Coppin State, Henderson State, and Norfolk State Adding Women's Flag Football; 2 Club Changes
Norfolk State University (VA) is adding a varsity women's flag football program. The school did not provide a timeline for the first season or conference affiliation in its press release. The school also announced Darryl Bullock as the program's inaugural head coach.
NSU is a member of the NCAA Division I Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). The MEAC announced last week that it would sponsor women's flag football beginning with the 2026-27 academic year. Dr. Melody Webb, the Vice President and Director of Athletics, stated:
"Norfolk State University remains committed to providing innovative opportunities for student-athletes while positioning our athletics program for continued growth and success. Women's flag football has experienced tremendous momentum nationally, and we are excited to become part of that movement while offering young women another avenue to compete at the collegiate level."
The MEAC has six schools that offer club or varsity flag football, including Norfolk State. The University of Maryland Eastern Shore will add a varsity women's flag football team for the 2026-27 academic year. Coppin State University (MD), Delaware State University, Howard University (Washington, D.C.), and North Carolina Central University offer club teams, although those could become varsity programs. Delaware State and North Carolina Central both previously announced that the club teams would compete in NIRSA's Women's Flag Football Club League for the 2026-27 academic year.
NCAA Division I is continuing to add more varsity programs. The additions of Norfolk State and UMES bring the tally above 20, with future teams included. For the 2026-27 academic year, Alabama State University, Cal Poly (CA), Eastern Michigan University, Fairleigh Dickinson University (NJ), Long Island University (NY), Manhattan University (NY), Mercyhurst University (PA), Mississippi Valley State University, Mount St. Mary's University (MD), Norfolk State University (VA), the University of North Alabama, the University of South Carolina Upstate, and the University of Texas at Arlington will take the field.
That baker's dozen will be joined by at least seven more in the 2027-28 academic year: Binghamton University (NY), Charleston Southern University (SC), Coppin State (MD), Gardner-Webb University (NC), Radford University (VA), Sacramento State (CA), the University of Nebraska, and the University of North Carolina at Asheville. The Big South Conference will also hold its first championship in spring 2028.
Jacksonville University is planning to transition its team from club to varsity status, but no definitive timeline is known. The Big 12 Conference is also exploring the addition of flag football as soon as 2028, with at least 6 teams competing. That would bring the number of varsity NCAA D-I programs to over 25.
The NCAA added women's flag football to the Emerging Sports for Women program in January 2026. In May, the NCAA formally recommended that women's flag football become a championship sport. That vote will take place in January 2027, with the first championship likely to take place in spring 2028.
Coppin State Adding Club Team, Morgan State to Gauge Interest
Coppin State University (MD) will add a women's flag football club team for the 2026-27 academic year and elevate the team to varsity status in the 2027-28 academic year. Coppin State is one of six MEAC schools with a women's flag football program, but it could increase to seven this year.
Morgan State University (MD) will determine student interest after the fall semester begins to assess whether to start a program. The only MEAC school that hasn't been linked to a women's flag football club or varsity team is South Carolina State University, but that could change in the coming weeks or months after the MEAC added the sport for 2026-27.
Duke Flag Football Becomes Official Club Sport
The Duke University (NC) women's flag football team is officially a club sport. The school posted the news on social media. The team will have access to financial support and practice space beginning with the 2026-27 academic year.
Henderson State to Add Varsity Flag Football
Henderson State University (AR) will add a varsity women's flag football program beginning with the 2027-28 academic year. The school announced the addition of women's track & field at the same time. HSU will conduct a head coaching search during the fall.
Henderson State is the first team from the NCAA Division II Great American Conference to add a club or varsity flag football program. HSU is the second school in Arkansas to add a team, following Hendrix University (NCAA D-III). Hendrix will compete in the NCAA D-III Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) beginning with the 2026-27 academic year. At least one other school in Arkansas is in the stages of adding a flag football team.
Four NCAA D-II schools have announced varsity flag football programs for the 2027-28 academic year: Franklin Pierce University (NH), Henderson State (AR), North Greenville University (SC), and Quincy University (IL).
Iona to Join NCFA
Iona University (NY) will compete in the National Club Football Association (NCFA) for the 2026-27 academic year. The NCFA has 16 club teams signed up for its league next season. Iona previously announced in mid-May that it would also compete in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) for the 2026-27 academic year.
The other 15 schools that will compete are Florida State University, Georgia College & State University, Grand Canyon University (AZ), High Point University (NC), Long Beach State University (CA), Purdue University Fort Wayne (IN), Sacred Heart University (CT), Spelman College (GA), Syracuse University (NY), Texas Southern University, the University at Albany (NY), the University of Connecticut, the University of Oklahoma, the University of Vermont, and the University of Virginia.
The NCFA will launch in the 2026-27 academic year, with plans to have close to 32 teams. The league will be separated into four regions, with conference games scheduled throughout the fall and spring semesters. The winners of the four regional playoffs will meet in the national championship at the end of April 2027.
For club teams interested in competing in the NCFA during the 2026-27 academic year, please reach out to Sandy Sanderson via email at Sandy.Sanderson@CollClubSports.com.