Newberry College Adding Women's Flag Football

Newberry College (SC) is adding a women's varsity flag football team and will begin competing during the 2026 spring season. The college is already searching for a head coach to lead the team next semester.

Newberry is the third school from the NCAA Division II South Atlantic Conference to add a varsity flag football program. The other two are Mars Hill University (NC) and Wingate University (NC), which both compete in the Conference Carolinas as affiliate members.

Four schools in South Carolina have added flag football teams: Claflin University (NCAA Division II, Club), Clemson University (NCAA Division I, Club), Erskine College (D-II), and now Newberry. Erskine also competes in the Conference Carolinas.

The 2026 spring season is expected to have at least 245 club or varsity flag football programs compete, with NCAA Division II at more than 40 club or varsity flag football teams. That number will increase to over 50 in 2026-27 as 9 schools have previously announced new programs: Caldwell University (NJ), Dominican University New York, Goldey-Beacom College (DE), Lewis University (IL), Point Park University (PA), Saginaw Valley State University (MI), the University of Bridgeport (CT), the University of Illinois Springfield, and the University of West Alabama.

Flag football continues to grow at all levels, with all three NCAA divisions having recommended that flag football be added to the Emerging Sports for Women Program. A vote on those recommendations will take place at the NCAA's convention in January 2026. The NFL has already put the wheels in motion to start a professional flag football league, while the sport will make its Olympic debut in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.