John Carroll, Enterprise State, RCSJ-Gloucester Adding Varsity Flag Football
Three schools announced the addition of varsity women's flag football programs for the 2026-27 academic year. NCAA Division III John Carroll University (OH) will begin playing in spring 2027, with former Bethel University (KS) and Pratt Community College (KS) flag football head coach Felicia Teeter tabbed to lead the program. JCU Vice President of Athletics Brian Polian stated:
"We are proud to announce Women's Flag Football as the 26th varsity sport at John Carroll, with competition beginning in the spring of 2027. Women's Flag Football is one of the fastest-growing sports across the nation. High school athletic associations throughout the country have been sanctioning it, including here in Ohio. The time was right for the Blue Streaks to establish this program and provide young women the opportunity to compete on our campus."
John Carroll becomes the second school from the NCAA D-III North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) to add a program. Wittenberg University (OH) announced a program in August 2025 and began competing this spring.
12 Ohio colleges now offer club or varsity flag football. JCU joins Baldwin Wallace University (NCAA Division III), Bowling Green State University (NCAA D-I), Defiance College (NAIA), Franciscan University (D-III), Heidelberg University (D-III), Hocking College (NJCAA), University of Mount Union (D-III), the University of Northwestern Ohio (NAIA), Ursuline College (D-II), Wilberforce University (NAIA) and Wittenberg University (D-III) also have teams. Lourdes University (NAIA) was slated to add a program in 2026-27; however, the school will close at the end of the 2025-26 academic year.
Two NJCAA Programs Joining 2026-27
A pair of junior colleges will also begin competing next season. Enterprise State Community College (AL) will launch a program and compete in the NJCAA's Alabama Community College Conference (ACCC). Janasky Fleming was named the program's inaugural head coach.
The ACCC currently competes in the fall season, with ESCC being one of eight programs in the conference. The Boll Weevils will join in-state schools Bishop State, Calhoun, Lurleen B. Wallace, Northwest Shoals, Shelton State, Snead State, and Wallace State in competing this fall. As many as 12 ACCC schools could participate in the 2026 fall season.
The second NJCAA school to announce a new program is the Rowan College of South Jersey Gloucester (RCSJ-Gloucester) campus. RCSJ-Gloucester received a $10,000 grant from the NJCAA Foundation, NFL Flag, and Reigning Champs Experiences to start the team. The school will begin its coaching search in the coming weeks.
"As we continue to grow our athletic offerings, adding Women's Flag Football is both an exciting and intentional step forward for our program," commented RCSJ-Gloucester executive director of athletics Brian Rowan. "This new sport represents opportunity - opportunity for female athletes to compete at a high level and opportunity for our college to lead in an emerging space. We will begin the search for a head coach immediately and will be recruiting heavily this spring to fill a competitive roster for our launch in Spring 2027."
The Roadrunners are set to begin playing in spring 2027, joining fellow new programs from the Garden State Athletic Conference in Camden County College and sister campus RCSJ-Cumberland. There will be 10 club or varsity programs in New Jersey, including: Caldwell University (NCAA Division II), Camden County, Centenary University (NCAA D-III), Fairleigh Dickinson (NCAA D-I), Kean University (NCAA D-III), Montclair State University (NCAA D-III), Princeton University (NCAA D-I club team), RCSJ-Cumberland (NJCAA), RCSJ-Gloucester (NJCAA), and Rutgers University (NCAA D-I club team).
The NJCAA could have more than a dozen new programs in the 2026-27 academic year. Alexandria Technical and Community College (MN), Jackson State Community College (TN), Murray State College (OK), and Richard Bland College (VA) are set to join Camden County, Enterprise State, RCSJ-Cumberland, and RCSJ-Gloucester next year. Central Community College (NE) and Minnesota North College - Vermillion could also begin competing.