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School Colors: Washington-Area Bars With College-Football Specials

Some people think all the football action takes place in the NFL, but following college football is the real deal for some folks. Alumni and fans can gather at these local watering holes to watch and enjoy game-day specials.

Rhino Bar’s Web site boasts that it’s both the official and unofficial college-football bar that shows all regional and nationally broadcast games. Ohio State and Penn State alumni and fans call the bar home on game day. Wings are 25 cents, and domestic pitchers are $8 all afternoon.

Cheer the Texas Longhorns to victory at Rhodeside Grill in Arlington. Become a Texas Ex member and sport the special shirt during the games.

Louisiana State University and Arkansas alumni gather at 18th Amendment on Saturdays. Pitchers of Bud Light are $10 during games.

Chadwick’s in Georgetown shows all of Georgetown’s games on five TVs including three flat-screens. On Saturdays from 11:30 to 5, game-day specials include $9.95 pitchers of Bud Light; $2 Bud, Miller Lite, Coors Light, Yuengling, and house wines; and $2.50 rail drinks.

Hawk ’n’ Dove shows every Wisconsin Badgers game. Bottles of domestic beer are $3 during games. Hamilton’s Bar and Grill also plays Wisconsin games for local alumni every Saturday upstairs, while other games are shown downstairs.

Michigan fans gather at the Pour House to watch the game on new hi-def flat-screens. Bud and Bud Light bottles are $2.50, and pitchers of Bud Light are $10. Ask the bartender for game-day food specials.

Wolverines fans can also enjoy the game on 22 TVs scattered throughout the bar and dining room at Tommy Joe’s. Specials include $3.50 Bud, Bud Light bottles and drafts, half price mini-burgers, quesadillas, and Buffalo wings.

Mackey’s Public House offers specials during Florida State games. Miller Lite drafts are $2.50, and buckets are $15, Yuengling drafts are $3, and mozzarella sticks, Buffalo wings, jalapeño poppers, chicken taquitos, chips and salsa or guacamole, and small nachos are half price. Fans also get $1 off black-Angus burgers and chicken sandwiches.

If you don’t have tickets to University of Maryland games, watch the Terps at the Barking Dog in Bethesda and enjoy $1 off all drafts from 4 to 8 on Saturdays.

Notre Dame and Syracuse fans watch the games on ten plasma screens at Madhatter. Wings are only 25 cents during games.

The Bottom Line shows all games with the College Game Day package, but it’s the headquarters for Purdue and Virginia Tech fans. Bud Lights are always $2.50, and sometimes the Bud Light ladies drop in to give away free beer.

Crystal City Sports Pub shows all college football games, and if for some reason your team’s game isn’t on, just ask. For a schedule and to see what level to watch your team on, visit the pub’s Web site.  University of Arizona, Arizona State, University of Georgia, Clemson University, Auburn University, University of Illinois, University of Iowa, Iowa State, Ithaca College, University of Maryland, North Carolina State, University of North Carolina, Oklahoma State, University of Pittsburgh, University of Southern California, University of South Carolina, Virginia Tech, University of Wyoming, Xavier, and University of Washington alumni groups meet at this pub.

Porter’s Dining Saloon is the local home for alumni of both Boston College and Kansas University. When both teams play at the same time, the bar shows one game downstairs and the other upstairs to accommodate both groups.

Both Texas Tech and Colorado University fans call Finn MacCool’s Irish Publick House their local home, but this pub will also show any requested game on its six TVs.

The owner of Ragtime in Arlington is a West Virginia University alumnus, so when the Mountaineers play, you can count on the whole restaurant and its 13 TVs to be tuned in to the game.

Didn’t see your team on the list? Check out these bars that show all games or take requests:

Watch any college team at Lucky Bar on three big screens and 22 other TVs. Ask the bartender for the game-day specials.

Though not exclusively for game day, on Saturdays pay $15 at My Brother’s Place for unlimited drinks from 9 PM to 1 AM, including rail drinks until 10. Domestic drafts are $2 from 4 to 9.

Check Nellie’s Sports Bar’s calendar, because it often shows NCAA football games.

During college football games, Fast Eddie’s in downtown DC offers food specials. Braetzel and kielbasa dogs are $6, hot dogs are $5.99, and wings and nachos are $3.99. Pitchers of Bud and Bud Light run $7, domestic drafts are $2, long necks are $2.50, and rail drinks, bloody Marys and mimosas are $3. All of the Fast Eddie’s locations have food and drink specials from noon to 8 on game day.

From 11 to 7 on game day, enjoy a Big-Arse Beer and wings for $10 and Yuengling specials at Union Jack’s.

Play a game of pool while watching the game at Gators Billiards in Woodbridge.

Summers Grill in Clarendon shows up to 20 NCAA games that aren’t broadcast on basic cable networks. Call ahead to see if your team’s game will be on.

Velocity Five shows all teams’ games that are broadcast on major networks, ESPN channels, GamePlan, and the Big Ten Network. Because the bar shows so many games, call ahead to for the complete schedule.

Did we miss your favorite team? Got a bar to add? Let us know in the comments below! 

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School Colors: Washington-Area Bars With College-Football Specials
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