Shaw Adding Varsity Flag Football, 4 Clubs Joining NCFA; HACC Keeping Program
Shaw University (NC) will add a varsity women's flag football program beginning with the 2026-27 academic year. Shaw will compete in the NCAA Division II Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), which is elevating its club standing to varsity status for the 2027 spring season. Interim Athletic Director Dr. Randy McClure said:
"Shaw University is proud to continue expanding opportunities for our student-athletes with the addition of women's flag football. As the CIAA moves forward in officially recognizing the sport, we are excited to be part of this historic moment and to provide a platform for young women to compete, lead, and excel."
Winston-Salem State captured a second straight CIAA conference tournament this year, defeating Fayetteville State (NC) in both 2025 and 2026. The CIAA had eight teams compete during the 2025 spring season, with Bluefield State University (WV). BSU did not compete during the 2026 spring season leaving the CIAA with 7 teams.
The combination of Shaw adding a varsity team and the CIAA moving to varsity status will give the conference at least 8 teams next season. Bowie State University (MD), Claflin University (SC), Fayetteville State University (NC), Johnson C. Smith University (NC), Livingstone College (NC), Virginia Union University, and Winston-Salem State University (NC) competed during the 2026 spring season.
Four NCAA Division I Club Teams Joining NCFA
Another four schools will compete in the National Club Football Association (NCFA) for the 2026-27 academic year. Florida State University, Long Beach State University (CA), Purdue University Fort Wayne (IN), and Texas Southern University are set to join the organization next season. In addition to these four teams, five other club teams are confirmed to be competing as part of the NCFA in 2026-27: Grand Canyon University (AZ), High Point University (NC), Syracuse University (NY), the University of Connecticut, and the University of Oklahoma.
Florida State and Texas Southern competed this spring, as did Long Beach State for the first time. Purdue Fort Wayne announced the addition of a club team in October 2025, with the squad ready to compete beginning in the 2026-27 academic year.
HACC Keeping Flag Football
Harrisburg Area Community College (PA) will maintain its varsity sports, including the women's flag football team. HACC originally planned to discontinue nearly all its varsity sports teams, except for flag football and esports, as it navigates financial concerns. The school reversed the decision at the end of April by agreeing to fund the varsity teams through the 2026-27 academic year.
HACC played its first flag football season this spring as an independent member in the NJCAA. The school noted in its updated budget proposal that flag football was not originally part of the cuts due to the rapid growth of the sport. Still, some schools have seen or will see flag football disappear temporarily or permanently.
Siena Heights University (MI) is playing its second and final season of NAIA flag football this spring. The school is closing at the end of the 2025-26 academic year due to financial issues. Anna Maria College (MA) and Lourdes University (OH) were set to debut in the NCAA Division III and NAIA, respectively, in the 2026-27 academic year. Neither team will take the field as both schools are closing at the end of the 2025-26 academic year.
A handful of programs have either paused or stopped competing. Bluefield State University (WV) played in spring 2025 as part of the NCAA Division II CIAA club league, but did not compete during the 2026 spring season. Fort Scott Community College (KS) competed as an independent school in the NJCAA for the 2024 spring season, but has not returned to the field. Pasco-Hernando State College (FL), an NJCAA program in the FCSAA, competed during the 2024 and 2025 spring seasons, but but the team on hold for this season.