Updated Aug 21, 2025 - Food and Drink

25+ places to watch college football in Charlotte

Ashley Mahoney

Football season, it’s good to see you.

State of play: The upcoming Labor Day weekend means college football is back.

Here are 25+ dedicated places to watch college football in Charlotte this season.

Editor's note: This list does not include every school with an alumni presence in Charlotte; only those with a large local presence.

Schools are listed by where teams stand in the Associated Press' pre-season ranking.

Texas

The No. 1 Longhorns open the season at No. 3 Ohio State at 12pm on Aug. 30 on FOX.

Full schedule.

Stop by: Rí Rá Irish Pub in Uptown at 208 N Tryon St.

Quinn Ewers #3 and Head coach Steve Sarkisian of the Texas Longhorns celebrate with teammates and the fans after defeating the Texas A&M Aggies 17-7 at Kyle Field on November 30, 2024 in College Station, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) — Photo: Alex Slitz/Getty Images

Penn State

No. 2 Penn State plays Nevada on Aug. 30 at 3:30pm on CBS.

Full schedule.

Stop by: Kilted Buffalo in Plaza Midwood at 1212 Central Ave.

Or DB's Tavern in Ballantyne at 8155 Ardrey Kell Road.

Nicholas Singleton #10 of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on January 09, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. — Photo: Megan Briggs/Getty

Ohio State

The No. 3 Buckeyes open the season vs. No. 1 Texas on Aug. 30 at 12pm on FOX.

Full schedule.

Stop by: Protagonist Beer in LoSo at 227 Southside Dr.

BlackFinn in Ballantyne at 14825 Ballantyne Village Way
Jack's Corner Tap in Cornelius at 8301 Magnolia Estates Dr.

Ohio State's mascot and cheerleaders run across the field at the start of a football game carrying the school's flags. — Photo: Sam Hodde/Getty Images

Clemson

The No. 4 Tigers play No. 9 LSU on Aug. 30 at 7:30pm on ABC.

Full schedule.

Stop by: HopFly Brewing Company at 1327 S Mint St.

Cade Klubnik #2 of the Clemson Tigers reacts after a touchdown against the SMU Mustangs at Bank of America Stadium on December 7, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images) — Photo: Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images

Georgia

The No. 5 Bulldogs open the season vs. Marshall on Aug. 30 at 3:30pm on ESPN.

Full schedule.

Stop by: Dilworth Grille in Dilworth at 911 E Morehead St.

Georgia Bulldog. — Photo: John Adams/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Notre Dame

No. 6 Notre Dame plays at No. 10 Miami on Aug. 31 at 7:30pm on ABC.

Full schedule.

Stop by: Grace O'Malley's in Matthews at 157 N. Trade St.

Go deeper: Wake Forest takes on Notre Dame in the 2027 Duke's Mayo Classic in Charlotte

Head coach Marcus Freeman of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish reacts after a turnover against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the second half of the 2025 College Football Playoff National Championship held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 20, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty — Photo: Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images

Alabama

No. 8 Alabama heads to Florida State on Aug. 30 at 3:30pm on ABC.

Full schedule.

Stop by: Whiskey Warehouse in Plaza Midwood at 1221 The Plaza

Duckworth's Rea Farms in south Charlotte at 9805-D Sandy Rock Pl.

Dallas Turner #15 of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts after a defensive stop against the Auburn Tigers during the fourth quarter at Jordan-Hare Stadium on November 25, 2023 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) — Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

LSU

No. 9 LSU plays No. 4 Clemson on Aug. 30 at 7:30pm on ABC.

Full schedule.

Stop by: Streetcar Bar + Bites in Wesley Heights at 2135 Thrift Road, Unit 104

Exterior of Streetcar Bar + Bites with a pink bunny chair in front of the patio. — Photo: McKenzie Rankin/Axios

Miami

No. 10 Miami hosts No. 6 Notre Dame on Aug. 31 at 7:30pm on ABC.

Full schedule.

Stop by: Duckworth's Grill & Taphouse in SouthPark 4625 Piedmont Row Dr. Suite 115A

Duckworth's entrance in SouthPark. — Photo: Laura Barrero/Axios

Illinois

No. 12 Illinois faces Western Illinois on Aug. 29 at 7:30pm on Peacock.

Full schedule.

Stop by: Jocks & Jills off Tyvola at 4109 S. Stream Blvd.

