowa State and Colorado win, BYU loses and West Virginia wins: Arizona State vs. Iowa State.
If Iowa State and Colorado win, BYU loses, Texas Tech wins and either Baylor or Cincinnati lose: Arizona State vs. Colorado.

Could Arizona State make Big 12 championship game with a loss?

Should Arizona State be upset by the Wildcats, there’s still a remote chance it makes the Big 12 championship game. However, it would need Colorado, BYU, Iowa State and Colorado to all lose as well.

Big 12 Week 14 schedule

Here is the schedule for the games that have or could have Big 12 title game implications:

Friday

Oklahoma State at Colorado, 12 p.m. ET, ABC

Saturday

Kansas at Baylor, 12 p.m. ET, ESPN2
West Virginia at Texas Tech, 12 p.m. ET, FS1
Arizona State at Arizona, 3:30 p.m. ET, Fox
TCU at Cincinnati, 6 p.m., ESPN+
Kansas State at Iowa State, 7:30 p.m. ET, Fox
Houston at BYU, 10:15 p.m. ET, ESPN

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

The Dallas Cowboys used a strong third quarter to push past the New York Giants, 27-20, in the second NFL game on Thanksgiving. Dallas’ defense stepped up against their NFC East foe with six sacks on Giants backup quarterback Drew Lock as the offense controlled the clock on the ground.

Lock finished the day 21-for-32 passing with 178 yards, one interception, and one fumble lost. He had great success with his legs, scrambling for 57 yards on four carries, including an eight-yard touchdown. His 28-yard scramble was the longest play of the game for New York.

Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush completed 21 of 36 passes for 195 yards and a touchdown. Running back Rico Dowdle had a career-high 112 yards, the first 100-yard rushing game for a Cowboys running back since Tony Pollard in Week 3 of the 2022 NFL season, and a touchdown on 22 carries.

The teams came out hot in the first half with four scores on the first four drives. Dallas got on the board first with a Brandon Aubrey field goal; New York responded with a touchdown to take a 7-3 lead, their first lead since Week 5.

Dallas scored 10 consecutive points from there, capped off by a 23-yard pick-six by linebacker DeMarvion Overshown. After his score, the teams combined for just 82 yards over the ensuing 11 minutes of game time.

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Lock fumbled on the third play of the second half to hand the ball back to Dallas quickly.

The Cowboys turned things on with that opportunity. Dallas went 38 yards in six plays to score their first touchdown on offense, a two-yard pass from Rush to Brandin Cooks. A quick three-and-out by the Giants gave the Cowboys the ball back again and Dowdle scored from four yards out to push Dallas’ lead to 27-10.

The Giants scored twice in the fourth quarter, a Graham Gano field goal and that Lock touchdown run, to make it 27-20 before Dallas ran out the clock. Dowdle iced the game on the ground as the defense allowed just 247 yards, the fewest since Week 5. Micah Parsons led the pass rush with 1.5 of the team’s six sacks.

New York (2-10) have now lost seven games in a row and head home in Week 14 for a matchup with the New Orleans Saints (4-7).

Dallas (5-7) have won two in a row for the first time since Week 5. They’ll stay home next week for a ‘Monday Night Football’ matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals (4-7).

Cowboys-Giants final score: Dallas wins 27-20

Drew Lock’s touchdown run was the Giants’ final score as the Cowboys held on to win 27-20 and improved to 5-7.

CeeDee Lamb injury update

Fox Sports’ Erin Andrews reported that the Cowboys did not have an official injury update on CeeDee Lamb. who left with an injury in the third quarter. She also noted that the veteran receiver had been nursing an AC joint injury in his shoulder during the 2024 NFL season. Andrews couldn’t confirm whether that malady was what was holding Lamb out of the game. – Jacob Camenker

Cowboys-Giants score: Drew Lock scrambles for TD

Dallas sent pressure on 1st-and-goal from the 8-yard line and the Giants’ Drew Lock stepped up to the vacated area in the middle of the field before scrambling right to the end zone. Graham Gano’s extra point makes it 27-20 with 2:18 left in the game. New York has two timeouts remaining.

Cowboys take two minutes off the clock before punting

Rico Dowdle took the first play of Dallas’ drive 17 yards but the Cowboys didn’t gain any more from there on out and punted once again. New York takes over at their own 20 with 4:39 to go in the game.

Cowboys notch another sack to force Giants punt

Cowboys defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa earned his first sack of the afternoon with the Giants facing 3rd-and-4. That’s the sixth sack in the game for Dallas and forced a 4th-and-10 punt for New York. Dallas’ offense takes over again at their own 39 with 6:59 to go in the game.

Cowboys punt near midfield after short drive

Dallas went 33 yards before punting on 4th-and-8 from the Giants’ 47. A touchback means the New York offense will take over on their own 20.

Cowboys-Giants score: New York gets back on board with 47-yard FG

The Giants opened the quarter with 2nd-and-5 from the Dallas 25 but Cowboys star pass rusher Micah Parsons got his second sack of the game. New York couldn’t overcome that setback and had to settle for a field goal. Graham Gano knocked through his second field goal of the game from 47 yards out to cut the deficit to 27-13 with 13:34 to go in the game.

Giants driving to close third quarter

After a fumble and punt on their first two drives of the third quarter, New York has gained 45 yards on seven plays to get to the Dallas 30-yard line as the third quarter ends. Drew Lock scrambled for 21 yards on the drive – the second-longest play of the game for the Giants.

Cowboys-Giants score: Rico Dowdle scores his first rushing TD of the year

Dallas’ running back punched it in from four yards out to cap off a nine-play, 70-yard drive that took just under five minutes off the clock. Brandon Aubrey hits the extra point and the Cowboys extend their lead to 27-10 with 4:23 to go in the third quarter.

CeeDee Lamb leaves game with injury

Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb was hurt on a play midway through the third quarter during which he was tackled by Giants defensive back Dru Phillips.

Lamb remained down after the play, which resulted in a pass interference call, ended. He left the field under his own power and returned to action one play later.

However, Lamb trotted back off the field after the play and removed his helmet. He wasn’t seen for the remainder of the drive but stayed on the sidelines without his helmet.

Lamb recorded two receptions for 39 yards. – Jacob Camenker

Micah Parsons gets first sack to force Giants punt

Drew Lock dropped back to pass on 3rd-and-5 but Cowboys star pass rusher Micah Parsons got home for his first sack of the afternoon. An 11-yard loss backed the Giants up to their own 24 and forced another punt. Dallas takes over on their own 30 with 9:22 to go in the third quarter.

Cowboys-Giants score: Cooper Rush throws TD pass to Brandin Cooks

After recovering a Drew Lock fumble, Dallas drove down to the Giants’ 2-yard line after a near-fumble by quarterback Cooper Rush on a scramble. Rush found Cooks in the left side of the end zone for the Cowboys’ first touchdown on offense of the day. Brandon Aubrey’s extra point is good and they take their largest lead of the game, 20-10, with 11:37 left in the third quarter.

Drew Lock fumbles to open second half

The Giants’ quarterback stepped up to scramble out of the pocket on 3rd-and-2 from the New York 38 when Cowboys linebacker Eric Kendricks forced a fumble and DeMarvion Overshown recovered. Dallas takes over at the Giants’ 38.

Cowboys 13, Giants 10: Dallas leads at halftime

After one first down in the final 8:59 of the second quarter, the game is finally headed to the break. The teams combined for 33 yards and five punts in the final seven minutes of the half.

New York will receive the ball to start the second half.

Cowboys go three-and-out again, punt back to New York

Dallas gained 15 yards on a roughing the passer penalty but Cooper Rush threw four incompletions and the Cowboys settled for their third consecutive punt. New York takes over at its own 11 with 1:05 left in the half.

Giants offense sputters, forced to punt

New York took just 21 seconds off the clock over three plays and lost two yards thanks to a false start penalty. The Giants’ third punt of the game gives the Cowboys the ball back again on their own 34 with 1:28 to go in the first half.

Cowboys punt again after multiple penalties

Dallas faced 1st-and-20 after an offensive pass interference call on tight end Luke Schoonmaker to start the drive following the Giants’ field goal. Cooper Rush couldn’t connect with CeeDee Lamb or Jonathan Mingo but an offsides penalty on New York made it 3rd-and-15. Hunter Luepke’s two-yard run brought the game to the two minute warning and the Giants will take over at their own 14 after the punt.

Cowboys-Giants score: New York settles for FG after great punt return

The Giants started their drive from the Cowboys’ 29-yard line after a 22-yard punt return by Ihmir Smith-Marsette but managed to gain one yard on four plays. Graham Gano made his first field goal of the game from 46 yards out to cut the deficit to 13-10 with 3:21 to go in the first half.

Cowboys punt again after Jonathan Mingo can’t hang on

Cooper Rush fired a pass deep down the left sideline to the Cowboys’ trade deadline pickup and Mingo couldn’t hold on thanks to good defense by Giants cornerback Cordale Flott. Dallas punted from inside their own 5-yard line and a great return means the Giants take over at the Cowboys’ 29.

Drew Lock can’t connect with Malik Nabers, Giants punt again

New York gained two yards on two plays before Lock overthrew Nabers in double coverage. The Giants punted from the Dallas 42 and the Cowboys will take over at their own 1-yard line with 6:18 to go in the second quarter.

