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Why Is The NCAA DII Football Championship Game Played In McKinney, Texas?

Why Is The NCAA DII Football Championship Game Played In McKinney, Texas?

The Division II National Championship is in McKinney, Texas for the sixth year and will be through at least 2027, but why has it continued to be selected?

Dec 18, 2024 by Cameron Belcher
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A big reason why McKinney, Texas, is the latest home for the NCAA Division II Football Championship is the McKinney ISD Stadium, a $70 million facility that seats more than 12,000 people. With the national championship on Dec. 21, fans know the teams playing in the game as it's another chapter of Valdosta State football vs. Ferris State football.

Although the matchup is intriguing, the public may also be interested in how consistent the host site has been.

McKinney, Texas, is hosting for the sixth straight year since 2018, which ironically is the bout in the national championship between Valdosta State and Ferris State that saw the Blazers win their fourth national title.

The Division II title game site has always remained consistent whenever it is moved to a new location. Before McKinney, it was in Kansas City and McAllen, Texas, for four years. Other states, such as New Mexico and California, have hosted. Florence, Alabama, used to host the site for 27 years, from 1986 to 2013, the longest a site has hosted the big game.

In October, the NCAA confirmed that McKinney will continue to host the game until 2027. has provided the largest crowd since 2015.

What's Making The NCAA Keep The Game In McKinney?

  • A big reason McKinney, Texas, is the latest home for the NCAA Division II football championship is the McKinney ISD Stadium. This $70 million facility seats over 12,000 people and has provided the largest crowd since 2015.
  • This big turnout was precisely what the committee was looking for when searching for a new venue.

How To Watch The Division II National Championship

Valdosta State vs. Ferris State will have its title game on Saturday, Dec. 21, on ESPN2.

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AFCA Division II Football Rankings

As of Nov. 18, 2024

  1. Valdosta St. (Ga.) (27) 10-0
  2. Ferris St. (Mich.) (3) 10-1
  3. Kutztown (Pa.) 11-0
  4. Harding (Ark.) 10-1
  5. Grand Valley St. (Mich.) 10-1
  6. Charleston (W.Va.) 11-0
  7. Colorado St.-Pueblo 10-1
  8. Central Oklahoma 10-1
  9. Ouachita Baptist (Ark.) 10-1
  10. Western Colorado 10-1
  11. Slippery Rock (Pa.) 9-1
  12. West Alabama 9-1
  13. Pittsburg St. (Kan.) 8-2
  14. Indianapolis (Ind.) 10-1
  15. Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.) 9-2
  16. Angelo St. (Tex.) 9-2
  17. Wingate (N.C.) 9-1
  18. Colorado School of Mines 8-3
  19. Central Washington 8-3
  20. California (Pa.) 8-2
  21. West Florida 7-3
  22. Augustana (S.D.) 8-3
  23. Southern Arkansas 9-2
  24. Carson-Newman (Tenn.) 9-2
  25. Central Missouri 8-3

Dropped Out: Minnesota St. (18), Findlay (Ohio) (22).

Others Receiving Votes: Fort Hays St. (Kan.), 65; East Stroudsburg (Pa.), 45; Virginia Union, 38; Miles (Ala.), 36; Minnesota St., 34; New Haven (Conn.), 21; Findlay (Ohio), 18; Bemidji St. (Minn.), 9; Sioux Falls (S.D.), 4; Davenport (Mich.), 3; Ashland (Ohio), 2; Glenville St. (W.Va.), 1.

To see the D2Football.com Top 25 Poll, click here.

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