Culver-Stockton Adding Varsity Flag Football; New Mexico and Northwestern Adding Clubs
Culver-Stockton College (MO) will add a varsity women's flag football team beginning with the 2027-28 academic year. The school is already in the process of hiring a head coach, who will spend the 2026-27 academic year recruiting. Director of Athletics Pat Atwell said:
"I think it is the perfect time to add women's flag football to our sport offerings at Culver-Stockton College. The sport is growing at an almost unprecedented rate at the high school level, and with the support provided by the NFL, it's likely to succeed."
Culver-Stockton is the eighth team in the NAIA's Heart of America Athletic Conference to add a varsity women's flag football team. Baker University (KS), Graceland University (IA), Missouri Baptist University, Missouri Valley College (MO), Park University (MO), William Penn University (IA), and William Woods University (MO) are expected to compete in the Heart's inaugural season during the 2026-27 academic year.
Ten colleges in Missouri have added women's flag football. In addition to the five schools in the HAAC, Avila University (NAIA), Cottey College (NAIA), Missouri Southern State University (NCAA D-II), North Central Missouri College (NJCAA), and Westminster College (NCAA D-III) also offer varsity teams.
Two New NCAA D-I Club Teams
Northwestern University (IL) and the University of New Mexico are in the process of starting student-run women's flag football club teams. Both clubs are looking to take the field during the 2026-27 academic year.
Northwestern is the 10th Big Ten Conference school to add a club or varsity team. Nine of those 10 teams are student-run club teams: Indiana University, Northwestern, Pennsylvania State University, Rutgers University (NJ), UCLA (CA), University of Maryland, University of Michigan, University of Oregon, and USC (CA). The only varsity program is the University of Nebraska, which is scheduled to start competing in the 2027-28 academic year.
UNM is the first school in the state to add a club or varsity team. New Mexico is the fourth school in the NCAA Division I Mountain West Conference to add a club team. Grand Canyon University, UC Davis, and the University of Nevada also have club programs.
Student-run club teams are the dominant majority of women's flag football programs at the NCAA Division I level, with more than 80 expected to compete during the 2026-27 academic year. More student-run flag football club team additions are anticipated after the start of the fall semester.
Atlantis Joining NIRSA
Atlantis University (FL) will compete in NIRSA's Women's Flag Football Club League for the 2026-27 academic year. Atlantis is the 51st team to join NIRSA's revamped women's flag football league, with more additions expected in the coming weeks and months.
More details regarding the schedules and end-of-season championship set for April 2027 will be provided at a later date. Teams interested in competing in NIRSA's women's flag football club league can reach out to National Flag Football Manager Nik Sandona via email at nik.sandona@nirsa.org. October 1 is the deadline for club teams to sign up for the league.