Oklahoma Wesleyan Adding Flag Football
Oklahoma Wesleyan University is set to add a women's flag football team and begin competing during the 2027 spring season, according to an Instagram post by the school. Darian Pleasant was named the team's head coach and will take this role in addition to his cheer coaching position. OKWU is the first school from Oklahoma to add flag football as a club or varsity program.
The Eagles are located in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and are a member of the NAIA's Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC). The KCAC could have 12 members competing by the 2027 spring season if Saint Mary's (NE) affiliate membership is approved. The 12 KCAC flag football members would be: Baker (KS), Bethel (KS), Cottey (MO), Graceland (IA), Kansas Wesleyan (KS), Midland (NE), Oklahoma Wesleyan (OK), Ottawa (KS), Saint Mary (Kansas), Saint Mary (Nebraska), Southwestern (KS), and William Woods (MO).
More than 200 collegiate programs will compete during the 2026 spring season, with 85 set to make their debut next year. Oklahoma Wesleyan will begin participating in the 2027 spring season alongside at least 8 other programs. The sport is expected to see tremendous growth at all levels in college, as well as beyond the collegiate ranks.
The NCAA is proposing that it enter the Emerging Sports for Women program. Eventually, the sport could become an official NCAA championship sport at all three divisions. The NAIA already has more than two dozen varsity programs, led by the KCAC and the Sun Conference. The Atlantic East Conference (NCAA D-III), CIAA (NCAA D-II), Conference Carolinas (NCAA D-II), Empire 8 (NCAA D-III), and United East Conference (NCAA D-III) will sponsor flag football for the 2026 season.
15 states have sanctioned flag football at the high school level: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Mississippi, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Washington. Louisiana approved a pilot program earlier this year, while Indiana and Missouri both designated it an emerging sport.
Globally, flag football is set to make its Olympic debut in 2028 when Los Angeles hosts the games. The NFL announced that its players will be able to participate if selected for the roster. Earlier this month, the US named its National Flag Football rosters, which are set to compete in several international tournaments later this year.