Looking for a local bar to cheer for your alma mater? This guide will help you zero in on where to stake out some space on college football gamedays.
Bar owners and alumni groups: Don't see your bar included here? We'll be adding to this guide throughout the season. Contact RedEye nightlife and events reporter Kate Bernot for consideration. RedEye's college sports bar guide includes official partnerships with alumni associations in addition to bars owned by alumni and unofficial affiliations declared by bar management.
Alabama | Arizona | Arkansas | Auburn | Cincinnati | Florida | Florida State | Georgia Tech | Illinois | Iowa | Iowa State | Kansas | Kentucky | Louisiana State University | Miami University | Michigan | Michigan State | Minnesota | Mississippi | Missouri | Nebraska | Northwestern | Notre Dame | Ohio State | Penn State | Purdue | Syracuse | Tennessee | Texas | Texas A&M | Texas Tech | UCLA | University of Central Florida | University of Illinois at Chicago | University of Miami | University of North Carolina | University of Virginia | University of Washington | Virginia Tech | Wake Forest | West Virginia | Wisconsin
ALABAMA
Houndstooth Saloon in Lakeview: $4 22-ounce domestic drafts, $5 22-ounce well drinks
ARIZONA
Finley Dunne's in Roscoe Village: $12 Bud Light pitchers
ARKANSAS
Wheel House in Lakeview: $5 22-ounce Bud Light, Miller and Coors stadium cups, $2 Jell-O shots, $3 select shots
AUBURN
Wheel House in Lakeview: $5 22-ounce Bud Light, Miller and Coors stadium cups, $2 Jell-O shots, $3 select shots
CINCINNATTI
O'Leary's Public House in River North: $3 Miller Lite, $10 Miller Lite pitchers
FLORIDA
Sully's House in Old Town: $17 domestic buckets, $4 Miller or Coors stadium cups
FLORIDA STATE
Lillie's Q in Wicker Park: Free peanuts if you wear Florida State gear
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GEORGIA TECH
Red Ivy in Wrigleyville
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ILLINOIS
Durkin's Tavern in Lincoln Park: $25 Bud Light drafts and pizza package (10 am.-5 p.m. Saturdays), $8 ice bombs (orange vodka, citrus vodka, lemonade) and O&Os (orange vodka and orange soda)
Joe's Bar in Old Town: $3 mimosas, $4 Fireball whiskey, $6 bloody marys, $8 Coors Light pitchers and $17 Coors Light buckets
Schoolyard Tavern & Grill in Lakeview: $5 MillerCoors mugs, $5 O&Os (orange vodka and orange soda), $20 blue or orange fishbowls, $5 mini-burgers, $8 Touchdown Tots (flavored tots, bacon, buffalo sauce and cheese curds), $6 chili bread bowl
Bird's Nest in Lincoln Park: $4 20-ounce Miller Lite and Miller High Life stadium cups
Rebel Bar & Grill: $5 burgers, $6 22-ounce Bud Light stadium cups, $4 O bombs
The Ogden in Near West Side: $4 16-ounce Bud Light drafts
High Noon Saloon in Wicker Park: $5 22-ounce Bud Light souvenir cups, $20 domestic 100-ounce super-tubes, $25 import super-tubes, $8 16-ounce Ice Bomb (Stoli raspberry vodka, blue curacao, Sprite, lemonade), $8 16-ounce O and O (Stoli O, Jarritos mandarin orange soda, muddled blueberries), $25 package includes a brunch item, bloody marys, mimosas, Miller Lite drafts
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INDIANA
Joe's Bar in Old Town: $3 mimosas, $4 Fireball whiskey, $6 bloody marys, $8 Coors Light pitchers, $17 Coors Light buckets
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IOWA
Clover Sports & Leisure in West Town:
Four Shadows in Lincoln Park: $4 22-ounce Miller Lite and Coors Light stadium cups, $8 pitchers, $4 Dos Equis, $5 UV flavored vodka bombs, and $5 egg bombs (hard-boiled egg in a pint of beer)
Frontier in West Town:
John Barleycorn Wrigleyville: $30 meal package includes an all-you-can eat buffet, bloody mary bar, Bud Light cans, mimosas and 4 Rebels Vodka cocktails. Offered from kickoff to end of regulation play (excludes overtime).