CeeDee Lamb drops third-down pass, Cowboys turn it over on downs

Cooper Rush rolled out to his right on 3rd-and-1 from the Dallas 44 and found Lamb on a crosser but the star wideout dropped the pass. The Cowboys went for it on 4th-and-1 but fullback Hunter Luepke was stuffed for no gain and the Giants take over with 7:15 to go in the second.

Giants kick first punt of the game after three-and-out

Dallas’ pass rush finally got to Drew Lock on 3rd-and-8 from midfield as Donovan Wilson brought him down for a loss of 12 yards. New York kicked the first punt of the game and the Cowboys take over on their own 14-yard line with 8:59 left until halftime.

Cowboys-Giants score: DeMarvion Overshown blitzes, scores pick-6

Dallas’ linebacker was blitzing and blew up a block by New York’s Devin Singletary. He tipped Drew Lock’s pass to himself and ran 23 yards to the end zone. Brandon Aubrey’s extra point is good and the Cowboys take a 13-7 lead with 11:29 left in the first half.

Cowboys-Giants score: Aubrey makes second FG to close deficit

The Cowboys couldn’t keep up the momentum from Rico Dowdle’s hard running as Cooper Rush couldn’t connect with CeeDee Lamb on 3rd-and-6 from the Giants’ 15. Kicker Brandon Aubrey made his second field goal of the game, this one from 33 yards out, to cut the deficit to 7-6 with 11:44 to go in the second quarter.

Cowboys driving to close first quarter

The first quarter of this Thanksgiving NFC East battle is in the books with the Giants leading 7-3. Dallas is driving as the quarter ends and are facing 1st-and-10 from the Giants’ 33-yard line to open the second quarter.

Dallas running back Rico Dowdle sparked the Cowboys’ offense with 35 yards rushing on the final two plays of the first quarter.

Cowboys-Giants score: Tyrone Tracy Jr. scores first TD of the game

After a Drew Lock scramble brought the Giants down to the Dallas’ 1-yard line, rookie running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. punched it in. Graham Gano’s extra point is good and the Giants have a 7-3 lead with 3:06 left in the first quarter.

New York got multiple key conversions on the drive. Tracy Jr.’s six-yard run moved the chains on 4th-and-1 and Devin Singletary converted a 3rd-and-1 at the Dallas 35. Lock’s run on 3rd-and-6 from the Dallas 29 brought New York down to the goal line.

With that touchdown, the Giants are leading a game for the first time since Week 5.

Cowboys-Giants score: Dallas gets on board with FG

Cooper Rush’s pass to Brandin Cooks was just outside of his reach on 3rd-and-4 from the Giants’ 5-yard line. Dallas kicker Brandon Aubrey opened the scoring for the game with a 23-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead.

The Cowboys drove 65 yards in 11 plays, highlighted by Rush finding CeeDee Lamb for a key third-down conversion to bring the Cowboys close to the red zone before KaVontae Turpin brought them inside the Giants’ 15.

Cowboys start the game on offense

Dallas’ offense will start the first drive of the game from their own 30 after a touchback.

Cowboys vs. Giants Thanksgiving game start time

Start time: 4:30 p.m. ET (1:30 PT)
Location: AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas

The Cowboys continue their tradition of playing on Thanksgiving with the afternoon game on the slate. It’s slightly later than the typical afternoon slate start time of 4:05 or 4:25 p.m. ET.

Cowboys vs. Giants TV channel

TV channel: FOX

FOX will carry the Dallas Cowboys’ Thanksgiving game for the first time since 2022, the last time these two teams played on the holiday. Announcers Kevin Burkhardt (play-by-play), Tom Brady (color analyst) will be on the call, with Tom Rinaldi and Erin Andrews reporting from the sideline.

Cowboys vs. Giants picks, predictions

Here’s how the USA TODAY Sports staff feels the Cowboys vs. Giants Turkey Day matchup will sway:

Lorenzo Reyes: Cowboys 21, Giants 14
Tyler Dragon: Cowboys 22, Giants 17
Richard Morin: Cowboys 27, Giants 13
Jordan Mendoza: Cowboys 20, Giants 16

Cowboys vs. Giants odds, moneyline, over/under 

The Cowboys are favored to get a win on Thanksgiving over the Giants, per BetMGM’s NFL odds. 

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Favorite: Dallas (-4) 
Moneyline: Dallas (-200), New York (+165) 
Over/under: 37.5 points 

NFC East standings 

Philadelphia Eagles (9-2, 3-0 NFC East) 
Washington Commanders (7-5, 2-2) 
Dallas Cowboys (4-7, 2-1) 
New York Giants (2-9, 0-4) 

Where is Cowboys vs. Giants? 

The Cowboys-Giants Thanksgiving game in Week 13 will be at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The Cowboys have hosted one Thanksgiving game every year since 1978.

Why do the Cowboys always play on Thanksgiving? 

In the 1960s, NFL viewership was growing rapidly, and the league added a second Thanksgiving game in 1966. Then-Dallas Cowboys president Tex Schramm volunteered the Cowboys to play on the second game, so long as the team could host the game each year. 

The Cowboys won their Thanksgiving debut 26-14 over the Cleveland Browns and the tradition continued the following season. The St. Louis (now Arizona) Cardinals took over as a host team for the Cowboys in 1975 and 1977 but Dallas was reinstated in 1978 and have had a permanent place on the holiday ever since. 

Dallas has played 56 total games on Thanksgiving with a 33-22-1 record on the holiday entering 2024. 

-Ayrton Ostly

Why isn’t Dak Prescott playing? 

The Dallas Cowboys are continuing their long-time tradition of playing on Thanksgiving Day. For their 2024 game against the New York Giants, they will have to do so without their starting quarterback. 

Dak Prescott will not be available to play on Thanksgiving. He is missing a fourth consecutive contest after he suffered a hamstring against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 9. 

Instead, backup Cooper Rush will make a fourth consecutive start and look to earn back-to-back wins as Dallas looks to improbably claw its way back into the playoff race. 

Prescott suffered a partial hamstring avulsion – a tear during which part of the tendon rips off the bone – during Dallas’ 27-21 loss to the Falcons in Week 9. He told reporters after the contest that he wasn’t sure if the injury occurred while he was running or being tackled. 

-Jacob Camenker 

When was the first NFL Thanksgiving game?

The Lions played the Bears in the first-ever Thanksgiving Day NFL game in 1934. The site was the University of Detroit Stadium with 26,000 people in attendance, according to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. It’s believed that more people would’ve attended if the stadium capacity was larger.

George A. Richards, who bought the Portsmouth Spartans and moved them to Detroit in 1934, was looking to gain some traction in a town dominated by baseball’s Tigers. The team then become known as the Lions but needed something to get the fans’ attention.

So Richards went and scheduled a game on Thanksgiving against the defending champion Chicago Bears. Just like that, a tradition was born.

-Joseph Rivera, Nick Brinkerhoff

Tommy DeVito injury update

DeVito was a surprise add to the Giants’ injury report on Tuesday, turning in a limited session. The quarterback is dealing with a forearm injury to his throwing arm, according to head coach Brian Daboll.

On Wednesday, ESPN’s Jordan Raanan reported that DeVito was not traveling with the team to Dallas, and that the Week 12 starter was ‘a longshot’ to play against the Cowboys on Thanksgiving. DeVito is currently listed as ‘questionable’ for Thursday.

-Nick Brinkerhoff, Jack McKessy

Cowboys vs. Giants halftime performer 

In recent years, Luke Combs and Dolly Parton graced the stage to commemorate the ‘Salvation Army Red Kettle Kickoff Halftime Show.’ This time, Dallas is set to welcome in another one of country music’s biggest stars on Thanksgiving: Lainey Wilson. 

The team announced the decision in October, naming the 32-year-old Louisiana native as this year’s entertainer. In her signature bell-bottoms, Wilson appeared alongside the famous Cowboys’ cheerleaders and teased a special guest would join her during the show. 

‘I am so excited to announce that I have teamed up with The Salvation Army to love beyond the holidays and make a difference in our communities all year round,’ she said in the video. 

-Nick Brinkerhoff 

Have any NFL teams never played on Thanksgiving? 

The Jacksonville Jaguars are the only active franchise to have never played on Thanksgiving. Three teams have had one game on the holiday: the Carolina Panthers (2015), Cincinnati Bengals (2010), and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2006). 

-Ayrton Ostly 

Dallas Cowboys inactives 

RB Deuce Vaughn 
G Zack Martin 
TE Jake Ferguson 
DE Marshawn Kneeland 
WR Ryan Flournoy 
CB Trevon Diggs 
CB Andrew Booth 

New York Giants inactives 

QB Tommy DeVito (emergency 3rd QB) 
TE Greg Dulcich 
CB Deonte Banks 
S Anthony Johnson 
CB Tre Hawkins III 
G Jake Kubas 
T Jermaine Eluemunor 

What NFL team has played the most Thanksgiving games? 

The Lions have played 84 Thanksgiving games, the most of any team. They are 37-45-2 in those games. Considering they won’t be relinquishing control of the NFL’s tradition anytime soon, it’s safe to say that they will continue to be Turkey Day’s most featured team. 

