NAIA Flag Football Becomes an Invitational Sport

The NAIA moved one step closer to making flag football a championship sport. The NAIA's National Administrative Council (NAC) approved making women's flag football an Invitational sport for the 2025-26 academic year.

The new status will result in the NAIA's flag football postseason becoming a qualification-based invitational tournament. The NAIA will provide additional information about the 2026 tournament at a later date.

Flag football was an emerging sport in the NAIA since its launch in 2021, with the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) and Sun Conference leading the way. Since then, the sport has grown to nearly three dozen schools and an additional conference. The Great Southwest Athletic Conference will begin sponsoring the sport in 2025-26. The NAIA's press release states there will be 35 programs next season.

The final step for women's flag football in the NAIA is to reach Championship Status. Per NAIA rules, a sport must have at least 30 varsity teams declare an intent to participate in a postseason competition, complete two invitationals, and have the Championship status request approved by the NAC. Should flag football complete two invitationals and maintain at least 30 programs, the sport could reach Championship status by the 2027-28 academic year.