The defending NJCAA Division I champion Hutchinson Blue Dragons (11-0) will face Iowa Western (11-1) on Wednesday in a rematch of last year’s championship game.
The Blue Dragons won that thriller 28-23 in 2024. Hutchinson also edged the Reivers 30-27 in September, setting up another tight contest.
These two programs have dominated junior college football recently. They’ve combined to win four of the last five national championships.
Hutchinson captured titles in 2020 and 2024. Iowa Western won back-to-back championships in 2022 and 2023.
Where to watch JUCO football championship
The NJCAA championship game between Hutchinson and Iowa Western will air on ESPNU. Fans can also stream the game live via the ESPN app or with Fubo, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.
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What time is Hutchinson vs. Iowa Western today?
• Date: Wednesday, Dec. 17
• Time: 7 p.m. ET | 6 p.m. CT
The championship game kicks off at 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday. It’ll be played at Bain-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium in Canyon, Texas, home of the West Texas A&M football team.
NJCAA football playoffs schedule, scores
Semifinals
| Date | Matchup | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri., Dec. 5 | Iowa Western 41, Tyler 29 | — | — |
| Sat., Dec. 6 | Hutchinson 27, Northwest Mississippi 0 | — | — |
Championship
| Date | Matchup | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wed., Dec. 17 | Hutchinson vs. Iowa Western | 7 p.m. | ESPNU, Fubo, ESPN app |
Iowa Western rolled past Tyler 41-29 in their semifinal. Hutchinson dominated Northwest Mississippi 27-0.
Both teams enter Wednesday’s game with impressive playoff runs.
NJCAA football champions
Here are the last 10 NJCAA national champions in football. Winners listed since 2021 are from Division I. Prior to that, there was only one division.
| Year | Champion |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Hutchinson |
| 2023 | Iowa Western |
| 2022 | Iowa Western |
| 2021 | New Mexico Military |
| 2020 | Hutchinson |
| 2019 | Mississippi Gulf Coast |
| 2018 | East Mississippi |
| 2017 | East Mississippi |
| 2016 | Garden City |
| 2015 | Northwest Mississippi |
The winner will join an elite group of NJCAA champions. Both programs have already etched their names multiple times on this list over the past five seasons.
