Eckerd, Edgewood, and Ursinus Adding Women's Flag Football
Eckerd College (FL) will add varsity women's flag football beginning with the 2027-28 academic year. The school will begin the head coaching search immediately. Eckerd President Jim Annarelli added:
"We are incredibly excited to bring women's flag football to Eckerd College. This is an opportunity for Eckerd to be at the forefront of one of the fastest-growing sports in the country while continuing to expand opportunities for female student-athletes. We are eager to build a program that represents Eckerd at a high level and establishes a strong foundation for the future."
Eckerd is the third institution to add a varsity team and fourth overall in the NCAA Division II Sunshine State Conference. Both Barry University (FL) and Saint Leo University (FL) offer varsity programs, while the University of Tampa (FL) has a club team.
Florida now has over two dozen varsity or club teams, with more additions expected. Five of those schools are expected to compete in NCAA D-II: the four Sunshine State members and Edwards Waters University.
Edgewood Adding Varsity Flag Football
Edgewood University (WI) will add a varsity women's flag football program beginning with the 2027-28 academic year. The school is already searching for the inaugural head coach. Nick Pasquarello, Director of Athletics at Edgewood, said:
"I am extremely proud that Edgewood University will continue to grow our women's varsity sport offerings. The growth of collegiate flag football across the nation, especially here in Wisconsin and throughout the Midwest, is exciting and aligns with our goals as an Athletic Department and institution. We are excited to provide another opportunity for women to compete at the collegiate level while continuing to build our athletics program."
Edgewood will compete in the NCAA Division III Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC), which now has 8 schools offering women's flag football. Five schools are expected to compete during the 2026-27 academic year: Aurora University (IL), Benedictine University (IL), Lakeland University (WI), Marian University (WI), and Rockford University (IL). Edgewood, Lawrence University (WI), and Wisconsin Lutheran College (WI) are expected to join that quintet in the 2027-28 academic year.
More than a dozen schools in Wisconsin offer varsity and club teams, with most competing in NCAA Division III. Alverno University (2027-28), Beloit College (2026-27), Ripon College (2026-27), UW-Oshkosh (2025-26), UW-River Falls (2026-27; Club), and UW-Stout (2025-26; Club) have previously competed or announced a new flag football program.
Simpson Moving to Cascade Conference
Simpson University (CA) will move a majority of its sports from the NAIA's California Pacific Conference to the Cascade Collegiate Conference beginning with the 2027-28 academic year. The school's women's flag football affiliation is not expected to change.
Simpson's flag football team is currently an affiliate member in the NAIA's Great Southwest Athletic Conference, as neither the Cal Pac nor the CCC sponsors flag football. No schools in the CCC sponsor club or flag football, making Simpson the first member to offer the sport.
Ursinus Adding Flag Football
Ursinus College (PA) will add women's flag football beginning with the 2027-28 academic year. The school has already begun searching for a head coach. Al Reiser, director of athletics, stated:
"Women's flag football is experiencing remarkable momentum at every level, and we are excited to bring this opportunity to Ursinus. As the sport continues to grow nationally and here in Pennsylvania, adding flag football allows us to welcome a new generation of student athletes while providing them with the opportunity to compete at the collegiate level. We look forward to building this program thoughtfully and establishing a strong foundation for its future success."
Ursinus will compete in scrimmages during the 2027-28 academic year, followed by a full competitive season in the 2028-29 academic year. Ursinus is the third school from the NCAA Division III Centennial Conference to offer women's flag football. Washington College (MD) will offer a club team for the 2026-27 academic year before elevating to varsity status in 2027-28. Gettysburg College (PA) will also launch a varsity women's flag football team in 2027-28.
Pennsylvania has nearly 40 women's flag football teams across all collegiate governing bodies. Fellow D-III institutions Elizabethtown College, Lebanon Valley College, and Messiah University will also launch programs in the next three years.