First Americans Bowl

Last updated
First Americans Bowl
Stadium Doc Wadley Stadium
Location Tahlequah, Oklahoma, U.S.
Operated2025–present
Conference tie-insnone
Sponsors
7 Clans Talent Agency

The First Americans Bowl is an annual NCAA Division II college football bowl game held at Doc Wadley Stadium in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, on the campus of Northeastern State University. It is one of three Division II sanctioned bowl games, along with the Heritage Bowl and Albanese Candy Bowl. [1]

Contents

The game, developed by 7 Clans Talent Agency, matches two institutions not qualifying for the NCAA Division II Football Championship playoffs that have "strong Native American connections." [2] Beneficiaries include scholarship funds, youth sports, and other community programs for "Indigenous and minority athletes." Founders of the bowl announced plans to make it "an annual celebration of culture, athletic excellence, and community impact." [3] The creation of the bowl was first reported in the press on November 19, 2025, and in a release the following day by the institutions participating in the inaugural game: Northeastern State University and East Central University. [4] [5]

The pool of institutions fitting the game's mission as outlined by its primary sponsor is quite small. As of 2025, the list of Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) includes no football-playing Division II institutions, and the list of Native American-Serving Nontribal Institutions (NASNTIs) includes just seven, five of which are in Oklahoma: Northeastern State, East Central, Southeastern Oklahoma State, Southwestern Oklahoma State, and Central Oklahoma, along with Fort Lewis College in Colorado and the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. [6] Of the five Oklahoma schools, Northeastern State is a football independent, Central Oklahoma competes in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA), and the rest are members of the Great American Conference (GAC). Because the GAC has played an eleven-game closed "silo" schedule since 2015, the First Americans Bowl should provide an opportunity for Northeastern State and Central Oklahoma to renew old rivalries with the three NASNTI members of the Great American Conference, in years when they do not qualify for the Division II playoffs.

Game results

Date playedWinning teamLosing teamAttendancenotes
December 6, 2025 Northeastern State (Ind.)56 East Central (GAC)214,977 [7]

References

  1. ↑ Bitner, Chuck (December 1, 2025). "Bowl Games Add to Dec. 6 Schedule". D2football.com. Retrieved December 2, 2025.
  2. ↑ "NSU picked to play in inaugural First Americans Bowl". Tahlequah Daily Press . 19 November 2025. Retrieved 29 November 2025.
  3. ↑ "NSU and ECU football programs to participate in the inaugural First Americans Bowl". McIntosh County Democrat. 27 November 2025. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  4. ↑ "ECU Tigers to participate in inaugural Indigenous College Football Bowl Game". East Central University Athletics. 20 November 2025. Retrieved 27 November 2025.
  5. ↑ "Northeastern State University RiverHawks set to compete in inaugural First Americans Bowl". Northeastern State University Athletics. 20 November 2025. Retrieved 27 November 2025.
  6. ↑ "Native American-Serving Nontribal Institutions Program". U.S. Department of Education. Retrieved 27 November 2025.
  7. ↑ Pfeil, Scott (December 7, 2025). "NSU RiverHawks wrap up season with record setting bowl game victory". KOTV-6 Tulsa. Retrieved December 6, 2025.
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