For years, Texas high school football fans have faced a surprisingly difficult opponent in December: figuring out how to watch the state championship games.
Forget the blocking, tackling, and complicated offensive schemes. Fans just wanted to turn on their televisions and watch some football. Unfortunately, finding the games sometimes required more strategy than a fourth-and-goal play call.
Thankfully, that might finally be changing.
On Thursday, October 29, Nexstar Media Group and Mission Broadcasting announced a new agreement to provide free coverage of all 12 UIL Texas high school football state championship games.
The games will take place December 16-19 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, with coverage available through participating local television stations and digital streaming platforms.
The biggest improvement? Fans will have more choices in how they watch.
Watching State Championships Shouldn’t Require Tech Support
For decades, Texas high school football fans have complained about the challenges of watching championship games.
Previously, regional sports networks carried the games. However, cable provider disputes, channel availability, and competing programming sometimes left fans scrambling to find the broadcasts.
In fact, Sports Business Journal reported that these distribution problems helped drive the UIL’s decision to change broadcasting partners in 2025.
Last December might have been the biggest adjustment yet.
The UIL moved all 12 championship games exclusively to Victory+, a free streaming platform.
While eliminating subscription costs was certainly a positive, it presented a new challenge for traditional television viewers.
Instead of simply finding a familiar channel, fans needed to download an app, create an account, and figure out how to watch on their televisions.
For some, that was easy. For others, it meant asking their kids how to get the football game onto the good ole flat-screen in the family room.
And anyone who has ever tried explaining screen casting to a frustrated family member knows how entertaining that conversation can become.
Then, in September, Victory+ ceased operations, leaving the UIL searching for another broadcasting partner.
Fortunately, the new agreement appears to offer the best of both worlds.
Watch on Your Television, Phone, iPad, or Computer
Under the agreement, all 12 championship games will be available free through participating local broadcast stations, digital streaming platforms, or both, depending on the market.
That means fans who prefer watching football on their big-screen televisions can use participating local channels where the games are carried. Those channels may be available through an antenna or their existing television provider.
Meanwhile, fans who prefer watching on their phones, iPads, or computers can access the games through participating stations’ streaming platforms.
Want to watch a game during lunch? Grab your phone.
Traveling during championship weekend? Bring your iPad.
Prefer the traditional living room experience, complete with a recliner, snacks, and a remote control? That option returns in participating television markets.
Additionally, fans outside Texas will have access to the digital broadcasts, regardless of their location.
And perhaps the best part is that all 12 games will be free.
There is one important distinction. Not every championship game is guaranteed to air on traditional television in every market. However, each game will have a free streaming option.
Specific channel assignments, streaming instructions, and game-by-game broadcast schedules will be announced closer to December.
Which Television Stations Will Carry the Games?
The new agreement includes Nexstar and Mission television stations and streaming platforms serving 13 Texas markets.
According to the official announcement, participating outlets include:
- Dallas-Fort Worth: KDAF Channel 33 and CW33+
- Houston: KIAH and CW39+
- Austin: KBVO, KXAN, and KXAN+
- El Paso: KTSM 9.2 Estrella TV and KTSM+
- Amarillo: KCIT, KAMR, and KAMR+
- Abilene/Sweetwater: KRBC and KTAB+
- San Angelo: KSAN and KLST+
- Waco/Temple/Bryan: KYLE and FOX44+
- Wichita Falls: KJBO and KFDX+
- Tyler/Longview: KTPN and KETK+
- Lubbock: KAMC and eL+
- Midland/Odessa: KMID and Big2+
- Harlingen/Brownsville: KGBT and Valley Central+
Of course, fans outside those television markets will still be able to stream games through participating stations’ digital platforms.
This is particularly important for families, alumni, and longtime supporters who cannot travel to Arlington.
The announcement also means fans won’t necessarily need a cable or satellite subscription to enjoy the championships.
However, viewers should check local listings before kickoff to determine which games will appear on television in their area.
Twelve Championship Games Over Four Days
The 2026 UIL State Football Championships will feature 12 games across six classifications, beginning Wednesday, December 16.
Wednesday features both 1A six-man championships and the 2A Division II final.
Thursday brings the 3A Division II, 2A Division I, and 3A Division I championships.
Friday will feature the Division II championship games in 5A, 4A, and 6A.
Finally, Saturday closes the event with the Division I championship games in 5A, 4A, and 6A.
The official UIL schedule includes morning, afternoon, and evening kickoffs, giving fans four straight days of championship football.
Some people might consider watching high school football for four consecutive days excessive. In Texas, that’s just a perfectly reasonable December vacation plan.
A Welcome Change for Texas High School Football Fans
Ultimately, this announcement is about making Texas high school football accessible to more people.
These championship games represent entire communities. Parents, grandparents, former players, alumni, and longtime fans all want the opportunity to watch their teams compete.
Not everyone can make the trip to AT&T Stadium. Others might live hundreds or thousands of miles from their hometowns.
Fortunately, the new agreement should make it easier for those fans to follow the action, whether they’re watching on a 75-inch television or a six-inch phone screen.
There are still broadcast details to finalize, and television availability will vary by location. Nevertheless, the combination of free streaming and traditional local television represents a welcome improvement.
After years of navigating changing channels, cable restrictions, and streaming services, Texas high school football fans finally have something to celebrate.
Come December, we’d much rather hear complaints about a questionable fourth-down play call than somebody’s inability to find the game.
