American Southwest Conference to Sponsor Flag Football

The NCAA Division III American Southwest Conference will sponsor flag football beginning with the 2026-27 academic year. The six ASC members will add flag football and begin conference play as soon as permitted by the NCAA. The six schools are: East Texas Baptist University, Hardin-Simmons University, Howard Payne University, McMurry University, Schreiner University, and the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. All six schools are located in Texas.

The ASC will become the 6th NCAA conference to sponsor flag football. The Atlantic East (D-III), CIAA (D-II), Conference Carolinas (D-II), Empire 8 (D-III), and United East (D-III) will sponsor the sport in 2025-26. The NCAA is likely to add flag football the the Emerging Sports for Women Program, which is a pathway to becoming a Championship sport.

The last week has seen notable changes and additions to collegiate flag football. Five NCAA Division I club teams joined the newly formed Southern Women's Collegiate Flag Football Alliance (SWCFFA), while the NJCAA announced seven schools will receive funding to establish women's flag football teams. Those seven are expected to start competing over the next two academic years.

Over 220 colleges and universities across the country are expected to compete during the 2025-26 academic year either at the club or varsity level. Of those 220 teams, over 100 will compete for the first time. Two dozen schools have announced flag football will debut in the 2026-27 academic year, including:

The six ASC schools, Albright (PA), Blackburn (IL), Camden (NJ), Defiance (OH), Guilford (NC), Jackson State Community College (TN), Lourdes (OH), Meredith (NC), Minnesota North-Vermilion (MN), Northwestern Ohio (OH), Oklahoma Wesleyan (OK), RCSJ-Cumberland (NJ), Ripon (WI), Roxbury CC (MA) Saint Mary (NE), Saginaw Valley State (MI), UT Arlington (TX), and Westminster (MO).