Manchester and Park Adding Flag Football; Two Affiliation Changes
Manchester University (IN) will add a varsity women's flag football team beginning with the 2027-28 academic year. The school will use the 2026-27 academic year to recruit and has already begun its search for a head coach. Manchester director of athletics, Rick Espeset, said:
“We look forward to building a program that will provide an outstanding student-athlete experience while creating new opportunities to thrive on and off the field."
Manchester is the first team from the NCAA Division III Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) to add a program and is the eighth college program in Indiana. Purdue University Northwest (NCAA D-II) and the University of Saint Francis (NAIA) competed during the 2026 spring season. Joining those two in the 2026-27 academic year will be Calumet College of St. Joseph (NAIA), Indiana Wesleyan University (NAIA), Purdue University Fort Wayne (NCAA D-I Club), the University of Indiana (NCAA D-I Club), and Valparaiso University (NCAA D-I Club).
Park Adding Varsity Flag Football
Park University (MO) is adding a varsity women's flag football team. The school will provide a timeline for the first season at a later date. Park also announced that Krishna Lee will be the team's inaugural head coach. Lee is the General Manager of the Kansas City Glory, which competes in the Women's National Football Conference.
Park is a member of the NAIA's Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC). The school did not confirm it would compete in the HAAC, which will begin sponsoring women's flag football for the 2027 spring season. Baker University (KS), Graceland University (IA), Missouri Baptist University, Missouri Valley College (MO), William Penn University (IA), and William Woods University (MO) are set to contest the HAAC's inaugural season. Park could become the seventh member of HAAC's flag football membership.
The NAIA is set for tremendous growth in the 2026-27 academic year, which will coincide with the first season as a championship sport. After having 34 varsity programs in the 2026 spring season, more than 60 will compete next season. At least four more NAIA schools will join that group in the coming years: Faulkner University (GA), North American University (TX), Park University (MO), and Westcliff University (CA).
Chestnut Hill Joining ECAC
Chestnut Hill University (PA) will compete in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) for the 2026-27 academic year. The ECAC and New York Jets originally launched a flag football league in December 2025, naming 15 schools for the first two seasons in 2026 and 2027. The list grew quickly throughout the spring.
For the 2026 spring season, 15 teams competed: 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 won the ECAC's inaugural tournament in May, defeating Franciscan 37-26.
Shortly after the ECAC tournament, it was revealed that the conference wants to expand to 32 teams and four divisions of eight teams for the 2027 season. Commissioner Dan Coonan stated the ECAC would have a "March Madness-style" format next season, with every team competing in the conference tournament. The tournament is tentatively planned for the end of April and the beginning of May.
For 2027, the ECAC is up to 25 club and varsity teams: Caldwell University (NJ), Chestnut Hill (PA), Dominican University New York, Fairleigh Dickinson University (NJ), Hobart and William Smith Colleges (NY), Iona University (NY), St. Joseph's University Brooklyn (NY), Sweet Briar College (VA), Union College (NY), and Villa Maria College (NY). The list of teams is subject to change, and some schools may not ultimately compete in the ECAC in 2027. Binghamton University (NY) has also expressed its desire to compete in the ECAC when its varsity women's flag football program launches in the 2027-28 academic year.
UC Davis Joining NIRSA
The University of California, Davis women's flag football club team will join NIRSA for the 2026-27 academic year. The Aggies are the 45th team to join NIRSA's Women's Flag Football Club League since the first teams were announced in May.
UC Davis is the sixth NCAA Division I club team from California to join NIRSA's new league. Cal, Long Beach State University, San Diego State University, UCLA, and USC will also compete next season. Staying within the Western region, the club teams at Arizona, Boise State, Arizona State, Grand Canyon, and Nevada have also joined NIRSA for the 2026-27 academic year.
At least 50 teams are expected to compete in the NIRSA Women's Flag Football League, but that number could climb higher in the fall. More details regarding the schedules and end-of-season championship set for April 2027 will be provided at a later date. Teams interested in competing in NIRSA's women's flag football club league can reach out to National Flag Football Manager Nik Sandona via email at nik.sandona@nirsa.org.