It's almost time for some championship football, Estherville! 🏈🏆
The temperatures are dropping, the stakes are getting higher and high school football teams across the state are battling for their chance to bring home a title!
Whether your favorite team is making a run for the UNI-Dome or you just love high-energy football, there's plenty of action to look forward to this November!
Can't make the trip to Cedar Falls? No worries! We've rounded up what you need to know to catch the 2026 Iowa High School State Football Semifinals and Championships from wherever you’re cheering from.
🏈 State Semifinals: November 11–14
The road to a state championship continues at the UNI-Dome, where teams will battle it out over four days of semifinal action for a chance to play for the state title! 🏆
When: Wednesday, November 11, through Saturday, November 14
Where: UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa
How to watch: On TV through participating broadcasters or online with FREE streaming!
📺 Watching on TV? Here's the Game Plan!
This year, the Iowa High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) is teaming up with several television broadcasters to bring semifinal football to fans across the state.
For EsthervilleTV customers, KTIV will provide broadcast coverage on KTIV Channel 4, Siouxland CW (Channel 6) and MeTV (Channel 60).
NOTE: The exact games and channels may vary, so don't assume every semifinal will be available on all three channels.
For the latest local broadcast schedules, visit KTIV News 4 and follow its social media coverage. You can also check your EsthervilleTV guide for updated timing.
The IHSAA's official viewing guide will have the latest broadcast information.
💻 Would Rather Stream? No Problem!
If you're more of a watch-from-your-phone, laptop or wherever-you-happen-to-be kind of fan, you're in luck!
All semifinal games will be available to stream for FREE through the IHSAA!
You can tune in through:
No need to spend kickoff searching for a stream. Just pick your game, get comfortable and enjoy the action!
🏆 State Championships: November 19–20
After the semifinal dust settles, it's time for the BIG games!
Seven state championship matchups will take place over two days as Iowa's best teams face off for the ultimate bragging rights.
When: Thursday, November 19, and Friday, November 20
Where: UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa
📺 Watching on EsthervilleTV? We've Got You!
All SEVEN state championship games will air LIVE on Iowa PBS! No channel-hopping required! Simply tune in to Iowa PBS on EsthervilleTV Channel 11, grab your favorite game-day snacks, claim your spot on the couch and get ready for some nail-biting championship football!
💻 Need to Stream the Championships? We Got You!
Not going to be in front of your TV? You can still catch every touchdown, tackle and game-changing moment!
All seven championship games will also be available to stream LIVE and for FREE through:
📣 Stay in the Loop as Game Day Gets Closer!
As teams punch their tickets to the UNI-Dome, game times and local TV schedules will become clearer. And let's face it, nobody wants to be scrambling for the right channel five minutes before kickoff! 😂
Here are a few helpful places to bookmark for the latest updates:
- 🏈 IHSAA State Playoffs Central for brackets, matchups and tournament updates.
- 📺 IHSAA How to Watch for official broadcast and streaming details.
- 💻 Iowa PBS Newsroom for the latest information on players to watch and where to find coverage (when we get closer)
- 📱 KTIV News 4 for local television coverage and game-by-game broadcast updates as they become available.
Our advice? Keep an eye on these pages as the semifinals and championships approach so you know exactly where to tune in when your favorite team takes the field!
🏈 All Eyes on the UNI-Dome!
There's nothing quite like high school football season in Iowa! From Friday night lights and packed bleachers to school rivalries and last-minute touchdowns, it's the kind of excitement that brings entire communities together.
And now, with state championships on the line, we're excited to see which teams will make their mark at the UNI-Dome this November! 🏆
Here at Estherville Communications, we know just how much hometown sports mean to our community. Whether you're cheering on the ELC Midgets or following another area team, we love seeing fans come together to show their school pride. It's one of the many things that make being part of this community so special!
Whether you're making the trip to Cedar Falls or tuning in from home, break out those school colors, gather your fellow football fans and get ready for some exciting matchups!
Best of luck to all our area teams chasing a state title! We're cheering you on! 🏈🏆💜