ECAC Expanding League as 2 More Schools Join for 2027; Dean College Adding Team
St. Joseph's University Brooklyn (NY) and Villa Maria College (NY) will compete in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) beginning with the 2026-27 academic year. Brooklyn Director of Athletics, Megan Valentine, stated:
"We are beyond excited to join the ECAC/Jets Flag Football League for the upcoming 2026-2027 season! This partnership will provide enhanced opportunities for our student-athletes and will ensure that we have a full, robust schedule. The evolution of women's flag football has been remarkable, and we are thankful to the ECAC, RCX Sports, and the NCAA for championing the sport's development. This partnership is a major step forward in providing our student-athletes with elite competitive opportunities. We are proud to join forces with organizations committed to the future of the game."
The Bears began competing in the 2025 spring season, with an abbreviated six-game schedule. The 2026 season featured a full complement of games, including participating in the NCAA Division III Skyline Conference Championship. The Bears lost to sister campus St. Joseph's Long Island (NY) in the title game, 32-12.
Villa Maria is the second member of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) to join the ECAC, following Penn State Schuylkill. Villa Maria went 18-10 overall in its first season in 2025. This season, the Vikings went 21-4, including a semifinal appearance in the NCFFL. Head coach Keith Wing said:
"Joining the ECAC represents an exciting new chapter for our program and our student-athletes. We're proud to be part of the continued growth of women's flag football at the collegiate level and grateful for the partnerships helping drive this momentum."
More Details About ECAC's 2027 Season Emerge
During the ECAC's Flag Football Championship, Commissioner Dan Coonan stated the conference was planning to adopt a "March Madness-style" format for 2027. Although he didn't provide specifics other than a desire to see every ECAC team compete in next year's tournament, the press release from St. Joseph's Brooklyn sheds light on his comments.
For the 2027 spring season, the ECAC aims to have 32 teams, split into four divisions of eight teams. Each team will play about a dozen conference games before the ECAC's season-ending tournament. The conference tournament would include every team competing over two weeks at the end of April and the beginning of May.
15 teams competed in the ECAC's first season in spring 2026: Allegheny College (PA), Centenary University (NJ), Eastern University (PA), Franciscan University (OH), Kean University (NJ), Long Island University (NY), Marymount University (VA), Mercy University (NY), Mercyhurst University (PA), Montclair State University (NJ), Mount St. Mary's University (MD), Penn State Schuylkill (PA), Sacred Heart University (CT), Saint Joseph's University (PA), and Wagner (NY). Marymount captured the inaugural title with a thrilling 37-26 win over Franciscan.
That number is currently at 23 teams for the 2027 spring season, with 9 more additions expected to reach the 32-team league. Caldwell University (NJ), Dominican University New York, Fairleigh Dickinson University (NJ), Hobart and William Smith Colleges (NY), St. Joseph's University Brooklyn (NY), Sweet Briar College (VA), Union College (NY), and Villa Maria (NY) will begin competing in the ECAC. The list of teams is subject to change, and some schools may not ultimately compete in the ECAC in 2027.
Even beyond 2027, at least one team would like to play in the ECAC: Binghamton University (NY) plans to join in its inaugural season during spring 2028. The 2028 ECAC Championship bracket could be even larger than the 32-team one penciled in for spring 2027.
When the ECAC and New York Jets announced the creation of the flag football league, 15 schools were initially listed for the 2026 and 2027 spring seasons. That number has steadily grown since December and will more than double in 2027. The Championship Game will also move from the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center to MetLife Stadium beginning with the 2027 spring tournament.
Dean College Adding Flag Football
Outside the ECAC news, Dean College (MA) will add a women's flag football club team beginning with the 2026-27 academic year. The program will be elevated to varsity status beginning with the 2027-28 academic year. The school is already looking to hire its first head coach. Geoff Lerner, Vice President of Athletics & Recreation, added:
"We're proud to introduce women's flag football and continue expanding our athletic programs in meaningful ways. This addition underscores our dedication to providing new opportunities for student athletes while embracing the growth of emerging collegiate sports. We're excited to get started and build a competitive program from the ground up."
Dean College is the first member of the NCAA Division III Great Northeast Athletic Conference to add a club or varsity flag football program. The Bulldogs are the fourth school in Massachusetts to add a program. Roxbury Community College (NJCAA) is in its first season in spring 2026 and will compete in the NJCAA Invitational this week.
Two schools are also planning to add programs for the 2026-27 academic year: Harvard University (NCAA D-I club team) and the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (NCAA D-III club team). Anna Maria College would have joined the list of flag football programs in Massachusetts for the 2026-27 academic year, but the school will close at the end of the 2026 spring semester due to financial issues.