NFL draft 2025 order entering Week 13 

Here’s the first round of the 2025 NFL draft will stack up entering today’s games: 

Jacksonville Jaguars 
New York Giants 
Las Vegas Raiders
New England Patriots 
Carolina Panthers 
Tennessee Titans 
New York Jets 
Cleveland Browns 
New Orleans Saints 
Cincinnati Bengals 
Dallas Cowboys 
Chicago Bears 
Indianapolis Colts 
Miami Dolphins 
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 
Los Angeles Rams 
San Francisco 49ers
Arizona Cardinals
Atlanta Falcons
Seattle Seahawks
Washington Commanders
Houston Texans
Denver Broncos
Los Angeles Chargers
Baltimore Ravens
Pittsburgh Steelers
Green Bay Packers
Minnesota Vikings
Philadelphia Eagles
Buffalo Bills
Kansas City Chiefs
Detroit Lions

Full list of highest-paid NFL players 

Across all metrics, the top-10 highest paid players in the NFL are all quarterbacks. Here’s how the breakdown looks by AAV, guarantees, and total contract value this season. 

AAV

Dak Prescott, Cowboys: $60 million
Joe Burrow, Bengals: $55 million
Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars: $55 million
Jordan Love, Packers: $55 million
Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins: $53.1 million
Jared Goff, Lions: $53 million
Justin Herbert, Chargers: $52.5 million
Lamar Jackson, Ravens: $52 million
Jalen Hurts, Eagles: $51 million
Kyler Murray, Cardinals: $46.1 million

Guaranteed money

Dak Prescott, Cowboys: $231 million
Deshaun Watson, Browns: $230 million
Joe Burrow, Bengals: $219.01 million
Justin Herbert, Chargers: $218.74 million
Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars: $200 million
Lamar Jackson, Ravens: $185 million
Jalen Hurts, Eagles: $179.4 million
Jared Goff: $170.61 million
Tua Tagovailoa: $167.17 million
Jordan Love: $160.3 million

Total contract value

Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs: $450 million
Joe Burrow, Bengals: $275 million
Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars: $275 million
Justin Herbert, Chargers: $262.5 million
Lamar Jackson, Ravens: $260 million
Josh Allen, Bills: $258.04 million
Jalen Hurts, Eagles: $255 million
Dak Prescott, Cowboys: $240 million
Kyler Murray, Cardinals: $230.5 million
Deshaun Watson, Browns: $230 million

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson is the highest-paid non-quarterback by AAV at $35 million per year and San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa is the highest-paid non-quarterback by total value at $170 million.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

The Miami Dolphins entered their Thanksgiving night game against the Green Bay Packers hoping to erase a narrative about their struggles in cold-weather games.

They weren’t able to accomplish that goal, losing 30-17 to the Packers in below-freezing conditions at Lambeau Field.

The Dolphins’ struggles weren’t due to the performance of Tua Tagovailoa. While the veteran quarterback dropped to 0-8 in games with a starting temperature at 45 degrees or lower, he posted a solid stat line, completing 37-of-46 passes for 364 yards and two touchdowns. He also avoided an interception for just the third time in his eight cold-weather games.

What went wrong for the Dolphins? Their defense struggled early to contain the Packers, who racked up 14 points in the first quarter. Miami also lost the turnover battle, fumbling once before their first offensive drive and turning the ball over twice on downs. Those turnovers led to 13 Green Bay points, which turned out to be the difference in the game.

The Packers improved to 9-3 win the victory and will have a chance to cut into the Detroit Lions’ NFC North lead when they meet on ‘Thursday Night Football’ in Week 14. Incredibly, Green Bay remains in third place in the loaded NFC North behind the Lions (11-1) and Minnesota Vikings (9-2).

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

As for the Dolphins, their loss snapped a three-game winning streak and dropped them to 5-7 on the season. They are still in the thick of the AFC wild-card race but will need some help from the teams ahead of them in the standings — namely the Los Angeles Chargers and Denver Broncos — to climb up the ranks.

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Packers vs. Dolphins highlights

Clock runs out on Dolphins as Packers clinch 30-17 win

The Dolphins managed to get the ball back with just under 2 minutes left in regulation, but they had to settle for underneath passes as the Packers protected against the big play.

Green Bay improves to 9-3 on the season while Miami drops to 5-7. The Packers are looking like a playoff shoo-in while the Dolphins will need to get hot again to make a playoff run.

Packers 30, Dolphins 17: Tyreek Hill catches tip-drill touchdown

The Dolphins worked quickly to get in the end-zone. Tua Tagovailoa threw a pass over the middle of the field to Jonnu Smith but the veteran tight end couldn’t hold onto it.

However, the ball bounced right into the waiting arms of Tyreek Hill, who grabbed it to add a touchdown to his stat line. The Dolphins couldn’t get the two-point conversion and still trail by 13 with 3:04 left in regulation.

Packers 30, Dolphins 11: Green Bay settles for field goal after Elgton Jenkins penalty

The Packers nearly got into the end-zone after a Dontavyion Wicks caught a Jordan Love pass just short of the goal-line but couldn’t extend the ball over the chalk. Elgton Jenkins was called for an unnecessary roughness penalty that turned a fourth-and-inches at the goal line into a fourth-and-15, so Green Bay kicked the field goal.

Brandon McManus made the kick and extended Green Bay’s lead to 19. The Dolphins now face a daunting comeback with just 5:17 left in regulation.

Josh Jacobs breaks ankles on 49-yard catch-and-run

Josh Jacobs caught a short dump-off from Jordan Love on a first-and-10 and did some great work after the catch. He made a gorgeous juke move that got a Dolphins defender out of position and dragged some defenders deep into Miami territory at the end of the play.

The Packers are now in field goal range and positioned to make this a three-score game. The catch was the longest of Jacobs’ career to date.

Dolphins can’t score from 1-yard line

The Dolphins got to the 1-yard line to set up a second-and-goal opportunity. On the ensuing three plays, De’Von Achane was stuffed for no gain, Keisean Nixon broke up a pass intended for Jonnu Smith and Tua Tagovailoa was sacked.

As a result, Miami turned the ball over on downs. Green Bay gets the ball back with 9:33 left leading by 16.

What was up with NBC airing mere seconds of Lindsey Stirling’s halftime show?

Lindsey Stirling closed out the NFL’s Thanksgiving slate of halftime entertainment with her performance during the Green Bay Packers vs. Miami Dolphins game at Lambeau Field.

Viewers watching the contest at home were barely able to see the talented violinist and dancer in action.

Dolphins force Packers to punt

Well, Miami has a chance to close in on Green Bay’s lead.

Following their touchdown, the Dolphins defense halted the Packers offense at midfield and forced a punt after a short, four-play, 17-yard drive.

The Dolphins get the ball back down two scores and the entire fourth quarter yet to play.

Packers 27, Dolphins 11: Tua Tagovailoa, De’Von Achane connect for score

Nearly three full quarters of play into the game, Miami finally reached the end zone.

A Tua Tagovailoa pass to De’Von Achane went for a 14-yard touchdown play. The Dolphins then converted the two-point conversion on a nice catch by Jaylen Waddle.

One of the key plays of the drive was a fourth-and-1 conversion at the Packers’ 46-yard line that kept the drive alive. Two plays later, the Dolphins finally had their first touchdown of the game.

Packers 27, Dolphins 3: Field goal extends lead

Brandon McManus’ second field goal – a 24-yard attempt – added to the Packers’ growing lead after their first possession of the second half.

A third-and-6 pass play from Jordan Love to Christian Watson went for 46 yards. The Packers followed up that play with a 15-yard play on a Love screen pass to Josh Jacobs.

Discouraging start to second half for Dolphins

The Dolphins came out of intermission desperately needing a spark after going down 24-3 at the end of the second quarter.

Instead, Tua Tagovailoa and the offense went three-and-out after advancing just two yards. The Packers get the ball back with a chance to extend their lead.

Packers 24, Dolphins 3: Brandon McManus extends Green Bay’s lead before halftime

After forcing the Dolphins into a turnover on downs, the Packers gained 34 yards on three plays to set up a 46-yard field goal attempt for Brandon McManus. He made it to extend Green Bay’s lead to 24-3.

The Packers outgained the Dolphins 213-121 in the first half and forced two turnovers: one fumble and one on downs. Now, Tua Tagovailoa and Co. will have to play from behind in the cold. That could prove difficult considering the accuracy issues the quarterback is having throwing the ball 10-plus yards downfield in the freezing temperatures.

Dolphins fail to convert fourth down

Mike McDaniel opted to go for a fourth-and-5 from the Packers’ 38-yard line instead of attending a field goal from 50-plus yards. Tua Tagovailoa overthrew his intended receiver De’Von Achane to give the ball back to the Packers with 22 seconds left in the half.

Green Bay has three timeouts remaining and could potentially get into field goal range.

Packers 21, Dolphins 3: Jayden Reed catches second touchdown from Jordan Love

The Packers offense stays hot on a third-and-2. Jordan Love dumped a pass off to Jayden Reed and the second-year receiver wove his way through a few Dolphins receivers to log a 12-yard score.

Brandon McManus converts the extra point to give the Packers a 21-3 lead with 1:36 left in the first half. Reed now has two catches thus far, both for touchdowns.

Who is the Packers Thanksgiving halftime show performer?

Stirling is a 38-year-old violinist, dancer and song-writer began posting videos of her choreographed violin performances on YouTube in 2007. Her unique combination of talents landed her a spot on season five of ‘America’s Got Talent,’ where she made it to the quarterfinals before being knocked out of the competition.

