Chicago’s Most Enthusiastic College Bars

College football season is upon us. That means it’s time to scout for places to watch your alma mater, favorite teams or just go find the best place to hang out for the the big games of the day. Chicago is a place where grads from all over the country come to work, so they have a tough time getting back to campus for all of the home games. So where do these folks go to watch the games and hang out with fellow alums? Well, we’ve compiled a list of sports bars in Chicago that welcome the most number of sports teams, both professional and at the collegiate level. We consider these the five most passionate sports bars in Chicago, and the best places in the city to watch a college football game.

1. Joe’s Bar on Weed St (940 W Weed St.)

   Joe’s is the favorite hangout for the University of Arkansas fans. If you are a fan of the Hogs, or just want to go watch among some very passionate college football fans, you may want to take in a game at Joe’s this season. Nowhere do they take college football as seriously as they do in the SEC and Arkansas fans are among the best in the conference. After a game at Joe’s, you’ll know how to “Call the Hogs” with the “WOOOOO PIG SOOIE” chant. Not to mention, you can also enjoy some hog meat as there is plenty on Joe’s menu.

   They also have 120 plasma and high definition large screen TVs to watch the Hogs or whatever  games you might want to watch. Not only do the Arkansas fans call Joe’s their home turf in Chi-town, but also the TCU Horned Frogs, Illinois Fighting Illini and Indiana Hoosiers. So you have the SEC, Big Ten and Big 12  all well represented at Joe’s Bar on Weed Street.

   Arkansas schedule is loaded with big games against teams such as Alabama, Auburn, LSU. Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Missouri. You will not want to miss any of these great games.

2. Sedgwick’s (1935 N Sedgwick St.)

   Home of the Michigan State Spartans fans. Sedgwick’s is a bar you won’t want to pass up this season. Make sure to wear your green for the game on September 2 between the Spartans and Bowling Green because not only is green the color of the Spartans, but Sedgwick’s will also be throwing a “Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day” party as well. The Spartans fans will be looking for a reason to celebrate after a rough season last year. When MSU wins, they’ll be cutting loose.

   On the menu at Sedgwick’s is a great selection of craft beers and ciders, sure to please any football fan. Bring your appetite to the watch parties because Sedgwick’s takes pub food up a notch. The Spartans have some big games on the schedule too. They will play Western Michigan and Notre Dame following Bowling Green. Then they will get into the Big Ten Conference schedule which means games against powerhouse programs like Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State.

3. Waterhouse Tavern (3407 N Paulina St.)

   War Damn Eagle is what you’ll hear a lot at Waterhouse Tavern. That’s because they are the Chicago host of the Auburn Tigers fans. You’ll have a hard time finding a more passionate fan base than the Tigers fans and you’ll have a hard time finding a better schedule than the one Auburn will have this season. Not only will they have the usual slate of great games with the SEC West foes such as Texas A&M, LSU, Arkansas, Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Alabama, but they will also be facing defending National Champion Clemson on September 9^th. And let’s not forget their game with Georgia leading up to the Iron Bowl.

   Is there a better place to catch a great Auburn game that the Waterhouse? With this menu? — not likely. The Waterhouse is also the Chicago home of the Purdue Boilermakers which means Big Ten football fans will be in the house each week. With the Big Ten and the SEC represented, it doesn’t get better than that.

4. Crossroad’s Public House (1120 W Madison St.)

   The home of the Iowa Hawkeyes and Syracuse Orange fans is the Crossroads Public House on North Clark Street. Hawkeyes and Orange fans are among the most rabid in college sports. Their teams may not be among the elite, but that doesn’t stop them from supporting them and having a great party.

   Check out this menu! That will make it easier for fans of the Orange to handle another mediocre season. They may not always win the game, but they’ll never lose the party! The Orange schedule includes LSU, Clemson, Miami and Florida State while the Hawkeyes have Penn State, Michigan State, Ohio State, Wisconsin and Nebraska. You will want to be at Crossroads for those big games.

5. Finley Dunne’s Tavern (3458 N Lincoln Ave.)

   Fans of the Louisville Cardinals, Ole Miss Rebels and Indiana Hoosiers call Finley Dunne’s Tavern home for watching their teams play. The Cardinals will come back with the defending champion of the Heisman Trophy race in quarterback Lamar Jackson while the Hoosiers open with a huge game against Ohio State. Ole Miss is one of the SEC West football juggernauts so there will be no shortage of big games here this fall.

   You will find all the classic sports bar foods such as burgers, wings, sandwiches and all of your favorite beers. With $2 Millers you can go watch football and not break the budget.