Merkle's Bar & Grill in Wrigleyville: $4 22-ounce Miller and Coors Light drafts, $5 bombs, $5 Absolut cocktails, $4 Jameson shots
Ravens in Lincoln Park: $8 pitchers, $2.50 PBR cans
Ravenswood Pub:
Theory in River North: $5 22-ounce Bud Light drafts, $18 domestic buckets, $6 Grey Goose cherry noir cocktails
Halsted Harp in Lincoln Park: $6 22-ounce Miller Lite cups with $3.50 refills, $4 well drinks, $5 for 10 wings, $8 burger and fries
Crossroads Public House in Lincoln Park: $3.50 mimosas, $4 Fireball whiskey shots, $5 Ketel One bloody marys, $10 32-ounce Bud light Hawkeye mugs with $7 refills throughout the season, $15 Coors Light buckets, $20 Bud Light 96-ounce super-tubes
American Junkie in River North: Table package including appetizers and beer buckets: $250 for four people or $500 for six
Leader Bar in Albany Park: $9.95 steak dinner (10-ounce prime rib steak served with redskin mashed potatoes and haystack onion rings), $3 Dos Equis drafts, $12 import buckets, 2-for-1 pizzas, half-price appetizers, 2-for-1 cheese pizzas
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IOWA STATE
Fizz Bar & Grill in Lakeview: $3 Bud Light, Miller Lite and Budweiser tallboy cans
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KANSAS
Crossing in Lincoln Park: $5 Miller Lite and Coors Light 22-ounce stadium cups, $8 Miller or Coors schooners (a 32-ounce chalice of beer), $6 car bombs, $20 blue fish bowls (raspberry vodka and blue Powerade), $5 mini-cheeseburgers,$6 nachos
Lotties Pub in Bucktown: $6 Miller/Coors schooners, $8 Boulevard schooners, $4 KU Miller/Coors stadium cups, $8 pizza
Kincade's in Lincoln Park: $5 22-ounce Miller Lite or Coors Light stadium cups, $21 60-ounce fish bowls; $5 bloody marys, white trash mimosas, jumbo screwdrivers and salty dogs (vodka grapefruit with salt around the rim)
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KENTUCKY
The Pony in Lakeview: $4 stadium cups, $5 Lexington bourbon, $8 pizzas
LSU
Standard Bar and Grill in Wicker Park: $4 22-ounce Abita draft stadium cups , $4 Abita Purple Haze
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MIAMI UNIVERSITY
Sully's House in Old Town: $17 domestic buckets, $4 Miller or Coors stadium cups
MICHIGAN
Diag Bar & Grill in Lakeview: $4 22-ounce Bud Light stadium cups, $4 Michigan Blue Bombs (Smirnoff blueberry vodka and Red Bull), $5 food menu (chips and salsa, pretzel bites, boneless wings, cheeseburger sliders or pulled pork sliders)
Duffy's in Lincoln Park: $8 32-ounce Bud Light stadium cups, $15 32-ounce stadium cup for other drafts, $5 mimosas or bloody marys, half-price brunch items before 3 p.m.
Matilda in Lakeview: $4 Bell's drafts (variety varies), $5 mimosas, $5 Michigan apple-cherry cider from Uncle John's Farm
Moe's Cantina River North: $30 tailgate meal package includes an all-you-can eat buffet, bloody mary bar, Bud Light cans, mimosas and 4 Rebels vodka cocktails. The package is offered from kickoff to end of regulation play (excludes overtime).