Tua Tagovailoa sacked on back-to-back plays, Dolphins punt

The Dolphins’ protection failed on back-to-back plays, which allowed Lukas Van Ness and Kingsley Enagbare to bring down Tua Tagovailoa. Miami’s quarterback absorbed the big hits well, but Jake Bailey had to punt again.

The Packers get the ball back on their own 38-yard line with 3:03 left before halftime.

Dolphins stop Packers, force punt

Miami follows up its first scoring drive by stopping Green Bay just after it got past midfield on a 23-yard Jayden Reed punt. This time, Malik Washington fields it cleanly. However, a holding penalty will back the Dolphins up significantly with 6:32 left until halftime.

Tua Tagovailoa stats

Thus far, Tua Tagovailoa hasn’t shown any ill effects in the cold weather. He has completed 9-of-10 passes for 67 yards with his lone incompletion being a pass that was just low and in front of running back Raheem Mostert.

Tagovailoa hasn’t taken many chances downfield yet, instead opting to throw underneath and let his playmakers generate yards after the catch, but that has been a staple of Miami’s offense this year. If he can continue to play like this, the Dolphins will have a chance to move the ball against the Packers’ defense.

Packers 14, Dolphins 3: Jason Sanders makes 33-yard field goal

The Dolphins went backwards after getting a goal-to-go opportunity, so they had to settle for a 33-yard field goal. Jason Sanders made it with ease to get Miami on the board and cut Green Bay’s lead to 14-3.

Dolphins convert fourth-and-4 after eschewing field goal

The Dolphins had a chance to attempt a 43-yard field goal but Mike McDaniel opted to go for it on fourth down instead. Tua Tagovailoa was given plenty of time in the pocket and was able to find Jaylen Waddle breaking wide open over the middle of the field for a first down.

First and goal, Miami.

Packers lead Dolphins 14-0 after first quarter

Green Bay has, predictably, jumped out to a fast start amid the freezing temperatures at Lambeau Field. They are playing physically on offense, racking up 50 yards and a touchdown on the ground, and capitalized on the one Miami turnover in the opening quarter.

That said, Tua Tagovailoa has started the game on a solid clip, completing 4-of-4 passes for 31 yards. He is taking what is given to him, but it will be interesting to see if he can continue to perform efficiently given his previous struggles in cold weather games.

Packers 14, Dolphins 0: Josh Jacobs plunges in for 1-yard touchdown run

The Packers are imposing their will on the Dolphins early. Josh Jacobs got back-to-back carries in goal-to-go situations. On the first, he pushed a pile of Dolphins defenders 6 yards to get to the 1-yard line. On the next play, he punched it into the end zone.

Brandon McManus converted on the extra point again to give the Packers a 14-0 lead. Green Bay has 50 rushing yards in the first quarter compared to negative-1 for Miami.

Kader Kohou injury update

Kader Kohou, a cornerback for the Dolphins, was injured attempting to catch a pass that deflected off receiver Dontayvion Wicks’ hands. He was tended to by medical staff on the field and was seen reaching for his back before he went into the blue medical tent.

The Dolphins ruled Kohou ‘questionable’ to return because of a back injury. He was also being reviewed for a potential concussion.

Miami was already without normal starting cornerback Kendall Fuller on Thursday night.

Dolphins punt on first offensive possession after Jonnu Smith penalty

Miami started the game by getting a first down after a couple of dump-offs to De’Von Achane, but they stalled out after that. Tua Tagovailoa took a sack and a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty on Jonnu Smith put the Dolphins in an unforgiving third-and-29 situation.

Jake Bailey punted it back to the Packers, who will look to improve upon their 7-0 lead on their third drive of the first quarter.

Corey Ballentine injury update

The Packers have ruled Corey Ballentine, a backup defensive back and special teamer, questionable to return to Thursday’s game after suffering a knee injury on the opening kickoff.

Ballentine has six tackles on the season in 10 games played (one start).

Packers 7, Dolphins 0: Jayden Reed opens scoring with 3-yard touchdown catch

The Packers capitalize on the Dolphins’ fumble. After two Josh Jacobs runs, Jordan Love found Jayden Reed breaking out toward the front pylon on an out route. The quarterback perfectly placed the ball in front of the receiver, preventing defensive back Storm Duck from knocking it down.

Brandon McManus connects on the extra point to make it 7-0, Packers.

Dolphins fumble punt after Packers three-and-out setting up goal-to-go opportunity

The frigid temperatures in Green Bay are making an impact early on Thanksgiving. Jordan Love overthrew Jayden Reed for a potential big play on the Packers’ first drive and as a result, they had to punt.

Malik Washington couldn’t field the punt and the Packers recovered the muff. That sets up a first-and-goal for the Packers.

Lindsey Stirling performing halftime show for Dolphins vs. Packers game

The halftime entertainment has become a part of the NFL’s Thanksgiving spectacle. Both the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys have landed quality performers in recent years, with Dolly Parton’s performance at Dallas’ 2023 game particularly capturing the interest of NFL and entertainment fans alike.

This year, the Cowboys are rolling with a country music star, Lainey Wilson, to entertain their crowd while the Lions landed Shaboozey, a versatile hip-hop and alt-country artist, to rock the Motor City.

Why is Jason Garrett calling Packers vs. Dolphins?

Garrett is serving as the color commentator for the Packers vs. Dolphins game in lieu of Cris Collinsworth, who presumably has the day off to celebrate Thanksgiving.

And for those wondering why NBC is broadcasting the Thursday night game, the Thanksgiving night game rights are owned by NBC. As such, the network uses its ‘Sunday Night Football’ branding and crew for the contest.

Packers vs. Dolphins Thanksgiving game start time

Start time: 8:20 p.m. ET (5:20 PT)
Location: Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin

The NFL’s Thursday night games typically begin at 8:15 p.m. ET. However, the Thanksgiving game will start five minutes later at 8:20 p.m. ET, the normal start time for NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” programming.

Packers vs. Dolphins TV channel

TV channel: NBC

Thursday night games typically belong to Amazon Prime, but NBC still owns the right to the Thanksgiving night game. As such, the game will be broadcast with NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” branding despite taking place on Thursday night. 

Mike Tirico (play-by-play), Cris Collinsworth (color commentary) and Melissa Stark (sideline reporter) typically handle the broadcast duties for NBC’s “SNF” broadcast. It isn’t clear whether any of the trio will have Thanksgiving off. 

NBC will host a pregame show for the event as part of its “Football Night In America” branding. The program will begin at 7 p.m. ET and feature insight from a panel of analysts, including Maria Taylor, Jason Garrett, Chris Simms, Mike Florio, Devin McCourty, Tony Dungy, and more. 

Packers vs. Dolphins live stream 

Live stream:  Fubo TV and Peacock

For cord cutters looking for a live stream for the matchup, you can turn to Fubo TV. Fubo TV carries NBC, as well as CBS, FOX, NFL Network and the ESPN family of networks, meaning you can catch NFL action through the remainder of the season. 

Peacock, the proprietary streaming service of NBC, will also carry the game. 

Packers vs. Dolphins picks, predictions

Here’s how the USA TODAY Sports staff feels the Packers vs. Dolphins Thanksgiving matchup will cook:

Lorenzo Reyes: Packers 23, Dolphins 19
Tyler Dragon: Packers 26, Dolphins 24
Richard Morin: Packers 24, Dolphins 21
Jordan Mendoza: Packers 23, Dolphins 21

Packers vs. Dolphins odds, moneyline, over/under 

The Packers are favorites to defeat the Dolphins, according to the BetMGM NFL odds. 

Spread: Packers (-3.5) 
Moneyline: Packers (-185); Dolphins (+150) 
Over/under: 47 

Where is Packers vs. Dolphins? 

Packers vs. Dolphins weather updates 

The Packers vs. Dolphins game at legendary Lambeau Field is expected to be played in cold-weather conditions on Thursday night. Temperatures will drop below freezing by game time and could go as low as 19 degrees during the evening. 

Below are the full details of Thursday’s forecast for Green Bay: 

High temperature: 32 degrees 
Low temperature: 20 degrees 
Chance of precipitation: 36% 
Wind: 10-20 mph 

Tua Tagovailoa stats in cold weather 

Tua Tagovailoa has played in seven games with a listed temperature of 45 degrees or lower, according to data from Pro Football Reference. 

Tagovailoa has an 0-7 record in those contests. His other stats aren’t much better, as can be seen below. 

Completion rate: 135-of-243 (55.6%) 
Passing yards: 1,687 
Passing TDs: 8 
INTs: 10 
Yards/attempt: 6.9 
Passer rating: 71.13 

Tagovailoa’s average of 241 passing yards per game in those cold-weather contests is respectable, but he has struggled to consistently lead his team to points. The Dolphins are averaging 16.4 points per game in those cold-weather games while allowing 32.4 points per game. 

Dolphins inactives vs. Packers

LB Anthony Walker Jr.
QB Tyler Huntley (emergency third QB)
CB Ethan Bonner
CB Kendall Fuller
TE Jack Stoll
WR Dee Eskridge

Packers inactives vs. Dolphins

CB Jaire Alexander
LB Edgerrin Cooper
OL Jacob Monk
WR Romeo Doubs

Packers Thanksgiving history 

The Packers are appearing on Thanksgiving for the 38th time in 2024. That ties them with the Chicago Bears for the third-most appearances on the holiday in NFL history and the most among teams that aren’t an every-year part of the Thanksgiving tradition. 

