Avila Adding Flag Football, Nevada State Joining NAIA, and NACC Adding Flag Championship
Avila University (MO) will add a varsity women's flag football team beginning with the 2026-27 academic year. The school named Don Turner as the inaugural head coach. Turner also coaches the linebackers on the men's football team. Vice President of Athletics Shawn Summe said:
“The addition of women’s flag football at Avila University reflects our commitment to the NAIA’s core values and our mission to provide meaningful opportunities for student-athletes to grow in competition, character, and leadership. As the sport continues to expand across the NAIA, we are excited to be part of that momentum. We look forward to building a program that not only competes at a high level, but also develops well-rounded student-athletes who will represent Avila University well, both on and off the field."
The KCAC is currently at 13 flag football members for the 2027 spring season: Avila (MO), Bethel College (KS), College of Saint Mary (NE), Cottey College (MO), Hastings College (NE), Hesston College (KS), Kansas Wesleyan University, McPherson College (NE), Midland University (NE), Oklahoma Wesleyan University, Ottawa University (KS), Southwestern College (KS), and the University of Saint Mary (KS).
Avila will make its debut alongside Hastings, McPherson, Oklahoma Wesleyan, and Saint Mary (NE). Those five will join the KCAC in flag football, while Baker University (KS), Graceland University (IA), and William Woods University (MO) depart for the inaugural season in the Heart of America Athletic Conference.
Avila already has its first three games lined up for the 2027 spring season, according to the press release. The Eagles will play at Hastings College (NE) on Saturday, February 27, at one of the two Saint Mary schools on Wednesday, March 3, and play their home opener against Hesston College (KS) on March 6.
Nevada State Joining NAIA
Nevada State University will join the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) beginning with the 2026-27 academic year. The Scorpions will compete in the Great Southwest Athletic Conference (GSAC). The possibility of NSU joining the NAIA was first reported in March.
In June 2025, the GSAC announced it would sponsor flag football beginning with the 2026 spring season. Hope International University (CA) went undefeated to capture the inaugural regular season title and top seed for the conference tournament. Nevada State will provide a boost to the conference and is a natural fit. NSU went 13-o this spring, which included 9 games against GSAC opponents.
The GSAC currently has seven schools lined up for the 2027 spring season: Arizona Christian University, Benedictine University at Mesa (AZ), Hope International University (CA), La Sierra University (CA), Nevada State University, Ottawa University (AZ), and Simpson University (CA).
Per the NAIA's 2025-26 handbook, Nevada State will be eligible for postseason competition immediately. For flag football, that means NSU would be eligible for the GSAC's automatic qualifying bid to the NAIA Invitational in spring 2027, assuming the format does not change. As part of its NAIA and GSAC affiliation, Nevada State will also add men's and women's cross country, men's and women's indoor track and field, and women's outdoor track and field.
Nevada State will be one of 60 programs to compete in the NAIA next year, with two dozen new programs set to launch. The 2027 spring season will be the second year of the invitational format, which would satisfy one of the requirements for the sport to achieve championship status. In addition to requiring two invitationals to be completed, at least 30 varsity programs and approval from the NAIA's National Administrative Council are also needed.
NACC Hosting 2026 Flag Football Championship
The NCAA Division III Northern Athletic Collegiate Conference will host a flag football conference championship for the 2026 season. Marian University will host the tournament on Saturday, April 25, at Smith Field in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.
The four-team tournament will consist of Aurora University (IL), Benedictine University (IL), Marian University (WI), and Rockford University (IL). Two semifinal games will be played, with the winners of each matchup advancing to the championship game. A consolation game will also be played before the championship game.
The NACC will add two more schools in the coming years, with Lakeland University (WI) starting in 2026-27 and Wisconsin Lutheran College starting in 2027-28. When Wisconsin Lutheran announced it would add flag football in February 2026, athletic director Jeremiah Hoffman revealed the NACC would begin sponsoring the sport no later than the 2027-28 academic year.