Newport Bar & Grill in Lakeview: $4 22-ounce Bud stadium cups, $5 bloody marys, $5 Skyy or Bacardi bombs, $5 Three Olive cocktails & $15 domestic buckets
Rockit Bar & Grill in River North: $5 bloody marys, $6 Jameson or Captain Morgan, $7 22-ounce Newcastle drafts, $15 Bud and Bud Light buckets, $15 Absolut vodka lemonade pitchers $15 Avion margarita pitchers, $20 select craft beer buckets and Heineken/Amstel buckets, $6 truffle tater tots, $10 loaded fries, $9 chili mac
Rockit Burger Bar in Wrigleyville: $5 bloody marys, $6 Jameson or Captain Morgan, $7 22-ounce Newcastle drafts, $15 Bud and Bud Light buckets, $15 Absolut vodka lemonade pitchers $15 Avion margarita pitchers, $20 select craft beer buckets and Heineken/Amstel buckets
Gannon's Pub in North Center: $4 Bell's pints
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MICHIGAN STATE
Michael Diversey's in Lincoln Park: $5 23-ounce Bud Light, $8 Bud Light in 32-ounce Michigan State mugs
Grand River in Lakeview: $4 Coors Light stadium cups, $12 Coors Light pitchers
John Barleycorn in Lincoln Park: $30 tailgate meal package includes an all-you-can eat buffet, bloody mary bar, Bud Light cans, mimosas and 4 Rebels vodka cocktails. The package is offered from kickoff-end of regulation play (excludes overtime).
O'Malley's West in Lincoln Park: $7 Coors Light pitchers, $8 Heineken pitchers
Moonshine in Wicker Park: $3.50 Coors Light 22-ounce stadium cups, half-price wings and select sandwiches
The Stretch in Lincoln Park: $15 Miller/Coors buckets, $5 mimosas, $5 32-ounce bloody marys, $5 Sparty bombs (dragon vodka, melon liqueur and Red Bull)
The Tin Lizzie in Lincoln Park: $8 32-ounce Miller Lite and Coors Light mugs, $10 32-ounce import mugs
Wicker Park Tavern in Wicker Park: $5 vodka cocktails
Higgins Tavern in Lakeview: $4 Coors Light and Miller Lite stadium cups
McFadden's in the Gold Coast: $4 20-ounce Bud Light stadium cups
Municipal Bar and Dining Co. in River North: $20 Miller/Coors Light buckets, $5 Fireball whiskey shots, $4 Coors Light drafts, $7 wrap sandwiches
Tommy Knuckles in Lincoln Park: $4 Miller drafts, $5 flautas, $5 empanadas, $5 pretzels, $7 spring rolls, $7 onion rings, $7 steak quesadillas, $9 pork wings, $9 fish tacos
Streeter's Tavern in the Gold Coast: $5.50 Jim Beam cocktails, $3 Red Stag cocktails
Mystic Celt in Lakeview: $3.50 Miller Lite drafts, $15 Coor Light buckets, $1.50 mini-cheeseburgers. $5 jumbo wings (8). Food specials only run from 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Hi-Tops in Lincoln Park
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MINNESOTA
Red Ivy in Wrigleyville: $3 Miller Lite drafts, half-price pizza
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MISSISSIPPI
American Junkie in River North: Table package including appetizers and beer buckets: $250 for four people or $500 for six
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MISSOURI
Derby in Lincoln Park: $4 Bud Light and Bud 22-ounce stadium cups, $5 food menu (nachos, toasted ravioli, wings), $5 Goose Island Green Line and 312 stadium cups, $5 Mizzou bombs
Sedgwick's Bar & Grill: $18 Bud buckets; $5 Tiger bombs (O bomb with orange juice); $5 Bud Light drafts, $6 cocktails and $8 Red Bull vodkas, all served in a 22-ounce Missouri collectible cup
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NEBRASKA
Kirkwood in Lakeview: $5 20-ounce Miller Lite and Coors Light stadium cups
Rockwood Place in Wrigleyville: $5 Bud Light stadium cups, $3 hot dogs, $15 Elk Creek pitchers, $6 Husker pockets and fries, $5 Husker bombs (red O bombs), $25 128-ounce Bud Light super-tube
Bird's Nest in Lincoln Park: $4 20-ounce Miller Lite and Miller High Life stadium cups
Division Ale House in Wicker Park: $12 60-ounce Bud Light pitchers, $20 select craft beer buckets, $6 Elk Creek cocktails (vodka, gin, triple sec, orange juice, lemon-lime soda), $3 select Firefly moonshine shots, $8.99 Runzas (stuffed bread pockets). Add Elk Creek cocktails to your Saturday brunch from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. for additional $6 (normally $20).