Green Bay has a record of just 15-20-2 on the holiday. Below is a look at their seven most recent Thanksgiving appearances, which date back to 2001. 

Nov. 23, 2023: Packers 29, Lions 22 
Nov. 26, 2015: Bears 17, Packers 13 
Nov. 28, 2013: Lions 40, Packers 10 
Nov. 24, 2011: Packers 27, Lions 15 
Nov. 22, 2007: Packers 37, Lions 26 
Nov. 27, 2003: Lions 22, Packers 14 
Nov. 22, 2001: Packers 29, Lions 27 

Dolphins Thanksgiving history 

The Dolphins have played on Thanksgiving seven times in their franchise’s history. They have a 5-2 record in those games, with their most notable victory coming in a 16-14 victory over the Cowboys in the infamous 1993 game in which Leon Lett tried to recover a blocked field goal only for the Dolphins to recover the ball. 

Below is a full look at Miami’s Thanksgiving results: 

Nov. 22, 1973: Dolphins 14, Cowboys 7 
Nov. 24, 1977: Dolphins 55, St. Louis Cardinals 14 
Nov. 25, 1993: Dolphins 16, Cowboys 14 
Nov. 25, 1999: Cowboys 20, Dolphins 0 
Nov. 27, 2003: Dolphins 40, Cowboys 21 
Nov. 23, 2006: Dolphins 27, Lions 10 
Nov. 24, 2011: Cowboys 20, Dolphins 19 

Why Lions, Cowboys always play on Thanksgiving

The NFL on Thanksgiving Day has featured some memorable moments, from Clint Longley leading a Cowboys comeback in 1974 and a national TV showcase for the incomparable Barry Sanders to the infamous Butt Fumble in 2012 and Leon Lett’s blunder in 1993.

NFL games on Thanksgiving have been a tradition since the league’s inception in 1920 (there were six games that first season!). A third prime-time game was added in 2006, and includes teams other than the Lions and Cowboys, who each play their traditional Thanksgiving home games. — Jim Reineking

NFC North standings 

Detroit Lions (11-1) 
Minnesota Vikings (9-2) 
Green Bay Packers (8-3) 
Chicago Bears (4-8) 

AFC East standings 

Buffalo Bills (9-2) 
Miami Dolphins (5-6) 
New York Jets (3-8) 
New England Patriots (3-9) 

Jordan Love contract details 

Jordan Love signed a four-year contract extension worth up to $220 million with the Packers during the 2024 NFL offseason. That gives him an average annual value (AAV) of $55 million, tied with Joe Burrow and Trevor Lawrence for the second-highest in the NFL behind Dak Prescott ($60 million). 

Love’s contract contains $160.3 million in guarantees, a significant investment by the Packers after his one year as a starter. 

Tua Tagovailoa contract 

Tua Tagovailoa was given a lucrative contract during the 2024 NFL offseason as well. He got a four-year deal worth up to $212.4 million. His AAV of $53.1 million is the fifth-highest in the NFL, but he earned the ninth-most guaranteed money for a quarterback as part of his deal ($167.17 million). 

Love and Tagovailoa have fairly similar contracts, all things considered, so it will be interesting to see the two face off against one another.  

Which NFL team has the most Super Bowl wins? 

The New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers are tied for the most Super Bowl wins with six. 

Pittsburgh and Dallas have the unique distinction of playing each other more than any other team combination in Super Bowl history with three matchups. 

The Packers own four Super Bowl wins, most recently during the 2010 season, when the defeated the Steelers in Super Bowl XLV. The Dolphins have won two Super Bowls, most recently during the 1973 season when they defeated the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl VIII. The Dolphins’ last Super Bowl appearance was during the 1984 season, when they were defeated by the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XIX.

The Steelers’ last Super Bowl triumph came during the 2008 season, when they defeated the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII. The Browns are among four NFL teams that have never appeared in a Super Bowl.

NFL franchises with most Super Bowl wins:

New England Patriots — 6
Pittsburgh Steelers — 6
Dallas Cowboys — 5
San Francisco 49ers — 5
Green Bay Packers — 4
Kansas City Chiefs — 4
New York Giants — 4

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Not all of the NFL teams playing on Thanksgiving are thankful for the way their seasons have gone thus far, but a least a handful of them will be grateful that they are in the running for high-end draft capital.

The New York Giants, Dallas Cowboys and Chicago Bears are among the teams that will likely vie for top-10 picks amid lost seasons. The Giants entered Thanksgiving with a shot at the No. 1 overall pick, and they aided their chances of getting that selection by losing to the Cowboys on Thursday.

Speaking of Dallas, their second consecutive win without Dak Prescott, who is lost for the season with a hamstring injury, will drop them to the middle tier of the 2025 NFL Draft order. Owner Jerry Jones won’t mind that, as the 82-year-old has repeatedly stated that his goal is to win, even after his team endured a 3-7 start to the season.

Meanwhile, the Bears have now lost six games in a row and appear to be on a collision course with a top-10 pick. That may be disappointing for Chicago fans who believed Caleb Williams would have a chance to make the postseason as a rookie, but adding another high-end player to their roster could be good for the Bears’ long-term prospects of contending.

Here’s a look at how the 2025 NFL draft order looks following Thursday’s NFL games:

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

2025 NFL Draft order

Here’s how the 2025 NFL draft order shakes out after Week 13’s three-game Thanksgiving slate, according to Tankathon.com:

New York Giants: 2-10; .522 strength of schedule
Jacksonville Jaguars: 2-9 record; .478 SOS
Las Vegas Raiders: 2-9; .536 SOS
New England Patriots: 3-9; .482 SOS
Carolina Panthers: 3-8; .456 SOS
Cleveland Browns: 3-8; .464 SOS
New York Jets: 3-8; .516 SOS
Tennessee Titans: 3-8; .563 SOS
Chicago Bears: 4-8; .507 SOS
Cincinnati Bengals: 4-7; .492 SOS
New Orleans Saints: 4-7; .520 SOS
Miami Dolphins: 5-7; .456 SOS
Dallas Cowboys: 5-7; .522 SOS
Indianapolis Colts: 5-7; .558 SOS
San Francisco 49ers: 5-6; .540 SOS
Los Angeles Rams: 5-6; .548 SOS
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 5-6; .595 SOS
Seattle Seahawks: 6-5; .508 SOS
Atlanta Falcons: 6-5; .537 SOS
Arizona Cardinals: 6-5; .563 SOS
Washington Commanders: 7-5; .431 SOS
Denver Broncos: 7-5; .481 SOS
Houston Texans: 7-5; .489 SOS
Los Angeles Chargers: 7-4; .472 SOS
Baltimore Ravens: 8-4; .526 SOS
Pittsburgh Steelers: 8-3; .433 SOS
Green Bay Packers: 9-3; .518 SOS
Philadelphia Eagles: 9-2; .416 SOS
Minnesota Vikings: 9-2; .441 SOS
Buffalo Bills: 9-2; .476 SOS
Kansas City Chiefs: 10-1; .488 SOS
Detroit Lions: 11-1; .482 SOS

2025 NFL draft: No. 1 overall pick odds

According to BetMGM, the following college players are among the favorites to be the top pick in next year’s draft class.

Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado: +165
Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado: +300
Cameron Ward, QB, Miami (FL): +900
Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama: +2000
Will Campbell, OT, LSU: +2200

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The end of the election season does not mean the end of political betting, with many platforms allowing users to place wagers on everything from the 2028 election to who will be confirmed to President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet.

‘Some people will be amazed by this, but people are already betting on 2026 and 2028,’ Maxim Lott, the founder of ElectionBettingOdds.com, told Fox News Digital. ‘There’s been about a quarter million dollars bet already.’

The comments come after the 2024 election produced plenty of betting action, with users across multiple platforms wagering over $2 billion on the outcome of the latest race. 

While mega sporting events, such as the Super Bowl and the recent Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul fight, gives gamblers plenty to wager on after the election, those looking for something political to bet on will still have plenty of options.

One of the most popular topics is who will be the nominees for both major parties in 2028, with ElectionBettingOdds.com showing California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Vice President-elect JD Vance being the current leaders for Democrats and Republicans, respectively.

Other names with a significant amount of attention for betters include Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for the Democratic nomination, while Vance is trailed by names like entrepreneur and future head of the new Department of Government Efficiency Vivek Ramaswamy and Donald Trump Jr. on the Republican side.

‘The big Democratic governors are favored to be the next nominee,’ Lott said, noting that Vance currently holds a sizable lead over other options on the GOP side.

Vance is also the current betting leader on who will win the 2028 presidential election, ElectionBettingOdds.com shows, followed by Newson and Shapiro as the next two likely options.

However, Lott warned it is still too early to tell what the future holds, noting that the markets will start to provide more clarity as more information becomes known over the next few years.

‘As the future becomes clearer… as we get closer to 2026, 2028, these odds will change,’ Lott said. ‘So if the Trump administration is doing really well, the economy is booming, inflation is not out of control, wars are ending, Vance’s odds will certainly go up.’

Bettors also are not limited to wagering on elections, with platforms such as Polymarket allowing users to place bets on Trump’s picks to serve in his Cabinet and whether they will be confirmed. Bettors can also place wagers on questions such as if they believe the war in Ukraine will end in Trump’s first 90 days or if there will be a cease-fire in Gaza in 2024.

