Mayville State Adding Flag Football, College of Saint Mary Flag Football to KCAC
Mayville State University (ND) will add a varsity women's flag football team beginning with the 2026-27 academic year. The school named Tim Salmon as the program's inaugural head coach. The Comets will compete as an independent in their first season. Mayville State athletic director Rocky Larson stated:
"We're excited for the opportunities Women's Flag Football will open at Mayville State University. This program will provide new avenues for athletic leadership while expanding the future of women's athletics. We are fortunate to have Tim Salmon leading the way for the Comets."
Mayville State is the first school in North Dakota and the first school from the NAIA's Frontier Conference to add a club or varsity program. The press release stated that the Frontier Conference "is exploring adoption of this sport." The conference has 12 full members located in Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
College of Saint Mary Flag Football Joining KCAC
The College of Saint Mary (NE) will compete as an affiliate member of the NAIA's Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) beginning in the 2026-27 academic year. The school announced the addition of flag football in May 2025, along with its intent to compete in the KCAC.
The KCAC will undergo some flag football membership changes for the 2027 spring season. Baker University (KS), Graceland University, and William Woods University (MO) will join the Heart of America Athletic Conference. Effectively replacing that trio will be four new programs: College of Saint Mary (NE), Hastings College (NE), McPherson College (KS), and Oklahoma Wesleyan University.
As of this posting, the KCAC could have as many 12 flag football members for the 2027 spring season: Bethel College (KS), College of Saint Mary (NE), Cottey College (MO), Hastings College (NE), Hesston College (KS), Kansas Wesleyan University, McPherson College (NE), Midland University (NE), Oklahoma Wesleyan University, Ottawa University (KS), Southwestern College (KS), and the University of Saint Mary (KS).
The NAIA is set to see tremendous growth for the 2026-27 academic year. 34 teams are competing in the 2026 spring season, and that number will jump to 59 for the 2027 spring campaign. Not only will there be at least 25 new teams, but there will also be two new conferences when the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) and Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) begin competing.
The NAIA first began playing football in the 2020-21 academic year. After four years as an emerging sport, the NAIA approved flag football as an Invitational sport for the 2025-26 academic year. The first Invitational tournament will be held in May, with 8 teams competing in a double elimination format. Flag football is well on its way to reaching NAIA Championship Status. The NAIA's National Administrative Council requires at least 30 varsity programs and the completion of two invitationals to be eligible for Championship status. Flag football could become the NAIA's next championship sport as soon as the 2027-28 academic year.