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NORTHWESTERN
Lion Head Pub in Lincoln Park
Cortland's Garage: $15 domestic buckets, $20 import buckets, $5 Coors Light stadium cups, $5 build your own bloody mary bar, $5 mimosas
Joe's Bar in Old Town: $3 mimosas, $4 Fireball whiskey, $6 bloody marys, $8 Coors Light pitchers, $17 Coors Light buckets
Timothy O'Toole's in Streeterville: $10 Miller Lite and Coors Light jumbo pitchers, $20 bloody mary bar 10am-2pm, $16 build-your-own mimosa bar 10am-2pm, $4.50 Coors Light stadium cups
Kinkade's in Lincoln Park: $5 22-ounce Miller Lite or Coors Light stadium cups, $21 60-ounce fish bowls; $5 bloody marys, white trash mimosas, jumbo screwdrivers and salty dogs (vodka grapefruit with salt around the rim)
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NOTRE DAME
Citizen in River North: $18 Bud family buckets, $6 Absolut vodka cocktails, $6 Absolut bloody marys, $5 Bud Light stadium cups
The Irish Oak in Wrigleyville
Racine Plumbing Bar & Grill in Lincoln Park: $4 Guinness, $4 Jameson shots, $14 Bud Light pitchers
The Trinity Bar in Lincoln Park:
Wrightwood Tap in Lincoln Park:
Halsted Harp: $6 22-ounce Miller Lite cups with $3.50 refills, $4 well drinks, $5 for 10 wings, $8 burger and fries
The Temple Bar in Lakeview: $3 Coors Light drafts, $4 microbrews
Crossing in Lincoln Park: $5 Miller Lite and Coors Light 22-ounce stadium cups, $8 Miller or Coors schooners (a 32-ounce chalice of beer), $6 car bombs, $20 blue fish bowls (raspberry vodka and blue Powerade), $5 mini-cheeseburgers,$6 nachos
Blarney Stone in Lakeview: $8 PBR 60 ounce pitchers
D4 Irish Pub & Cafe in the Gold Coast: $5 small plates (nachos, buffalo wings, sweet potato fries and Philly cheesesteak flatbread)
John Barleycorn in River North: $8 steak sandwiches, $20 domestic buckets (Bud, Miller, Coors), 13 Pick-Me-Up cocktails (vodka, rum, triple sec, orange juice, powdered sugar, ginger ale).
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OHIO STATE
Vaughan's Pub in Lakeview: $15 Coors Light buckets, $3 Miller Lite pints, $5 bombs, $7 pizzas, $6 panini
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PENN STATE
A.J. Hudson's Public House in Lakeview: $8.50 bloody mary with a Carlsberg beer back, $4.50 Carlsberg half-liters, $4 Jack Daniel's cocktails, $2 sliders, $7 fried Polish sausage with fries, $8 barbecue pulled pork with fries, $11 lamb burger with fries
PURDUE
Red Ivy in Wrigleyville
Waterhouse in Lakeview: $5 bombs, $5 22-ounce Bud Light stadium mugs
Fireplace Inn in Old Town
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SYRACUSE
The Beer Bistro North in Lincoln Park: Specials change weekly
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TENNESSEE
Bad Dog Tavern in Ravenswood: $5 20-ounce stadium cup Jack Daniel's drinks, $4 Jameson shots, $15 domestic buckets
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TEXAS
Stanley's Kitchen & Tap in Lincoln Park: $3 Shiner Bock and Lone Star products, $5 Tito's Vodka cocktails, $5 Tipsy Texas Tea jars (Sailor Jerry Rum, Stoli peach vodka, lemonade and iced tea with a mint sprig), $18 Tipsy Texas Tea pitchers, $4 Frito pie, $5 jalapeno poppers; $5 queso and chips; $6 SXSW Sausage (jumbo jalapeno cheese Vienna sausage rolled in a tortilla with Merkts cheddar, yellow mustard, grilled onions and side of queso and chips); $7 barbecue brisket tacos; $6 burger with fries, $5 pecan waffle sundae
TEXAS A&M
The Pony in Lakeview: $8 pizza, $5 Sam Houston bourbon, $5 Tito's vodka cocktails, $4 22-ounce Shiner stadium cups
