Eastern Michigan Adding Varsity Women's Flag Football
Eastern Michigan University will add a varsity women's flag football program beginning with the 2026-27 academic year. EMU becomes the first team from the NCAA Division I Mid-American Conference (MAC) to add a varsity program. Fellow MAC members Bowling Green State University (OH) and the University at Buffalo (NY) both have club teams. Scott Wetherbee, EMU Director of Athletics, said:
"Today marks a significant moment for Eastern Michigan Athletics and for women's sports. Women's flag football is one of the fastest-growing sports in the nation, and its addition reflects our commitment to creating new opportunities for student-athletes at EMU. With the sport set to take center stage at the 2028 Olympic Games, we are proud to help lead its growth and to build a program our campus and community will embrace."
"Eastern Michigan's future is built on purpose, belonging, and opportunity," added EMU President Dr. Brendan Kelly. "The addition of women's flag football reflects the kind of strategic growth we are pursuing across the University, growth that welcomes more students into our Eastern community, strengthens alignment across campus, and extends EMU's impact throughout Michigan. This is a proud moment for our institution, and a clear example of how we are investing in new pathways for student success."
Eastern Michigan is the fifth school in the state to add a flag football club or varsity program, but that number will shrink to four next year. Davenport University (NCAA D-II), Saginaw Valley State University (D-II), and the University of Michigan (NCAA D-I club) will also compete in 2026-27. Siena Heights University (NAIA) had a varsity program for the 2025 and 2026 spring seasons, but is closing at the end of the 2025-26 academic year due to financial issues.
Eastern Michigan is the 18th NCAA Division I school to announce a varsity flag football program. Alabama State University, Long Island University (NY), Mercyhurst University (PA), and Mount St. Mary's University (MD) are competing in the 2026 spring season. Joining those four and EMU in the 2026-27 academic year will be six more programs: Fairleigh Dickinson University (NJ), Manhattan University (NY), Mississippi Valley State University, the University of North Alabama, the University of South Carolina Upstate, and the University of Texas at Arlington.
7 more schools will be adding varsity teams in the 2027-28 academic year, including Binghamton University (NY), Cal Poly (CA), Charleston Southern University (SC), Gardner-Webb University (NC), Radford University (VA), the University of Nebraska, and the University of North Carolina at Asheville.
The growth of NCAA D-I varsity flag football teams comes on the heels of the 2026 NCAA Convention. All three divisions voted to add flag football to the Emerging Sports for Women program, which led to Nebraska becoming the first school from a Power 4 conference to add a varsity team. The momentum has continued since then.
The Big South became the first NCAA Division I conference to sponsor varsity flag football at the end of March. Charleston Southern, Gardner-Webb, Radford, UNC Asheville, and USC Upstate will compete in the inaugural season during the 2027-28 academic year, with more additions expected. Radford and UNC Asheville will elevate club teams to varsity status by the 2028 spring season.
On the same day as the Big South's announcement, it was reported that the Big 12 Conference is also looking to sponsor flag football by 2028. The Big 12 would be the first "Power 4" conference to do so. At least 6 schools are expected to be part of the conference's launch. Four teams in the Big 12 currently sponsor student-run clubs: Arizona State University, the University of Arizona, the University of Central Florida, and the University of Colorado. Arizona State and UCF will be part of the inaugural Fiesta Flag Football Classic taking place at ASU's campus on Saturday, April 18, and Sunday, April 19.
Most recently, the Big Ten Conference is reportedly looking to sponsor flag football in the future, although it's not at the same stage as the Big 12. The Big Ten will monitor the landscape before committing to sponsorship of flag football.
Across the NCAA, more than 60 varsity programs competed in the 2026 spring season. Another 50 varsity teams are expected to launch across all three NCAA divisions in the 2026-27 academic year.