Bismarck State, Coastal Georgia, and Valley City State Adding Women's Flag Football
Bismarck State College (ND) and Valley City State University (ND) announced the addition of women's flag football intramural teams for the 2026-27 academic year. Both schools plan to field varsity flag football teams beginning with the 2027-28 academic year. Dickinson State, which announced an intramural team in July, is also aiming to add a varsity team in 2027-28.
The trio is part of a larger effort to build flag football in North Dakota and the NAIA's Frontier Conference. Earlier this year, Mayville State University (ND) announced it would offer a varsity team for the 2026-27 academic year. In 2027-28, the four teams will compete against each other as well as other programs in the region. Bismarck State, Dickinson State, Mayville State, and Valley City State are the first four programs in the Frontier Conference and North Dakota to offer flag football.
The idea of the Frontier sponsoring women's flag football was first reported in May 2026. Mayville State Athletic Director Rocky Larson spoke about the possibility, stating that conversations were in the early stages and it would be "2 to 3 years" before sponsorship would begin. Frontier Conference Commissioner Scott Crawford commented on the three additions:
“The growth of women’s flag football represents an exciting opportunity for our student-athletes and our institutions. I commend these four institutions for their collaborative work in building a strong foundation for the sport in North Dakota. Starting with these four programs gives us an opportunity to establish meaningful competition in our region, and we are hopeful that additional Frontier Conference institutions will join them as the sport continues to grow.”
Six NAIA conferences will sponsor women's flag football during the 2027 spring season: Great Southwest Athletic Conference (GSAC), Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC), Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC), Mid-South Conference (MSC), Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC), and Sun Conference. The NAIA will host its first women's flag football championship during the 2027 spring season with a 12-team single-elimination bracket.
Central Alabama Not Competing This Fall
Central Alabama Community College will not compete during the 2026 fall season. The school announced the addition of women's flag football in May and named Thomas Sowell head coach.
Central Alabama is a member of the NJCAA's Alabama Community College Conference (ACCC). The school was originally listed on the ACCC's schedule when it was posted in early August. However, the revised schedule omits Central Alabama, and the standings show 10 schools for the 2026 fall season:
Bishop State, Calhoun, Chattahoochee Valley, Enterprise State, Lurleen B. Wallace, Northwest Shoals, Shelton State, Snead State, Southern Union State, and Wallace State. Chattahoochee Valley, Enterprise State, and Southern Union State are making their debut this season.
Coastal Georgia Adding Club Teams
The College of Coastal Georgia is adding a women's flag football club team beginning with the 2026-27 academic year. The school will also add a men's club team. The club team hopes it can eventually be added as a varsity sport.
Coastal Georgia's varsity athletics compete in the NAIA's Sun Conference, which has six members offering varsity flag football: Florida Memorial University, Keiser University (FL), SCAD Savannah (GA), St. Thomas University (FL), Warner University (FL), and Webber International University (FL).
In Georgia, 20 club and varsity programs are expected to compete during the 2026-27 academic year. At least two other schools in the state are looking to add varsity programs, with additional announcements expected in the coming months.
Delaware State and NCCU Not Expected to Compete in NIRSA
Delaware State University and North Carolina Central University are not expected to compete in NIRSA's Women's Flag Football Club League for the 2026-27 academic year. Both schools were in the initial wave of announcements in May.
Things began to change in mid-June when the NCAA Division I Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) announced the addition of women's flag football for the 2026-27 academic year. The MEAC's announcement did not indicate which teams would compete during the 2027 spring season. In August, Delaware State and NCCU were listed among the six teams that would compete at the varsity level for the 2027 spring season.
NIRSA still has more than 50 teams lined up for the 2026-27 academic year. With the academic year underway, more teams will be announced for the club league ahead of the October 1 registration deadline. The initial season will see competition begin in January and culminate in a season-ending championship in April.