Game On, Glasses Up!

Texas football Saturdays are officially back, and Sept. 5 brings the Longhorns home, cold drinks within reach and enough televisions across the state to make missing a snap largely a personal choice.

Saturday Belongs to Football Again

The Texas Longhorns host Texas State at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin on Saturday, Sept. 5, with kickoff set for 2:30 p.m. CT on ESPN.

For fans who cannot make it to Austin, game day still travels well. In Amarillo, Georgia Street Taphouse takes the screen situation seriously. The family-friendly sports bar has 58 televisions spread throughout the space, more than 70 beers on tap and a menu that runs from finger foods to burgers and pizza.

Farther east, Greedy’s in DeSoto gives Dallas-area fans another place to settle in when Saturday plans revolve around kickoff rather than errands.

Houston has its own solution at Rock Neutney’s Sports Bar, where more than 30 high-definition televisions allow multiple games to stay visible at once. There is also a game room, pool tables and an outdoor patio, useful additions when halftime lasts longer than anyone’s attention span.

The Best Seat Might Be Closer to Home

Up in Lewisville, Rusty Beagle Sports Grill covers the familiar game-day territory with burgers, wings, drinks and a place to gather around the television. In Plano, Tight Ends Sports Bar & Grill goes considerably bigger on the viewing setup, with HDTVs throughout the space and a massive LED video wall designed for games that deserve more than an ordinary screen.

Of course, there is always the home-field option. A backyard grill, a television within sight of the patio and a cooler positioned somewhere nobody has to get up too often can turn kickoff into an afternoon without much planning. Add wings, sliders, queso or a pile of nachos and suddenly leaving the house seems less urgent.

That is part of the appeal when college football returns. Saturdays regain their familiar structure. There is a kickoff time to work around, somebody insisting their seat is lucky and at least one person who will yell at a television as though the coaching staff can hear them.

Whether Sept. 5 means DKR, a neighborhood sports bar or the best chair in your own living room, football season has officially reclaimed Saturday.

For more Texas spots built for big games, cold drinks and a crowd around the screen, browse the Guide to Texas directory at https://www.guidetotx.com/sports-bars.