Football is Finally Back!
Saturdays have a soundtrack again. College football returns over Labor Day weekend, bringing packed stadiums, crowded barstools, smoking grills, and the annual realization that everyone suddenly has very strong opinions about fourth-down decisions.
Alabama opens its home schedule against East Carolina on Saturday, September 5, in Tuscaloosa, while Auburn heads east for a neutral-site meeting with Baylor at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
The games may set the schedule, but kickoff weekend is really about what happens around them. Whether the plan involves a backyard tailgate, a table full of game-day food, or meeting friends at a sports bar, there are plenty of ways to make a Saturday out of it without holding a ticket.
Put Something Good on the Table
A proper football spread needs food that can be made ahead, passed around, and eaten without much ceremony. Keep the menu rooted close to home and save the complicated cooking for another weekend.
- Pulled pork sliders: Smoke the pork ahead of time, pile it onto small buns, and let everyone handle their own sauce situation.
- White barbecue chicken: Alabama white sauce brings the tangy, peppery finish, whether the chicken comes off the smoker or grill.
- Pimento cheese dip: Serve it with crackers, chips, celery, or whatever survives the first quarter.
- Conecuh sausage bites: Slice, cook, and serve with toothpicks for a low-maintenance addition to the table.
- Banana pudding: Make it ahead, refrigerate it, and dessert is handled before kickoff.
Add a cooler and a cornhole board, and the backyard is ready for a full Saturday!
Grab a Seat and Watch
If cooking sounds like an unnecessary complication, several spots around the state offer an easy place to meet up, order dinner, and keep up with the games.
- Baumhower’s Victory Grille: Founded by former Crimson Tide All-American Bob Baumhower, with locations around the state.
- The Hound: An Auburn option known for Southern-inspired food and a bar stocked with bourbon.
- The Tipping Point: A neighborhood gathering spot in Montgomery’s Hampstead community.
- Coaches Corner Sports Bar & Grill: A Wetumpka sports bar for catching Saturday’s lineup over food and drinks.
- Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux: The Hoover location pairs a sports-bar setup with plenty of screens for following the day’s games.
However you watch, kickoff weekend is a good reason to get the crew together, put something worth eating on the table, and settle in for the first full Saturday of football!
Stock up on all your tailgate essentials at https://www.guidetoalabama.com/grocery-stores!