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TEXAS TECH
Kelsey's in Lincoln Park: $4 22-ounce Coors Light stadium cups; $5 bloody marys, screwdrivers or white trash mimosas; $15 beer buckets
UCLA
Joe's Bar: $3 mimosas, $4 Fireball whiskey, $6 bloody marys, $8 Coors Light pitchers, $17 Coors Light buckets
UIC
Hawkeye's in University Village: $13 Coors Light buckets
UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA
The Pony in Lakeview: $10 Miller or Coors pitchers, $8 pizzas, $5 sweet tea-lemonade cocktails
UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI
Flagship in Lakeview: $15 Miller/Coors buckets, $5 22-ounce Miller Lite souvenir cups
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA
Gamekeepers in Lincoln Park: $6 Bud Light, $16 Bud Light buckets, $9 Bud Light pitchers, $ 5 Smirnoff bombs and Jameson, $5 mixed drinks
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
Hidden Shamrock in Lincoln Park
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
Gamekeepers in Lincoln Park: $16 buckets of Bud Light, $9 pitchers of Bud Light, $ 5 Smirnoff bombs and Jameson whiskey, $5 mixed drinks
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VIRGINIA
Toons in Lakeview: $4.50 Miller Lite stadium cups, $4 Abita Amber drafts, $4 Abita Purple Haze bottles
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VIRGINIA TECH
The Snuggery in the Gold Coast
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WAKE FOREST
Halsted Harp: $6 22-ounce Miller Lite cups with $3.50 refills, $4 well drinks, $5 for 10 wings, $8 burger and fries
WEST VIRGINIA
J. Patrick's Irish Pub in West Town:
Yak-Zie's in Lincoln Park:
WISCONSIN
Bernie's in Wrigleyville
Deuce's & the Diamond Club in Lakeview: $7 outdoor grilled buffet (a weekly rotation of burgers, brats, ribs and assorted barbecue sides), $5 Badger bombs (Absolut vodka and Red Bull Red), $10 Absolut bloody marys, $25 gameday package (includes Miller Light, Coors Light and a single trip to the buffet) from kickoff to game's end
Fatpour Tap Works in Wicker Park: $4 Bud and Bud Light stadium cups, $3 PBR tallboys, $4 Miller Lite bottles, $5 Wisconsin bombs (Smirnoff cherry vodka, grenadine and Red Bull), $5 food menu (cheeseburger, cheese curds, nachos, wings)
Kroll's South Loop:
Lotties Pub: $4 22-ounce Wisconsin Miller/Coors Badger cups, $8 Wisconsin cheese curd pizza
Redmond's in Wrigleyville: $5 burgers, $5 wings, $15 meal package (brats, grilled cheese and nachos)
Stout Barrel House & Galley in River North: $5 brats, $5 cheese curd baskets, $5 SoCo lime shots, $5 Jameson shots, $6 22-ounce Miller Lite drafts, 22-ounce Leinenkugel drafts, $8 22-ounce bloody marys
Will's Northwoods Inn in Lakeview: $8 Miller Lite and Leinenkugel Original 32-ounce cups with $6 refills
The Cedar Hotel in the Gold Coast
Prost in Lincoln Park: $2 Miller Lite bottles, $3 brat sliders, $4 34-ounce draft beer, $6 cheese curds, free doughnuts, $5 Bucky bombs (Red Bull and vodka)
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Reporting by Kate Bernot and RedEye special contributor Samantha Nelson.
Bar owners and alumni groups: Don't see your bar included here? We'll be adding to this guide throughout the season. Contact RedEye nightlife and events reporter Kate Bernot for consideration.
NOTE: RedEye's college sports bar guide includes official partnerships with alumni associations in addition to bars owned by alumni and unofficial affiliations declared by bar management.