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How to watch, stream 2023 Iowa high school football state championship games

dargan southard, des moines register
·2 min read

Things get real in Iowa high school football when the UNI-Dome lights flip on. The decades-long site of the state semifinals and championship games always delivers action and intensity.

Championship week is a two-day event. On Thursday is the title games for 8-Player (9:30 a.m.), Class A (1 p.m.), Class 1A (4 p.m.) and Class 4A (7 p.m.), Friday marks the championship games for Class 2A (10 a.m.), Class 3A (1 p.m.) and Class 5A (7 p.m.)

More: A look at the Iowa high school state football championship game schedule, scores from the UNI-Dome

If you can't make it to Cedar Falls this week, there are still ways to follow the action. Here's how to watch the seven 2023 Iowa high school football championship games.

How to watch the Iowa high school football finals

As the Iowa High School Athletic Association and the Iowa High School Sports Network battle in court over whether the IHSSN can and should charge to watch Iowa high school sporting events, the news remains disappointing for fans wanting a free livestream.

The IHSSN is charging $9.99 plus tax to watch each individual game, or you can purchase a state football tournament pass for $18.99 plus tax. The latter option gives you access to all seven championship games while allowing two concurrent livestreams and 30 days of unlimited viewing.

Locally, the viewing options are a little better. All championship games will be aired across the state on broadcast television networks. Click the map here to see which network is zoned for your location and how to get it. Here are the six local stations showing the title games.

  • KDSM 17.1 (Des Moines)

  • NPTM 42.2 (Omaha/Council Bluffs)

  • NPTH 44.2 (Sioux City)

  • KXLT 47.1 and 47.2 (Rochester/Mason City)

  • KFXA 28.1 (Cedar Rapids)

  • WQAD 8.3 (Moline/Quad Cities)

The IHSAA's latest statement on the IHSSN continuing to charge for streaming events.

This statement was released on Nov. 6.

"The IHSAA is litigating a media rights dispute with the Iowa High School Sports Network (IHSSN), the current rights holder for select championship events. IHSSN plans to charge live streaming viewers of the upcoming IHSAA State Football Semifinals and Finals at the UNI-Dome. We have objected to IHSSN’s live streaming charges since they were announced this summer. The dispute remains ongoing in Polk County District Court.

"The IHSAA will continue to pursue free public access to broadcasts and streaming of its championship events. Until then, attending IHSAA championships allows fans to support our schools in person and ensures purchases go toward student-athlete programs and experiences."

Dargan Southard is a sports trending reporter and covers Iowa athletics for the Des Moines Register and HawkCentral.com. Email him at msouthard@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter at @Dargan_Southard.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: How to watch the Iowa high school football championship games