Even the nuttiest of Buckeye fans had to admit that the Tulane game was a bit of a snooze (the scoring of seven touchdowns notwithstanding). But, the excitement meter skyrockets this week as the Buckeyes head to Happy Valley for a match-up with top ten team Penn State. Unless you scored a seat and will be a spot of red in the sea of white out, prep for some away-game Buckeye fun. And, let us help you nail down your list. Plus, we have a special offer from our friends at Cafe Napolitana. So, read on.

Buckeye Prep Top Five

1. Fire up your biggest screen TV and invite your fellow Buckeye nuts for some tailgate fun. But first, load up on snacks and drinks from Hills Market Downtown. Choose from local goodies, take-n-bake pizza, beer, wine and more. Or, head to Pearl Market for fresh produce, ingredients for your favorite recipes, kettle corn, baked goods and more.

2. Football and barbecue go together like scarlet and gray. And, new-to-downtown Pecan Penny’s celebrates game day with special drink prices and their mouthwatering game-day nachos. They’ll prove to you that the south doesn’t have a thing on us football-wise or barbecue-wise.

3. Feeling like pizza is the way to go? Cafe Napolitana’s neapolitan-style pizza makes every mouth water. So, order your masterpiece to go, or plop down in front of the TVs in the Alley Bar. Plus, our readers can enjoy $2 off a large pizza when you mention this blog. Plus, keep an eye out for their new spot coming soon down closer to the Shoe: Ararci Pizzeria, 1607 North High Street.

4. Buckeyes love their burgers. And while Ringside Cafe's  vibe pays homage to boxing, they encourage you to stop by to watch some hard-hitting football. 

5. Olivers also offers delicious snacks - give the twice-cooked wings a whirl - with plenty of drink options all night long. Plus, you can enjoy happy hour pricing during the game, which makes for very happy hours, indeed. With 13 flat screens available, you won't miss a down.

6. If you like to have a distraction when the game gets tight or have some friends tagging along who aren’t big football fans, consider Pins Mechanical. They have loads of TVs for game watching, plus duckpin bowling, pinball and more for game distraction. Add in lotsa drink options and nosh from a delicious local food truck, and you're ready to roll.

This list can kicks off your planning, but explore the Downtown Concierge for more hot spots for game day fun.