New Class D3 Football Title Game to be Held in Kearney

NSAA avoids disrupting existing schedule at Lincoln's Memorial Stadium

Apr. 10, 2026 at 1:37pm

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A cubist-style painting depicting a high school football game broken down into overlapping geometric shapes and planes in deep maroon, forest green, and golden yellow, conveying the conceptual idea of the sport's growth and changing dynamics.The NSAA's decision to host the new Class D3 football championship in Kearney reflects the evolving landscape of high school sports in Nebraska.Kearney Today

The Nebraska School Activities Association (NSAA) has voted unanimously to hold the new Class D3 state championship football game at the University of Nebraska at Kearney's Cope Stadium, joining the existing Class D6 title game at that location. The tentative schedule will have the D3 game at 1 p.m. and the 6-man game at 7 p.m. on the Friday before Thanksgiving.

Why it matters

This decision allows the NSAA to expand the high school football championship offerings without disrupting the existing schedule at Lincoln's Memorial Stadium, which hosts the majority of the state title games. Kearney's Cope Stadium provides a suitable neutral site for the new D3 and continuing 6-man championship matchups.

The details

The NSAA Board voted to have the 6-man and D3 title games played in Kearney, with an amendment that could potentially place any of the three 8-man classes in Kearney starting in the 2027 season. Nebraska Public Media will have the first right of refusal to televise the Kearney games, replacing News Channel Nebraska's previous coverage of the 6-man game.

  • The new Class D3 state championship game will be played at UNK and Cope Stadium starting in the 2026 season.
  • The tentative schedule has the D3 title game at 1:00 p.m. and the 6-man title game at 7:00 p.m. on the Friday before Thanksgiving.

The players

NSAA

The Nebraska School Activities Association, the governing body for high school sports in the state.

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What’s next

The NSAA will finalize the schedule and broadcast plans for the 2026 Class D3 and 6-man football championship games in Kearney.

The takeaway

By expanding the high school football championship offerings to include a new Class D3 division while maintaining the existing schedule at Lincoln's Memorial Stadium, the NSAA has found a creative solution that preserves tradition while allowing for growth of the sport in Nebraska.