Game On

OK, college football fans—if you can’t get to your home team game, let your team bring the home-game vibes to you. Here’s a roundup of where some top football teams’ alumni and fan clubs spend their game days so you can get blitzed with your people (meaning either game-time strategy or partying—you make the call). Game face, on!

ECU Pirates

This is arrrrgh state?! You can’t spell parties without pirates. #PirateNation don your purple and gold and get that Pirate pride on with fellow fans in Raleigh at Highpark Bar & Grill. #PiratesTogetherPiratesForever! Wake County, NC Chapter, ECU Alumni Association, piratealumni.com; highparkbarandgrill.com

09.02 vs. Appalachian State, Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte

Ohio State Buckeyes

O-H! I-O! Michigan-haters (er, Buckeyes!) bring those Horseshoe home-game feels to Brickhouse to bond over bacon (aka football) and $5 Buckeye bombs (not to mention $3 Miller Lite 16 oz. drafts, $5 Lunazul tequila shots, and plenty of grub). DJs are on deck for big games, but the fight song always plays on every score—and the alumni club is in the house to help you get your swag on. The Ohio State University Alumni Club of the Triangle, trianglenc.alumni.osu.edu; brickhouse-nc.com

09.02 vs. Minnesota, TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis

Alabama Crimson Tide

Rock your houndstooth (RIP, Bear Bryant!) over to Ruckus Pizza in Morrisville, where Bama fans, friends, food (and brews!) and football collide with Bama music, cheers, shakers and more (like, I don’t know, making a drinking game out of the gazillion scores). Don’t miss the weekly raffle (hey, Bama swag!) to benefit the local chapter. Roll Tide! Roll Tide Raleigh, rolltideraleigh.com; ruckuspizza.com

09.04 vs. Miami, Chick-fil-A Kick-off Game, Mercedes-BenzStadium, Atlanta

Georgia Bulldogs

If you can’t be between the hedges swaying to the “Battle Hymn,” there’s soon to be a spot for you to catch the dawg fight in Raleigh. Sic ’em, UGA. Good dawg. Stay tuned to RMfor updates. UGA Alumni Association – Raleigh Chapter, alumni.uga.edu

09.04 vs. Clemson, Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte

Michigan Wolverines

With a fight song dubbed “The Victors,” solo watching is just not an option. Belly up to share your OSU distaste and “Go Blue” with fellow fanatics at Wild Wing Cafe in Brier Creek. Specials will keep you sated (Wild Wing donates 10% of food sales to MTAC!), while a DJ spins beats and the fight song to transport you to The Big House. And keeping Blue benevolent, be on the lookout for Wild Wing’s MTAC charity nights. Michigan Triangle Alumni Club, alumni.umich.edu; wildwingcafe.com

09.04 vs. Western Michigan, Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor

Florida Gators

Be a gata not a hata. If you can’t spend Saturday in the swamp, your rally point for Gator football is, well, Rally Point. Post up every Saturday for football, food, fun and prizes. Chomp on. Triangle Gator Club, connect.ufalumni.ufl.edu;
rallypointsportgrill.com

09.04 vs. Florida Atlantic, Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville

LSU Tigers

In Louisiana, the 12th man is food. And in Raleigh, you have choices—as the alumni club watch parties rotate between two pubs for games (announced weekly online), complete with raffles and LSU band music. Head to either Rally Point Sports Grill in Cary (generally for night games) to rally your team over pub grub, or get your gumbo on for day games (usually) at Sharkys (fun fact: co-owner Simone was born and bred in the Big Easy). So, “hot boudin, cold coush-coush, come on Tigers, push push poosh.” Geaux Tigers! Geaux Triangle, geauxtriangle.com; sharkysnc.com

09.04 vs. UCLA, Rose Bowl, Pasadena

Auburn Tigers

War Eagle! Tiger blood found at Moe’s Original BBQ Durham—no, for real, “Tiger Blood” will be on offer as an oh-so-apropos mixed drink, with added drink specials to boot and a Bushwacker machine (a fan fave!). While this is Moe’s first year hosting the Auburn Tigers, it’s not the game-day go-to’s first rodeo serving up the college crowd. Game on. Triangle Area Auburn Club, triangleauburnclub.square.site; moesoriginalbbq.com

09.04 vs. Akron, Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn

Clemson Tigers

It may not be Death Valley, but if you’re lookin’ for a local spot to “hold that tiger” (and find out if new QB D.J. Uiagalelei can meet those lofty expectations), you’re gonna wanna get your roar on with fellow alumni and fans at Carolina Ale House at Brier Creek, where, if nothing else, the “Tiger Rag” will never get old. C-L-E-M-S-O…N! Triangle Clemson Club, triangle.clemson.alumnispaces.com; carolinaalehouse.com

09.04 vs. Georgia, Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte

Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Luck of the Irish found at Trali Irish Pub: “We are Irish. We’ve got Guinness. We’ve got TVs.” It’s about as close as you can get to Touchdown Jesus (and The Leprechaun, obv) in Raleigh—and we are here for it. Post up at Trali to watch the Fighting Irish “play like a champion today.” Notre Dame Club of Eastern North Carolina, eastnc.undclub.org; traliirishpub.com

09.05 vs. FSU, Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahasse

FSU Seminoles

The “Tomahawk Chop” is always more fun in a crowd. Get your FSU “war chant” on at Tobacco Road Sports Cafe in Downtown Raleigh, featuring Seminole Spirit and FSU merch giveaways every game day. Translation: This is about as close as it gets to feeling like you’re sitting on the 50-yard line of Bobby Bowden Field. Scalp ’em, Noles! Triangle Seminole Club, raleighnoles.fsu.alumnispaces.com; tobaccoroadsportscafe.com

09.05 vs. Notre Dame, Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee