Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney football program ranked 22nd nationally in attendance for the recently completed 2017 season.

Over five home games, UNK drew 26,673 fans (5,335 average) to Ron & Carol Cope Stadium at Foster Field. The best attended game was the season-opening win over Missouri Western State (6,514) on August 31 with the season average believed to be the highest in school history. The previous high water mark was 4,921 in 2000. 

Tuskegee (Ala.) University led the nation again, averaging 14,998 fans. Others drawing over 10k were Grand Valley State of Michigan (13,432) and Morehouse College of Georgia (10,100). There are 168 football playing schools in NCAA Division II.

The MIAA was the nation's best attended conference as UNK was one of seven league members in the nation's top 30. The others were Central Missouri (6th/8,425), Pittsburg State (8th/7,962), Northwest Missouri State (9th/7,884), Washburn (19th/5,703), Fort Hays State (27th/5,156) and Central Oklahoma (29th/4,981).

The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) had six in the top 30 with the Lone Star Conference (LSC) having five and the Gulf South Conference (GSC) four.