Football and beer. It’s a match that’s gone together for decades. But it’s only been recently that beer sales have been allowed at college football games. Prior to the 2016 season the NCAA allowed beer sales at college games. Since then virtually every school allows beer sales, at least to a portion of the fans, in the stadium. Oddspedia.com has crunched the numbers for us and gives us the most and least expensive beer prices in college football. There were 69 schools surveyed from across the country. For reference there are 133 FBS programs. It won’t surprise many folks that the cheapest prices are outside of power-5 conferences. The pricier beers reside in power-5 conferences. Although it might surprise you what schools are charging the most for beer. It’s an interesting list that makes up the most and least expensive beer prices in college football.
For decades universities and colleges stayed away from beer and alcohol sales. There are two reasons why it took so long; 1) the optics of alcohol sales while 18,19,and 20 year old’s are on the field. And 2) they didn’t want the college atmosphere turn be trampled with drunken disorderly fans. What beer sales actually did is stop fans from over consuming prior to the game. There is no data that shows arrests or in stadium incidents rose once beer sales started in the stadium. Responsible adults will make responsible decisions. Let them enjoy a beer at the game. Here’s the list of the most and least expensive beer prices in college football.
Cheapest: Tulane Green Wave ($3 beer)
(Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
The Green Wave announced fan-friendly prices before the 2019 season with beers at $3, along with hotdogs. Bottled water, popcorn, and peanuts will cost you $2 at Tulane games.
Cheapest: TCU Horned Frogs ($3 beer)
(Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
Way to go TCU!!! Not only did you give your fans the most unexpected national championship game run in CFP history, but you offer your fans a hell of a deal for home games!
Cheapest: Coastal Carolina Chanticleers ($5 beer)
(Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)
The Chanticleers have had a really good product on the field going back the pandemic 2020 season. They also offer their fans a good deal on a cold one.
Cheapest: Wake Forest Deacons ($5 beer)
(Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)
Wake Forest has the smallest stadium of any power-5 program in the country. They’ve got to create an atmosphere somehow. Cheap beer is clearly a way the school thinks they can do that.
Cheapest: Oregon Ducks ($5 beer)
(Photo by Tom Hauck/Getty Images)
By far the biggest program to offer affordable beer at home games. Not trying to put down the previous schools, but Oregon is one of the most consistent programs in the country, and the school could charge more if they wanted. Autzen Stadium is one of the best atmospheres in all of college football.
Expensive: Rutgers Scarlet Knights ($11 beers)
(Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images)
Huh? Who at Rutgers thinks this is okay? Rutgers has 12 wins over the last 3 seasons, and just 6 of those being conference wins. This is a fan base that should be rewarded for coming out to games. Not punished by having to pay $11 for a beer while watching that product on the field.
Expensive: Minnesota Golden Gophers ($11 beer)
(Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)
This one is a little surprising, but not as surprising as Rutgers. PJ Fleck has build a solid program in Minnesota, but charging fans $11 per beer while sitting in below freezing temperatures late in the season isn’t right. Something needs to be done here.
Expensive: UCLA Bruins ($12 beer)
(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
I should be outraged by a $12 beer. But something tells me people in Los Angeles are used to paying this much for a beer.
Expensive: Colorado Buffaloes ($12 beer)
(Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
This is shocking. Colorado and Coors go hand in hand, yet the school needs to charge $12 to fan if they want to enjoy a Colorado Kool-Aid while watching the Buffs. Coach Prime will get it figured out on the field. Maybe he can talk to someone about beer prices in the stands.
Most Expensive: Tennessee Volunteers ($13 beer)
(Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)
I expected the most expensive beers list to have more than 1 SEC school in the top 5. But only Tennessee represents the best college football conference in the country. This might be the most expensive beer in all of Knoxville, but if the wins keep coming on the field the fans will pay whatever the price is to enjoy a brew at a game.
