For each of UPIKE’s record seven home games this season, “Tailgating with the Bears” will be partnered with a local eatery to provide food for approximately the first 400 fans. The schedule for games and restaurants is listed below.
| Date | Opponent | Game Time | Location | Restaurant |
| 8/23/2018 | Keiser University | 7:00 p.m. | Hambley Athletic Complex | Jimmy Johns |
| 8/30/2018 | Livingstone College | 7:00 p.m. | Hambley Athletic Complex | Giovanni’s Pizza |
| 9/6/2018 | Bethel University | 7:00 pm. | Hambley Athletic Complex | Texas Roadhouse |
| 9/22/2018 | Warner University | 1:30 p.m. | Hambley Athletic Complex | Buffalo Wild Wings |
| 10/6/2018 | St. Andrews University | 1:30 p.m. | Hambley Athletic Complex | Buffalo Wild Wings |
| 10/20/2018 | Union College | 6:00 p.m. | Hambley Athletic Complex | Big Blue Smokehouse |
| 11/10/2018 | Univ. of the Cumberlands | 6:00 p.m. | Hambley Athletic Complex | Texas Roadhouse |
Our regular co-sponsors for the season will be Pepsi, Food City, and Aramark.
“It is a blessing to have the community show such an involvement with UPIKE football,” head coach Al Holland Jr. said. “This will be an exciting year for our tailgates and our pre-game Bear Walk, as well as a great opportunity to highlight our sponsors and local businesses.”
In addition to the tailgate, these restaurants will also be sponsoring the halftime Punt/Pass/Kick contest, where fans and students can compete for a gift card from the sponsoring restaurants.
The traditional Bear Walk will take place an hour and a half before kickoff through the tailgate area for fans to greet and support the players on their way to the locker room.