Mars Hill, Mount St. Mary's, and Wingate to Join Conference Carolinas in Flag Football

Mars Hill (NC), Mount St. Mary's (MD), and Wingate (NC) will compete in the Conference Carolinas for flag football during the 2025-26 academic year. The NCAA Division II Conference Carolinas announced in July 2024 that it will begin sponsoring flag football starting in 2025-26.

The Conference Carolinas now has 11 teams lined up for its inaugural season. Barton (NC), Chowan (NC), Emmanuel (GA), Erskine (SC), Ferrum (VA), King (TN), Lees-McRae (NC), and Mount Olive (NC) will compete alongside Mars Hill, Mount St. Mary's, and Wingate during the 2026 spring season.

Mars Hill announced the addition of a varsity flag football team in late January 2025. Mount St. Mary's announced the addition of flag football in November 2024 and is one of four NCAA Division I schools to offer a varsity program alongside Alabama State, Long Island (NY), and Mercyhurst (PA). Wingate announced in March 2025 that it would add varsity flag football.

There are currently over 115 club and varsity flag football teams with plenty more on the way. 77 schools have announced that a club or varsity program will begin competing in the 2026 season. The Empire 8 (NCAA D-III) and United East Conference (D-III) will also begin sponsoring flag football for the 2026 season.