FINALLY | State football title games have a home again; will be free to fans on Victory+
All of a sudden on a Tuesday in June, we have big football news; big high school football news.
Victory+ has made a deal with the University Interscholastic League and will broadcast all 12 of the UIL’s state football championship games, beginning with the 2025 season.
Did you read what I just wrote?
Not beginning with the 2026 season, but beginning with this fall’s state championship games.
Dave Campbell’s Texas Football first reported the news earlier today here: Victory+ Adds TXHSFB Championships, Select Playoff Games.
And here’s where we, the fans, really win: according to the story there on the DCTF website, Victory+ is available for no charge across TV and streaming devices: Android, Google TV, i0S, Roku, and Amazon Fire TV.
“The UIL is excited to work with Victory+ through this agreement facilitated by Dave Campbell’s Texas Sports,” said UIL Executive Director Jamey Harrison. “To allow fans to watch these games for free was a big motivator for us. The availability challenges of the past should be resolved with this new deal. This collaboration ensures our championship events and playoff games are showcased at the highest level and accessible to fans, families and schools throughout Texas.”
Two programs in the ETBlitz.com area competed in championship week in the two seasons since ETBlitz launched: Gilmer, back in December, 2023, and Kilgore, in December, 2024.
Currently in the ETB coverage area are 12 programs: in alphabetical order, Arp, Gilmer, Gladewater, Henderson, Kilgore, Leverett’s Chapel, Overton, Sabine, Tatum, Troup, West Rusk, and White Oak.
“This partnership represents a shared commitment to telling the incredible stories of Texas high school football,” President of Dave Campbell’s Texas Sports Adam Hochfelder said. “Working with UIL and Victory+ allows us to honor the tradition of Friday nights in Texas while embracing a dynamic future for how fans connect with the game.”
So, we owe DCTF a bit of thanks, and the UIL and Victory+ all thanks, as we can now no longer have to worry about paying fees for state title games, and wondering where they can be found, since Fox Sports Southwest sold to Bally, and then Bally folded.
