The UIL just secured a new partner, locking in live TV coverage for all 12 Texas high school football state title games. This is a massive relief after the championships were left without a broadcast home only last month.
The Big Problem: A Broadcast Home Dissolved
Remember back in September when the home of the UIL Texas high school football state championships completely dissolved? Yeah, that left the biggest high school games in Texas hanging without a broadcast home. It was a huge question mark for communities across the state, wondering how they’d catch the action. Talk about a gut punch for fans of Friday night lights.
Nexstar Steps Up: New Partner, Wider Reach
Well, that question mark just got answered. The UIL announced on Thursday that they are teaming up with Mission Broadcasting and Nexstar Media Group. This new deal means fans are gonna get these title games distributed across local live television stations and streaming platforms. Yeah, that includes local stations’ own streaming services too! Andy Alford, Nexstar’s President of Broadcast, nailed it when he told Chron, “High school football is part of the fabric of Texas, and few events bring communities together like the UIL State Football Championships.” He’s right, and Nexstar and Mission are using their huge local presence across Texas to give fans more ways to watch these student-athletes compete. UIL Executive Director Dr. Jamey Harrison echoed that, saying they are thrilled to work with Nexstar and Mission to expand access because these championships are a key tradition throughout Texas. That’s what we love to hear, right?
Victory+ Goes Dark, AT&T Stadium Preps for a Spectacle
So, what happened to the old setup? Victory+, that free, ad-supported streaming service owned by Calgary-based A Parent Media Co., just shut its doors. Poof, gone. Victory+ didn’t just carry the UIL state title games, either. It was also the spot for the Texas High School Coaching Association’s Game of the Week throughout the season. Now, all that action is heading to its new home. We are talking about a serious spectacle here, folks. The UIL’s Football State Championships have grown into a four-day event, featuring 12 games across six classifications, crowning champs in Division I and Division II. This year, in 2026, all the glory goes down at AT&T Stadium, the home of the Dallas Cowboys, in Arlington from December 16 through December 19. They are still working out the exact details on which specific broadcasters and streaming platforms will carry the games, depending on your local market and available resources. But the biggest hurdle is cleared!
December 16. Mark your calendars. The UIL State Football Championships are locked in, live on TV and streaming. After a month of uncertainty, Texas high school football is back where it belongs: in front of every fan who wants to see these incredible athletes make history. It’s gonna be epic!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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