Capital and Merrimack Adding Women's Flag Football
Capital University (OH) will add varsity women's flag football beginning with the 2027-28 academic year. The school plans to begin the search for a coach soon. Dr. Jared Tice, Capital's President, had this to say about the addition of flag football
"Adding women's flag football at Capital is about much more than adding another team. It is about creating opportunity at a moment when girls and women across Ohio are embracing this sport in extraordinary numbers. Columbus has made a bold commitment through IgniteHER to become a national leader in advancing women's sports, and Capital is proud to contribute to that momentum. As flag football grows from youth programs and high schools to collegiate and Olympic competition, we have an opportunity to create another pathway here in Central Ohio for talented student-athletes to continue competing, leading, and growing. This is exactly the kind of student-centered, forward-looking investment that reflects who Capital is and where we are headed."
Capital has been considering flag football dating back at least to the beginning of the year. In February 2026, Dr. Darrell Bailey Sr., Director of Athletics, said the chances of adding flag football were "80 to 90 percent."
Capital is the fourth institution from the NCAA Division III Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) to add a varsity women's flag football team. Baldwin Wallace University (OH), Heidelberg University (OH), and the University of Mount Union (OH) will compete in the upcoming 2027 spring season.
16 colleges in Ohio offer women's flag football club or varsity teams. In addition to the four OAC schools, fellow D-III programs Franciscan (Club Team), John Carroll University, Oberlin College (Club Team), and Wittenberg University have flag football programs.
Lakeland Pushes Start to 2028
Lakeland University (WI) has pushed back its inaugural women's flag football season for a second time. The school now plans to begin competing in the 2027-28 academic year. Lakeland named T.J. Lockett head coach, noting the new timeline.
Lakeland announced a flag football team in December 2024, hoping to play in the 2025-26 academic year. That changed to the 2026-27 academic year when the school announced Zach Finer as head coach in January 2026.
Lakeland will be one of four NCAA Division III Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) members to add flag football in the 2027-28 academic year, joining Edgewood University (WI), Lawrence University (WI) and Wisconsin Lutheran College. Those four will join the quartet of teams that began competing in the 2025-26 academic year: Aurora University (IL), Benedictine University (IL), Marian University (WI), and Rockford University (IL).
Merrimack Adding Varsity Flag Football
Merrimack College (MA) will add a varsity women's flag football program beginning with the 2027-28 academic year. The school is also adding men's rowing, men's swimming, and women's acrobatics and tumbling as part of its plans to grow the student-athlete enrollment by at least 40% over the next five years.
Merrimack is a member of the NCAA Division I Metro Conference, which is quickly adding varsity teams. Mount St. Mary's University (MD) has already fielded a team, while Manhattan University (NY) will begin playing in the 2026-27 academic year. Both schools will compete in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) for the 2027 spring season.
Last week, Iona University (NY) announced it would add a varsity team beginning with the 2027-28 academic year. The Gaels will have both a varsity and club team going forward. Merrimack's addition puts the Metro Conference at four varsity women's flag football teams in 2027-28. Fellow Metro members Canisius University (NY), Niagara University (NY), and Sacred Heart University (CT) offer club teams.
Merrimack joins a growing list of new NCAA D-I programs for the 2027-28 academic year. Binghamton University (NY), Charleston Southern University (SC), Coppin State University (MD), Iona (NY), Merrimack (NH), Radford University (VA), Robert Morris University (PA), Sacramento State (CA), and UNC Asheville will begin competing at the varsity level in 2027-28. Jacksonville University (FL) plans to transition from club to varsity status in the future, but a definitive timeline was not provided.
Missouri Western Discusses Addition of Flag Football
Missouri Western State University is discussing the addition of flag football, although a decision has not been finalized. Andy Carter, Athletic Director at MoWest, made the comments when looking at potential club sports.
"We are also looking at things like women's flag football, which is not a club and would be brought on as a NCAA Division II sport. Division II will start having a championship in that sport in the spring of 2028, so we are looking at that as well."
Missouri Western State is a member of the NCAA Division II Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA). The only other MIAA program with a women's flag football program is Missouri Southern State University, which is expected to compete at the varsity level for the 2027 spring season.