Duke Edges Arkansas 80-71 in Primetime Thanksgiving Showdown at United Center

The Duke Blue Devils didn’t just win on Thanksgiving night—they announced themselves. On November 27, 2025, at 7:00 PM CT, the No. 4 Blue Devils outlasted the No. 22 Arsansas Razorbacks 80-71 in front of a roaring crowd at the United Center in Chicago, capping off a dramatic, emotionally charged CBS Sports Thanksgiving Day Classic. It wasn’t just another early-season game. It was a national spectacle, broadcast live on CBS and Paramount+, with fans across the country watching as freshman Cameron Boozer turned the game on its head with a 35-point masterpiece, including 14 points in the final nine minutes.

A Late Surge That Broke the Game

Arkansas led 57-52 with 12 minutes left. They’d held a slim edge since the opening minutes of the second half, playing with grit, discipline, and the kind of poise you’d expect from a team coached by a veteran like John Calipari. But then, everything changed. Duke’s defense locked in. The Razorbacks went cold—zero field goals over the final 2:58. Meanwhile, Boozer, a 6’7” freshman with the poise of a senior, took over. He hit pull-ups, drove through traffic, and finished at the rim with authority. His final stat line—35 points, nine rebounds, three assists, two steals—wasn’t just impressive. It was franchise-altering.

Supporting him was Caleb Foster, who added 15 points, eight assists, and five rebounds, orchestrating the offense with calm precision. For Arkansas, guard Darius Acuff Jr. fought hard with 21 points and five assists, but he was outmatched in the clutch. The Razorbacks simply ran out of answers.

A Stage Built for Big Moments

The United Center has long been a cathedral of basketball—home to the Bulls, a frequent host of March Madness games, and now, a cornerstone of the college basketball calendar. This was the second straight year Arkansas played in the CBS Sports Thanksgiving Day Classic, following their 2024 matchup against Illinois that drew 5.174 million viewers—the most-watched college basketball game of the entire season. Tickets went on sale October 2, 2025, after a presale on October 1, and demand was so high that the event sold out within 48 hours. Fans didn’t just come for the game. They came for the experience: turkey dinners in the concourses, live jazz bands near the entrances, and a holiday vibe that felt more like a festival than a sporting event.

Coaches on the Big Stage

Jon Scheyer, Duke’s head coach since taking over from Mike Krzyzewski, was visibly moved after the game. “Happy Thanksgiving, everybody,” he said in the postgame press conference. “That was a big-time experience for our team. Hats off to Arkansas. Coach Calipari? He’s been doing this a long time. He’s as good as it gets.” Scheyer didn’t just praise his opponent—he acknowledged the weight of the moment. “This is what college basketball is all about. National stage. Primetime. Thanksgiving night. You don’t get many chances like this.”

Calipari, ever the showman, didn’t hold back either. “In what will be one of the most watched college basketball games in the last decade,” he said, “we could not be more excited to be playing on CBS again.” He called the game “NCAA tournament-caliber,” and he wasn’t exaggerating. Both teams entered with top-25 rankings. Both had NBA-caliber talent. And both knew this wasn’t just about November—it was about March.

Why This Matters Beyond the Box Score

This wasn’t just a win for Duke. It was validation. After a turbulent transition period following Coach K’s retirement, Scheyer has quietly rebuilt the program with a blend of elite recruiting and tactical innovation. Boozer’s performance didn’t just make headlines—it signaled a new era. Meanwhile, Arkansas, despite the loss, proved they belong among the nation’s elite. Calipari’s squad showed they can compete with the best, even on the road, even under pressure.

The ACC Digital Network highlighted Boozer’s late surge as “the decisive factor,” and rightly so. But the bigger story? The event itself. The CBS Sports Thanksgiving Day Classic is no longer a novelty. It’s a tradition. And with each passing year, it grows more significant—drawing bigger crowds, higher ratings, and more national attention than most regular-season matchups.

What’s Next?

Duke heads into ACC play with momentum. They’ll face North Carolina in January in what’s already being called a potential ACC title decider. Arkansas, meanwhile, returns home to face LSU and Alabama in a brutal stretch that will test whether they can translate this performance into a deep NCAA run. Both teams now have a benchmark: this game. They know what it takes to win on the biggest stage.