Elizabethtown Adding Flag Football, Erskine Delays Start to 2027
Elizabethtown College (PA) is adding varsity women's flag football and will begin competing in the 2027-28 academic year. The school is already seeking applicants for the head coaching vacancy. Elizabethtown Director of Athletics Chris Morgan stated the following about the addition:
"Adding women's flag football is an exciting step forward for our athletic department and the College. This program expands opportunities for female student-athletes, reflects the growing national momentum behind the sport, and reinforces our commitment to equity, innovation, and competitive excellence."
Elizabethtown is the first institution from the NCAA Division III Landmark Conference to add a club or varsity flag football program. Etown will join over 30 other flag football programs in the state of Pennsylvania. Albright College (NCAA D-III), Lebanon Valley College (D-III), and Point Park University (D-II) will also be adding programs in the next few years.
Erskine Delays Flag Football Start
Erskine College (SC) will delay the start of its flag football program from this spring to spring 2027. Erskine had a dozen games lined up for this season, but ran into issues with the coaching staff, resulting in a timeline shift. Erksine will be one of 12 teams competing in the NCAA Division II Conference Carolinas next spring. Newberry College (SC) is also slated to compete in the Conference Carolinas in 2027.
"Traditionally when adding a new sport, we have hired a coach and given that coach a year to recruit. We tried to expedite the process with flag football but, unfortunately, we ran into some unexpected roadblocks with our coaching situation that have delayed the process. We are all excited about flag football starting in the spring of 2027 at Erskine College," Erskine Director for Athletics Mark Peeler stated.
The 10 remaining Conference Carolinas teams to compete in the current 2026 spring season are Barton College (NC), Chowan University (NC), Emmanuel University (GA), Ferrum College (VA), King University (TN), Lees-McRae College (NC), Mars Hill University (NC), Mount St. Mary's University (MD), the University of Mount Olive (NC), and Wingate University (NC).
Nearly 80 schools across all collegiate governing bodies have already announced the addition of flag football for the 2026-27 academic year. NCAA institutions account for more than 50 of those additions, and the trend isn't expected to slow. Flag football was added to the NCAA's Emerging Sports for Women program in January 2026, leading to schools and conferences across the country to embrace the trend.