SMWC Adding Varsity Women's Flag Football, Wiley Adjusts Timeline
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (IN) will add a varsity women's flag football program beginning with the 2027-28 academic year. The school announced that former SMWC sprint football player Lane Sluder will be the inaugural head coach. Kevin Lanke, associate vice president for athletics, stated:
"Women's flag football is the nation's fastest growing prep sport, with local teams being fielded at Terre Haute North, Terre Haute South and Northview next year. SMWC looks to tap on the local and national interest in women's flag football to advance the college's overall outreach."
SMWC is the second school from the NAIA's River States Conference to add a flag football team. Midway University (KY) is set to make its flag football debut in the 2026-27 academic year, following a one-year delay. SMWC is the second NAIA school to confirm a 2027-28 launch for flag football alongside Faulkner University (AL).
SMWC is the 9th school in Indiana to offer a club or varsity flag football team. Calumet College of St. Joseph (NAIA), Indiana Wesleyan University (NAIA), Purdue University Fort Wayne (NCAA Division I Club), Purdue University Northwest (NCAA D-II), the University of Indiana (NCAA D-I Club), the University of Saint Francis (NAIA), and Valparaiso University (NCAA D-I Club) will offer teams in the 2026-27 academic year. In 2027-28, Manchester University (NCAA D-III) and Saint Mary-of-the-Woods will begin competing.
The NAIA will have over 60 teams competing in the 2026-27 academic year, which will also be the first season it offers flag football as a championship sport. For 2027-28, at least 65 teams are expected to compete at the NAIA level.
Pasco-Hernando Unlikely to Return in 2027
The Pasco-Hernando State College (FL) women's flag football team is unlikely to compete during the 2027 spring season. PHSC competed in the NJCAA's Florida College System Activities Association (FCSAA) for the 2024 and 2025 spring seasons, but did not field a team in 2026. The FCSAA standings for the 2027 spring season omit Pasco-Hernando, although the start of the season is still seven months away.
Flag football has seen incredible growth, but a few programs have stopped competing in the past few seasons. NCAA Division II Bluefield State University (WV) competed during the 2025 spring season as a club team in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), but did not play this past spring. Fort Scott Community College (KS) competed as an NJCAA independent in the 2024 spring season, but has not competed in the previous two seasons.
Siena Heights University (MI) played two seasons in 2025 and 2026, winning the NCFFL National Championship in its final game. Siena Heights was a member of the NAIA and closed at the end of the 2025-26 academic year. The same fate befell two other schools without playing a down of flag football. NCAA Division III Anna Maria College (MA) and the NAIA's Lourdes University (OH) also closed at the end of the 2025-26 academic year. Both schools were planning to launch programs for the 2026-27 academic year.
Wiley Adjusts Varsity Timeline
Wiley University (TX) adjusted its varsity women's flag football timeline while announcing Aurmon Satchell as head coach. Wiley will compete as a club team for the 2026-27 academic year, followed by its first varsity season in the 2027-28 academic year. The school previously expected to compete at the varsity level in the 2026-27 academic year.
Wiley is one of five schools from the NAIA's HBCU Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) to have a flag football team. Southern University at New Orleans (LA) and Talladega College (AL) offer club teams, while Stillman College (AL) and Wilberforce University (OH) have varsity programs.