Gentle Hunt #92 reacts after Jaheim Clarke #25 of the Illinois Fighting Illini recovers a loose ball in the second quarter of the 2024 Cheez-It Citrus Bowl against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Camping World Stadium on December 31, 2024 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) — Photo: Julio Aguilar/Getty Images

South Carolina

The No. 13 Gamecocks face Virginia Tech at 3pm on Aug. 31 on ESPN.

Full schedule.

Stop by: The Horseshoe in South End at 1515 South Mint St.

A burger in front of a neon sign. — Photo: Alexis Clinton/Axios

Michigan

The No. 14 Wolverines host New Mexico on Aug. 30 at 7:30pm on NBC.

Full schedule.

Stop by: Tremont at 2000 South Blvd. #530

Bar with TV screens. — Photo: Laura Barrero/Axios

Florida

The No. 15 Gators host LIU at 7pm on Aug. 30 on SEC Network+.

Full season schedule.

Stop by: Clutch Kitchen & Pour House 601 S. Cedar St.

Florida's mascot on the field at a game. — Photo: David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Kansas State

The No. 17 Wildcats take on No. 22 Iowa State in Dublin, Ireland, in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic on Aug. 23 at 12pm on ESPN.

Full schedule.

Stop by: Kansas State and Iowa State will host a joint watch party for the opener at McHale's Pub in NoDa at 3112 N Davidson St.

Kansas State football players celebrate. — Photo: Peter Aiken/Getty Images

Oklahoma

The No. 18 Sooners face Illinois State at 6pm on Aug. 30 on SEC Network+.

Full schedule.

Stop by: Midtown Tavern in Cherry at 1500 E 3rd St.

Flags wave on a football field during an Oklahoma game. — Photo: Brian Bahr/Getty Images

Texas A&M

The No. 19 Aggies face UTSA on Aug. 30 at 7pm on ESPN.

Full schedule.

Stop by: Caswell Station 366 N Caswell Road.

Texas A&M football players celebrate on the field. — Photo: Tim Warner/Getty Images

Ole Miss

No. 21 Ole Miss faces Georgia State on Aug. 30 at 7:45pm on the SEC Network.

Full schedule.

Stop by: Carmella's Pizza Grill in Montford at 1513 Montford Dr.

Jaxson Dart #2 of the Mississippi Rebels celebrates a first down against the Penn State Nittany Lions during the fourth quarter in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 30, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) — Photo: Todd Kirkland/Getty Images

Iowa State

No. 22 Iowa State faces No. 17 Kansas State in Dublin, Ireland, in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic on Aug. 23 at 12pm on ESPN.

Full schedule.

Stop by: Iowa State and Kansas State will host a joint watch party for the opener at McHale's Pub in NoDa at 3112 N Davidson St.

Exterior of McHale's Pub in NoDa. — Photo: Laura Barrero/Axios

Tennessee

The No. 24 Volunteers play Syracuse on Aug. 30 at 12pm on ABC.

Full schedule.

Stop by: Angry Ale's in Montford at 1518 Montford Dr.

Resident Culture Brewery in Plaza Midwood at 2101 Central Ave.

Tennessee flags fly on the football field. — Photo: Bryan Lynn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

N.C. State

The Wolfpack faces East Carolina on Aug. 28 at 7pm on the ACC Network.

Full schedule.

Stop by: Caswell Station in Elizabeth at 366 N Caswell Road.

N.C. State wide receiver Kevin Concepcion, No. 10, is a key returner for the Wolfpack. Photo: Lance King/Getty Images — Photo: Lance King/Getty Images

Charlotte 49ers

The 49ers face Appalachian State on Aug. 29 at 7pm in the Duke's Mayo Classic at Bank of America Stadium. Tickets start at $80.90. The game will air on ESPNU.

Full schedule.

Stop by: Multiple locations throughout the season, including Clutch Kitchen & Pour House 601 S. Cedar St. in Uptown.

Go deeper: Charlotte 49ers will face Appalachian State in the 2025 Duke's Mayo Classic

49ers football field. — Photo: Ashley Mahoney/Axios

Appalachian State

The Mountaineers face the 49ers on Aug. 29 at 7pm in the Duke's Mayo Classic at Bank of America Stadium. Tickets start at $80.90. Catch the game on ESPNU.