According to Lott, taking a look at the current betting odds for many scenarios can help inform you about what is going on in the world, even if you do not place bets yourself.

‘People often ask… is there any value to this… it’s just gambling. It’s silly,’ Lott said. ‘But actually it’s very useful… if you want to know what’s going to happen in 2028 or if the Trump administration is going to be a success, you could read 100 news articles on it. Some will misinform you. Or, you can just go to the prediction markets and see… is Vance a 20% chance of becoming the next Republican nominee or is he a 90% chance? That tells you a lot.’

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– President-elect Trump turned to podcasts during the 2024 election cycle, rallying support particularly among young men who have trended to the right in recent years and helped deliver Trump’s massive victory. 

‘I want to thank some people real quick,’ UFC CEO Dana White declared from the election night podium following Trump’s win, thanking a list of podcasters who spoke with Trump on the campaign trail. ‘I want to thank the Nelk Boys, Aidan Ross, Theo Von, Boston, Bussin with the Boys, and last but not least, the mighty and powerful Joe Rogan.’

Ahead of President Biden dropping out of the race, and before facing two assassination attempts and pouring hours of work into seven key battleground states and beyond, Trump joined the popular podcast ‘Full Send,’ also known as the ‘Nelk Boys,’ for an interview in March 2022. This interview marked his entrance into the podcast world while appealing to a voting bloc of young men. Trump discussed not only his policies and vision for the U.S., but his family and sports, and he allowed voters to take a peek into his life beyond politics. 

The Nelk Boys interview touched on Trump’s golf game, his favorite songs, such as ‘YMCA’ and ‘Hold on I’m Coming,’ to play on the campaign trail, as well as his thoughts on the Biden administration’s handling of COVID and Russia. 

 ‘If you put up this whole interview, let’s see what happens when Instagram and Facebook and Twitter and all of them take it down,’ Trump quipped during the podcast, only for the interview to later be pulled from YouTube, setting off a firestorm of condemnation from Trump. 

‘Whatever happened to free speech in our Country? Incredibly, but not surprisingly, the Big Tech lunatics have taken down my interview with the very popular NELK Boys so that nobody can watch it or in any way listen to it,’ the 45th president said in a statement released by his Save America PAC at the time. 

‘In the 24 hours that it was up it set every record for them, by many times,’ he continued. ‘Interestingly, on the show I told them this would happen because Big Tech and the Fake News Media fear the truth, they fear criticism about Biden, and above all, they don’t want to talk about the Rigged 2020 Presidential Election, all topics discussed.’

Fast-forward to 2024, Trump again joined the Nelk Boys, and a bevy of other podcasts as he worked to rally support among young men, including joining Joe Rogan, who hosts the most popular podcast in the U.S. with 14.5 million followers on Spotify alone and endorsed Trump just a day ahead of the election. 

In August of this year, the Nelk Boys debuted Send the Vote on their podcast, which was a massive nonpartisan voter initiative aimed at youth, especially young men. 

‘Making a post on Instagram or making a tweet, that’s cool,’ Kyle Forgeard, one of the Nelk Boys, said in a promo video back in August, the Wall Street Journal reported. ‘But every single one of you guys needs to register to vote, and you need to make your voice heard. Don’t be f—ing lazy, get your ballot in the mail, do whatever you got to do, plan around it.’

Armed with about a $20 million budget, Send the Vote placed ad buys targeting 1.1 million inactive, registered male voters between the ages of 18-34 to vote. The ads reached more than 35 million people, Fox News Digital learned, while countless others also saw the ads via the Nelk Boys’ social media accounts.

SendTheVote.com saw more than 2 million visitors, while 210,000 first-time voters who saw the ads and subsequently voted, and 110,000 people who visited the site requested they be reminded to vote. 

Send the Vote reached more than 140 million people through influencers, nearly 1 million on streamed content, and nearly 7 million people through podcasts specifically, Fox Digital learned. Send the Vote ads were featured on other wildly popular podcasts, including on comedic shows KillTony, Theo Von, Tim Dillon, as well as the sports-oriented podcast ‘BS with Jake Paul,’ as well as viral TikTok celebrity Hailey Welch’s ‘Talk Tuah’ podcast. 

Send the Vote launched tailgate events during the Penn State vs. Wisconsin game in October, which appealed to young voters in two top battleground states. Volunteers knocked on frat house doors and held a voter registration concert in Atlanta with pro-Trump rapper Waka Flocka Flame. 

‘Too many people in our country felt like their voice didn’t matter and that the barriers to making real change are too big to overcome. The goal of Send the Vote was to tear down those barriers and remind our audience that posting on social media does not count as a vote and they need to physically show up to vote. Sick of how much things cost? Go vote. Tired of unnecessary wars? Go vote – it’s not as difficult as they make it out to be.’ – John Shahidi, co-founder of ‘Full Send’ told Fox News Digital. 

Trump leaning into podcasts this election cycle, as opposed to traditional media interviews, paid off among Gen Z men and millennials. The Fox News Voter Survey published earlier this month found that men aged 18-44 supported Trump at 53% compared to Vice President Kamala Harris’ 45%. 

In addition to the Nelk Boys, and other podcasters who highlighted Trump, Rogan’s endorsement of the 45th president was viewed as a massive success. The former and upcoming president had joined Rogan on his podcast for a three-hour interview ahead of the election. Harris was offered the same interview, but Rogan rejected her campaign’s requests to shorten the interview and move it out of the studio, he previously said. 

Trump attended a UFC fight in New York City following the election, and was seen embracing Rogan in a viral video. 

On election night when Trump was projected the winner, the UFC’s Dana White celebrated the podcasters who spotlighted Trump to their audiences, adding that ‘karma’ caught up with Democrats. 

‘Nobody deserves this more than him, and nobody deserves this more than his family does,’ White said on election night. ‘This is what happens when the machine comes after you. What you’ve seen over the last several years, this is what it looks like. Couldn’t stop him, he keeps going forward, he doesn’t quit, he’s the most resilient, hard-working man I’ve ever met in my life, his family are incredible people.

‘This is karma, ladies and gentlemen. He deserves this. They deserve it as a family.’

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Mary McGee, the pioneering motorsports champion who was the subject of the Oscar-nominated documentary ‘Motorcycle Mary,’ has died at the age of 87.

Her family confirmed her death Wednesday in Gardnersville, Nevada, in a Facebook post. No cause of death was revealed.

“Mary embodied resilience, grace and optimism,” the post said. “She was a historic athlete and a motorsports pioneer who embraced life’s challenges, cared deeply for others and made time to brighten the lives of those around her. While we are deeply saddened by this loss, we are comforted knowing that her light will continue to shine in everyone she touched.”

Born in Juneau, Alaska, McGee spent her childhood in Iowa and began racing cars before gaining fame on two wheels. She was the first woman to compete in motorcycle road racing and motocross events in the United States, and was the first person — male or female — to complete the Baja 500 off-road race in Mexico solo, which she did in 1975.

McGee was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2018.

Her life story was the subject of the ESPN short film ‘Motorcycle Mary,’ which was released on ESPN’s YouTube channel on Thursday.

The 21-minute film — produced by Rachel Greenwald and Haley Watson, and directed by Watson — made its premiere at the 2024 Tribeca Festival in June.

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The Miami Dolphins enter Thanksgiving thankful to still have a fighting chance in the 2024 playoff race. That said, they will be facing one of their most difficult tests yet in Week 13 when they take on the Green Bay Packers.

The Dolphins are traveling north to Green Bay on the short week to face the Packers on Thanksgiving night. The contest is going to be the coldest one that Miami has played this season, and while the rest of the forecast doesn’t look bad, the temperatures could be enough to quash the momentum the Dolphins have built on their three-game winning streak.

How cold is it going to be in Green Bay, and is there any chance we could get a second consecutive Thursday snow game? Here’s what to know about the weather in Green Bay on Thanksgiving.

Packers vs. Dolphins weather updates

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

There isn’t likely to be heavy snow during the game, per Weather.com, but steady winds of 10-15 mph will blow throughout the contest. The wind and cold may make it more difficult to throw and catch the ball than usual, so each team may rely more on its running game.

Miami is coming from a warm-weather climate, so this contest figures to be particularly difficult for the Dolphins. They may be able to adjust to the conditions, but it will be worth watching how their players fare in pregame warmups and what measures they are taking to combat the cold.

The same can be said of the Packers players, but they should be better prepared to deal with the harsh, late-Fall nights that are customary in Green Bay.

Some flurries were falling early at Lambeau Field, but there were just a few flakes. NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe referred to the stadium as ‘not [Kansas City] cold, but cold.’ That was in reference to the Chiefs vs. Dolphins playoff game from last season, during which the early game temperature peaked at negative-4 degrees.

Closer to game-time, the Packers and Dolphins players came out to warm up. There was a noted difference between the attire worn by some Green Bay players and the sweat suits sported by Miami.

Not all Miami players were averse to the cold, however. Tyreek Hill, who played the first six seasons of his career in Kansas City, was clad in short sleeves and looked pretty sharp in warm-ups.

