Cornell College Adding Women's Flag Football

Cornell College (IA) is adding varsity women's flag football beginning with the 2026-27 academic year. Cornell becomes the first NCAA school in the state of Iowa to add a club or varsity program. Courtney Pennel was named the inaugural head coach.

Cornell is a member of the NCAA Division III Midwest Conference, which now has four flag football programs. Beloit College (WI), Illinois College, and Ripon College (WI) previously announced the addition of flag football. Illinois College will begin competing in the 2025-26 academic year, while Beloit, Cornell, and Ripon will compete in 2026-27. Beloit was expected to compete in the upcoming season, but the school's athletic website notes that the first season will be in spring 2027.

Nearly three dozen schools have announced the addition of flag football for the 2026-27 academic year, with North Alabama and Wesleyan College (GA) doing so earlier this week. NCAA D-III institutions that will start competing in 2026-27, include: Albright College (PA), Beloit (WI), Blackburn College (IL), East Texas Baptist, Eureka College (IL), Guilford College (NC), Hardin-Simmons University (TX), Howard Payne University (TX), McMurry University (TX), Meredith College (NC), Millikin University (IL), Ripon (WI), Schreiner University (TX), University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (TX), and Westminster College (MO).

Two other schools in Iowa offer flag football, with Graceland University competing in the NAIA's Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) and non-affiliated Maharishi International University. Over 220 schools are expected to compete at the club or varsity level in flag football during the 2025-26 academic year, including more than 100 new programs.