None of these ideas that have been posted will see the light of day with MAC headquarters as those folks are tone deaf or worse, know-it-alls.
Screw the NFL and NBA--get these MAC games on Thanksgiving Day. Living in northern Ohio I might even go to see a game at Kent or Akron that morning. (Those black Friday AM games are the worst--refs, players and band members all miss the full day of Thanksgiving anyway so play the games on Turkey Day)
Limit the mid-week games to two per team--one being the MAC Turkey Day Celebration. The others can be staggered during the weeks of November with bye-week recovery for most teams. Result is still mid-week MACtion and a new tradition on Turkey Day and an additional Saturday game vs the current format.
You want to be up against a traditional NFL football TV audience?
Plenty of people would rather watch any college game. Also, there's 800 other channels and they don't throw their arms up in the air and put nothing on just because the nfl is on. NFL may win the ratings game, but there are enough viewers to go around. plenty of people don't give a sh** about the nfl or any football. It's up to the MAC and its teams to put a good product on the field. If the nfl game turns into a blowout, people will channel surf.
I'm not so sure you can look at Thanksgiving Day as a normal TV viewing day. It's a day more than any other that is a victim of habits. The Macy's Parade, the Dog Show and NFL football is the likely TV schedule for many homes as travel, food prep, eating and family arguments will render the TV screen as background noise for most, except that odd uncle that parks himself on the couch in front of the TV.
I just don't think a MAC football game on Thanksgiving is a good idea from an in-person attendance and national TV viewing POV.
And as someone who has traveled with a team during Thanksgiving, it's also not fun for many players/coaches/staff to be away from your family and friends.