Green Bay weather forecast for Packers vs. Dolphins on Thanksgiving

It’s going to be cold during the Packers vs. Dolphins Thanksgiving game, according to Weather.com. Below are the full details of Thursday’s forecast for Green Bay:

High temperature: 32 degrees
Low temperature: 20 degrees
Chance of precipitation: 36%
Wind: 10-20 mph

That cold weather could have a negative impact on the Dolphins, who have yet to play a game featuring a starting temperature lower than 54 degrees, per data from Pro Football Reference. Add in that Miami has won just once in the last 32 years when the temperature is lower than 23 degrees, and this short-week spot looks quite difficult for them.

The silver lining is that wind and precipitation don’t figure to be much of a problem for the Dolphins on Thursday night. Below is a look at the hourly Green Bay forecast for the contest, per Weather.com:

7 p.m. ET: 26 degrees, Cloudy, 10 mph winds
8 p.m. ET: 26 degrees, Cloudy, 10 mph winds
9 p.m. ET: 27 degrees, Cloudy, 11 mph winds
10 p.m. ET: 26 degrees, Cloudy, 12 mph winds
11 p.m. ET: 26 degrees, Cloudy, 12 mph winds
Midnight ET: 25 degrees, Cloudy, 12 mph winds

Will it snow at Lambeau Field?

Earlier in the week, it looked like there was a chance that NFL fans would be treated to a second consecutive Thursday night snow game. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you view it), it doesn’t look like that will be the case.

There is a 36% chance of snow on Thursday, per Weather.com. However, the hourly forecast lists there being no greater than a 15% chance of precipitation from 7 p.m. ET onward. Perhaps a snow shower or two could blow in, but it seems more likely to stay dry at Lambeau Field on Thursday night.

Tua Tagovailoa cold weather stats

Tagovailoa has struggled in cold-weather games throughout his career. He has an 0-7 record in games where the temperature is 45 degrees or lower, and he has posted a passer rating of just 71.13 in those contests.

Below is a look at Tagovailoa’s stats in those seven games:

Completion rate: 135-of-243 (55.6%)
Passing yards: 1,687
Passing TDs: 8
INTs: 10
Yards/attempt: 6.9
Passer rating: 71.13

Comparatively, Tagovailoa has a record of 36-16 in his 52 other starts and has thrown 87 touchdowns compared to 32 interceptions. That’s good for a passer rating of 101.35.

The big drop-off in Tagovailoa’s game could spell trouble for the Dolphins if temperatures stay low on Thursday night.

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The Bears may have burnt the turkey on Thanksgiving.

The Lions looked to make their Thanksgiving matchup vs. the Bears a laugher, but they eked by Chicago, 23-20, thanks to some bizarre late-game clock management that cost Caleb Williams and Co. a victory.

Chicago was in Detroit territory with time winding down, but after a sack with 32 seconds left on the game clock, the Bears sideline failed to call a timeout. That led to Williams chucking up something of a prayer ball to Rome Odunze, which fell harmlessly incomplete in the end zone.

Detroit led 16-0 at the half, with Chicago’s offense looking lifeless in the process. Williams came alive in the second half, throwing three touchdown passes to keep the Bears in the game.

Chicago’s defense deserves a fair bit of credit for not letting this one slip away. After a second-quarter touchdown, the Lions would have to settle for two more field goals in the half, thanks partly to the red zone defense of the Bears. They held the Lions’ potent offense to a single score in the second half.

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

With the win, the Lions continue to roar through the NFC at 11-1 and inch closer to a playoff berth, which they can secure this weekend with some help around the NFC.

The Bears fall to 4-8, extending their losing streak to six games and setting fire to Eberflus’ chair.

USA TODAY Sports provided live updates, highlights and more from the Thanksgiving Day tilt between the Lions and the Bears below. All times are Eastern.

Lions-Bears final score: Detroit escapes thanks to massive Bears botch

The Bears overcooked the turkey.

Chicago looked to be in the driver’s seat to at least tie their Thanksgiving matchup vs. the Lions, but somehow, someway, Matt Eberflus and Co. decided to let the final 32 seconds of game time tick off the clock, resulting in a rushed Caleb Williams deep ball that fell incomplete.

Chicago had one timeout remaining and plenty of time to set up inside field goal range. Instead, the Lions escape with a 23-20 victory thanks to the Bears’ sideline confusion.

Lions-Bears score: Caleb Williams finds DJ Moore for touchdown

It ain’t over till your uncle’s head hits the couch cushion after dinner.

What looked to be a laugher in the making has turned into a tight game, with Caleb Williams finding D.J. Moore for a touchdown pass with 5:36 left in the game. Chicago now trails by just three points with time winding down. Lions 23, Bears 20

Keenan Allen injury update: Bears WR avoids injury

Allen was rolled up on in the fourth quarter vs. the Lions. He entered the medical tent, had his ankle taped up and reentered the game after that. Allen has two touchdowns on the day.

Lions-Bears score: Keenan Allen snags second TD

Keenan Allen is hungry for points.

The Bears receiver gobbled up his second touchdown grab of the day. Chicago is now 2 for 2 on touchdown drives in the second half and pulls to within 10 points of tying the game. Lions 23, Bears 13

Lions-Bears score: Sam LaPorta finds end zone again for second TD

Seconds, anyone?

Tight end Sam LaPorta is coming alive in the Thanksgiving matchup, scoring a second touchdown from Jared Goff on a play action pass. Lions lead, 23-7.

Jameson Williams skies for hurdle over Kevin Byard III

Hurdles are failed more often than they are successful in the NFL. Jameson Williams hit a successful leap over Bears safety Kevin Byard III on Thanksgiving, getting way up on the attempt and getting extra yards.

Lions-Bears score: Caleb Williams throws strike to Keenan Allen for TD

The Bears look like a different team coming out of the locker room. After a first half that saw just a few first downs from the Bears offense, they scored on their first drive, a Caleb Williams touchdown pass to Keenan Allen.

The throw came a play after Williams took an ugly hit to his lower half. Lions 16, Bears 7

Lions and Bears jersey patch

If you’re curious what the patch that the Lions and Bears have on their jerseys, it’s the silhouette of John Madden, who passed away in 2021.

Madden is synonymous with Thanksgiving football, and both teams are paying tribute to him on Turkey Day.

Who is Shaboozey? What to know about Lions halftime show performer

The Virginia native’s song held the No. 1 spot on the Billboard top 100 for 19 straight weeks, tying the record set by Lil Nas X’s 2019 hit ‘Old Town Road.’

Lions dominate first half vs. Bears on Thanksgiving

The Lions made stuffing of the Bears after 30.

The scoreboard reads 16-0, but it might as well be 40-0 after one half of the Bears-Lions Thanksgiving matchup. The Bears have just 53 total yards of offense and picked up their first, first down with a minute left in the half.

Lions 16, Bears 0

Tyrique Stevenson forces Jahmyr Gibbs fumble, give Bears life

The Lions looked poised to at least net another three points before the half. Tyrique Stevenson would knock the ball out of the hands of Gibbs inside the five yard line, stopping the Lions and giving the Bears the ball back with under a minute left in the half.

Bears fail to convert on fourth down, give Lions prime field position

Desperate times call for desperate measures.

With the Bears still searching for their first, first down of the affair, Matt Eberflus and Co. opted to go for it on fourth-and-3 from their own 37-yard line. A Caleb Williams pass fell incomplete, giving the ball back to the the Lions with under two minutes left in the half.

Lions-Bears score: Bears hold Lions to another field goal

Well, the Bears defense is doing its part.

The Lions settled for a 48-yard field goal with 3:11 left in the half, getting some pressure on Goff during the drive to hold them to just three points. The Bears have yet to tally a first down in the half. Lions 16, Bears 0

Lions-Bears score: Lions settle for another FG

The Lions were threatening to score another touchdown, but a penalty and a sack moved them back, and eventually they settled for a 36-yard Jake Bates field goal to extend the lead to 13-0 midway through the second quarter. Lions 13, Bears 0

Aidan Hutchinson dons turkey hat during Lions-Bears

The Lions are without star pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson for the remainder of the season, but his presence is still felt.

On Thursday, Hutchinson was taking in the game from a luxury box, and he, along with the rest of the visitors in the suite, were all wearing very festive turkey hats.

Lions offense hot early vs. Bears

The turkey isn’t the only thing cooking at the moment.

The Lions notched their eighth play of 10-plus yards vs. the Bears with 11:21 left in the second quarter. Meanwhile, the Bears have run just six plays total and are still looking for their first, first down of the afternoon.

Lions-Bears score: Sam LaPorta grabs pass for four-yard TD

Through a quarter and some change, it’s been all Lions.

Sam LaPorta put snagged a touchdown pass from Jared Goff at 14:55 in the second quarter, giving the Lions a 10-point lead early on. It’s LaPorta’s fourth TD reception of the season.

Matt Eberflus loses challenge on incomplete pass

A very early Hail Mary from the sidelines came up short.

Jameson Williams caught, and subsequently dropped, a pass over the middle of the field. On the field, it was ruled incomplete, but Bears coach Matt Eberflus wasn’t convinced. Eberflus challenged the play and the call on the field was upheld.

Eberflus has just a 20% successful challenge rate.

DJ Moore injury update: Bears WR visits medical tent after hit

The Bears couldn’t pick up a first down on their first drive, but the highlight of the drive was wideout D.J. Moore taking a big hit and taking a few seconds to get up off the turf.

He would enter the blue medical tent.

Lions-Bears score: Jake Bates hits field goal to open scoring

A methodical first drive for the Lions that had plenty of promise ended in a 30-yard Jake Bates field goal.

