We’re deep into fall, and for many, that means two things: football season and Thanksgiving. While Thanksgiving is typically a cozy family affair, football fuels the energy of crowds. Whether they're tailgating, watching at a friend's house, or gathered at your restaurant to cheer on their favorite team in front of the big screen, rivalries are at the heart of game.

Just like football’s most heated matchups — think Packers vs. Bears or Cowboys vs. Eagles — Thanksgiving has its own food face-offs: turkey vs. ham, pumpkin pie vs. pecan pie, and stuffing vs. mashed potatoes. This season, embrace both worlds by pairing the comforting flavors of Thanksgiving with the high-energy excitement of gameday. It could be a turkey-cranberry sandwich or a pumpkin spice wing sauce, but either way, focus on creativity and score big with these winning combos. Here are some ideas to help you get into the endzone this football season.

Any Given Sunday

If you’ve got TV screens in your restaurant, consider tuning them to the big game each weekend. Check your local listings to find out when national, local, and regional games will air, and create a schedule that shows which games you’ll be playing. Add this calendar to your website and share it on social media to help drive football fans to your door.

LTO’ver Time

Once you’ve got the crowds coming in, you’ll want to have some football-related LTOs available. Play up the Thanksgiving vibes with a Ridgecrest® Touchdown Turkey Hoagie loaded with maple-raisin stuffing, cranberry sauce, and mashed potatoes. Ridgecrest fully cooked and ready to cook turkey products serve as a labor-saving choice for BOH that offers a high-quality taste on the plate.

Or craft a cocktail menu that highlights the warm, spicy flavors of fall in bold and refreshing ways, perfect for gameday celebrations. Take it up a notch with a Cranberry Orange Moscow Mule — mix vodka, cranberry juice, fresh orange juice, ginger beer, and a splash of lime, served over ice with a festive cranberry and orange slice garnish. It’s the perfect drink for fans huddling up to watch their favorite team, combining fall flavors with a kick to keep the party going well into overtime. Kick it up a level by naming it something unique to an upcoming game — draw inspiration from a play, a team name, or even a player!

Capture high-quality images of these LTO menu items and share them on social media. Invite local media and influencers for a special tasting (or, instead of hosting one tasting, consider inviting them to come at their convenience within a certain time frame for a better response) and encourage them to share menu details with their followers.

Side Dish Rivalry

While everyone’s got the competitive gameday spirit, riff on the idea by holding your own bracket with a head-to-head menu of traditional Thanksgiving dishes, like mac & cheese or green bean casserole. Promote the side dish rivalry on social media with funny, engaging posts pitting two popular side dishes against each other. Get creative with it to capture your guests’ interest.

Create an interactive menu (which could be digital or printed) so guests can order by circling their choice for the winner. After a ‘season’ (i.e. a few weeks) of the promo, tally them up and announce the Ultimate Best Thanksgiving Side Dish on social media. You can add an element that allows diners to guess the winning dish in advance, and the guests who answer correctly can be entered into a drawing for a giveaway.

Know Your Rivals

Speaking of rivalries, football is known for having some intense face-offs, especially in the world of college football. When those games come around, lean in with decorations celebrating both teams (or pick a side if you’re feeling adventurous). Encourage your guests to wear their team colors for a chance to win prizes.

Add day-of specials showcasing the food and drink from each team’s state to get guests even more excited. Find the games that are relevant to you, your staff, and your audience and host a Rivalry Week event with daily specials leading up to the big game. Use team colors and traditional dishes to evoke a sense of team spirit.

Takeout Touchdowns

Since many guests enjoy tailgating and partying with friends for the big game, choosing a menu that works well for takeout and delivery is essential. Think of dishes that work well for traveling and for feeding a crowd. Combine Thanksgiving ingredients and classic football foods, like Pull-Apart Turkey and Cheese Sliders or Buffalo Turkey Dip.

Pay special attention to your packaging to make sure guests aren’t going to show up with a huge mess on their hands. Include plastic utensils, napkins, and wet naps to score some extra points with your diners.