The Lions didn’t have much issue moving the ball on the first drive, potentially signaling some level of danger for the Bears. Lions 3, Bears 0

Lions try trick play on first drive vs. Bears, Penei Sewell sacked

Yes, you read that right.

Offensive tackle Penei Sewell lined up at slot receiver, took an end-around handoff and looked to pass downfield. Again, you read that right. Instead, Sewell didn’t like his options, and would be sacked. No easy task for the Bears defense to bring down the big man.

Lions vs. Bears Thanksgiving game start time

Start time: 12:30 p.m. ET
Date: Thursday, Nov. 28

The Lions and Bears will kick off at 12:30 p.m. ET on Thanksgiving Day.

The Bears travel to Ford Field in Detroit to take on their division rival.

Detroit Lions kickoff time

Start time: 12:30 p.m. ET

The Lions are set for kickoff vs. the Bears at 12:30 p.m. ET.

Lions vs. Bears Thanksgiving game TV channel

Channel: CBS

CBS is the broadcast home to the Lions vs. Bears Thanksgiving Day game.

Jim Nantz and Tony Romo will be on the call, with Tracy Wolfson adding reports from the sideline.

Lions vs. Bears picks, predictions

Lorenzo Reyes: Lions 28, Bears 13
Tyler Dragon: Lions 31, Bears 17
Richard Morin: Lions 38, Bears 29
Jordan Mendoza: Lions 29, Bears 17

Lions vs. Bears live stream

Live stream: Fubo TV | Paramount+

For cord cutters looking for a live stream for the matchup, you can turn to Fubo. Fubo carries NBC, as well as CBS, FOX, NFL Network and the ESPN family of networks, meaning you can catch NFL action through the remainder of the season.

What channel is CBS in Detroit?

Digital: 21 | Virtual: 62

CBS in Detroit can be found on channel 62.

Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery meet Sonic and Knuckles

How apropos.

Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery – nicknamed ‘Sonic and Knuckles’ after the famed video game characters – got to meet with the ‘real’ Sonic and Knuckles ahead of Detroit’s showdown with the Bears on Thanksgiving Day.

Detroit Lions inactive list vs. Bears

It looks like Amon-Ra St. Brown is set to play after his name was listed on the injury report earlier this week. The same is said true of running back David Montgomery, who is dealing with a shoulder issue. Here’s the list of inactives for the Lions-Bears Thanksgiving matchup:

Is Amon-Ra St. Brown playing vs. the Bears?

After being listed on the injury report earlier this week with a knee injury, the Lions wide receiver is set to play vs. the Bears on Thanksgiving.

Bears inactives vs. Lions

No real surprises on the Bears inactives list, outside of offensive lineman Ryan Bates, who was dealing with a concussion entering this matchup.

Bears vs. Lions odds, moneyline, over/under

The Lions are favorites to defeat the Bears, according to the BetMGM NFL odds. Not interested in this game? Check out expert picks and best bets for every NFL game this week.

Spread: Lions (-10)
Moneyline: Lions (-550); Bears (+400)
Over/under: 48.5    

Chicago Bears record on Thanksgiving

While the season hasn’t gone how Bears fans had hoped, maybe Thanksgiving can offer something of a turning point, if their Thanksgiving record is any indication. The Bears are 20-15-2 all-time on Thanksgiving, a solid Turkey Day mark.

NFC North division standings

The NFC North has been fairly competitive in 2024, but the Lions are the cream of the crop in the division – and all of the NFC, as well. Here’s how the division stacks up entering the Thanksgiving game:

Lions (10-1)
Vikings (9-2)
Packers (8-3)
Bears (4-7)

Updated 2025 NFL draft order

Here’s how the 2025 NFL draft order shakes out after Week 12’s slate, according to Tankathon.com:

Jacksonville Jaguars: 2-9 record; .495 strength of schedule
New York Giants: 2-9; .529 SOS
Las Vegas Raiders: 2-9; .532 SOS
New England Patriots: 3-9; .466 SOS
Carolina Panthers: 3-8; .487 SOS
Tennessee Titans: 3-8; .503 SOS
New York Jets: 3-8; .505 SOS
Cleveland Browns: 3-8; .518 SOS
New Orleans Saints: 4-7; .487 SOS
Cincinnati Bengals: 4-7; .495 SOS
Dallas Cowboys: 4-7; .518 SOS
Chicago Bears: 4-7; .555 SOS
Indianapolis Colts: 5-7; .482 SOS
Miami Dolphins: 5-6; .429 SOS
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 5-6; .511 SOS
Los Angeles Rams: 5-6; .532 SOS
San Francisco 49ers: 5-6; .553 SOS
Arizona Cardinals: 6-5; .529 SOS
Atlanta Falcons: 6-5; .503 SOS
Seattle Seahawks: 6-5; .519 SOS
Washington Commanders: 7-5; .447 SOS
Houston Texans: 7-5; .487 SOS
Denver Broncos: 7-5; .492 SOS
Los Angeles Chargers: 7-4; .476 SOS
Baltimore Ravens: 8-4; .521 SOS
Pittsburgh Steelers: 8-3; .479 SOS
Green Bay Packers: 8-3; .545 SOS
Minnesota Vikings: 9-2; .497 SOS
Philadelphia Eagles: 9-2; .432 SOS
Buffalo Bills: 9-2; .464 SOS
Kansas City Chiefs: 10-1; .492 SOS
Detroit Lions: 10-1; .524 SOS

Who are the highest paid NFL players at each position?

We have a complete list at every position: 

Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
Offensive tackles
Offensive guards
Centers
Edge rushers
Interior defensive linemen
Linebackers
Cornerbacks
Safeties
Kickers
Punters

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

Shares in a little-known drone company soared Wednesday after it announced that Donald Trump Jr. had joined its advisory board.

Unusual Machines, an Orlando, Florida-based firm born just two years ago as it acquired a drone manufacturer and a separate drone retailing firm, announced the appointment in an early-morning news release.

“Don Jr. joining our board of advisors provides us unique expertise we need as we bring drone component manufacturing back to America,” CEO Allan Evans said in the release. “He brings a wealth of experience and I look forward to his advice and role within the Company as we continue to build our business.”

Trump Jr., in the statement, also put the move in the context of the America First economic agenda of his father, President-elect Donald Trump.

“The need for drones is obvious. It is also obvious that we must stop buying Chinese drones and Chinese drone parts,” Trump Jr. said. “I love what Unusual Machines is doing to bring drone manufacturing jobs back to the USA and am excited to take on a bigger role in the movement.”

After Unusual Machines announced Trump Jr.’s move, its stock nearly doubled to more than $10 on heavy trading volume before it gave back some of the gains. It closed at $9.89 a share Wednesday afternoon. In May, the stock fell to as low as 98 cents.

According to a share offering detailed in a securities filing Wednesday, Trump Jr. is listed as having owned 331,580 shares of Unusual Machines. Of those, 131,580 shares were held because of his participation in a private placement offering of shares at a purchase price of $1.52 per unit.

Trump Jr. holds the remaining 200,000 shares as the result of a restricted stock unit agreement and advisory agreement, the filing says. Half of those shares can be immediately sold when the company’s board approves the agreements, and the rest will vest on May 22. The filing says “the Selling Stockholders may sell all, some or none of the offered Shares in this offering.”

Brian Hoff, the chief financial officer, declined to comment when asked what Trump Jr.’s advisory agreement will require of him.

Wednesday’s stock surge demonstrates the extent to which an association with the Trump name can transform an entity’s fortunes, for better or worse. During Donald Trump’s first term as president, his social media posts mentioning a company or one of its executives could cause shares to slide or jump, creating material risks or gains for investors.

Unusual Machines already had some momentum this month, having posted large gains after Election Day. Still, even with the share increases, its market value stood at a relatively meager $69 million as of early Wednesday afternoon.

Unusual Machines also finds itself potentially in the crossfire if President-elect Trump launches a new trade war with China. The company notes in the securities filing its heavy reliance on Chinese imports, which Trump now says would face punitive tariffs once he takes office. “If there are increased tariffs imposed, it could materially and adversely affect our business and results of operations,” the company said in a regulatory filing, warning of potential price increases.

An Unusual Machines spokesperson didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

In February, Unusual Machines closed its initial public offering of 1.25 million shares of stock for net proceeds of $3.85 million, according to CNBC.

When the company completed its IPO, it also acquired the drone brands Fat Shark and Rotor Riot from Red Cat. Jeffrey Thompson, the founder and CEO of Red Cat, is the founder and previous CEO and current board member of Unusual Machines.

In a recent regulatory note, Unusual Machines said it changed its accounting firm in April and “terminated its engagement with their prior auditor.” The firm in question was BF Borgers CPA, which also had been the auditor for Trump Media, the Truth Social parent company whose majority owner is the president-elect.

The Securities and Exchange Commission charged BF Borgers in May with “massive fraud” for work that affected more than 1,500 SEC filings. The auditor and owner Benjamin Borgers agreed to be permanently suspended from practicing as accountants before the SEC and to pay a combined $14 million in penalties.

Trump Media soon after retained a new auditor to replace BF Borgers.

Unusual Machines in its recent quarterly report said that its own new accounting firm re-audited the company’s prior financial statements and found that various transactions and stock compensation expenses weren’t recorded.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS