Stillman Adding Flag Football, Wagner to Compete in ECAC
There were a couple of newsworthy college flag football items to end the week. Stillman College (AL) is adding women's flag football beginning with the 2026-27 academic year, while Wagner College (NY) will join the recently formed Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) this spring.
Wagner will be one of 11 teams to participate in the ECAC during spring 2026. Allegheny College (PA), Eastern University (PA), Franciscan University (OH), Kean University (NJ), Long Island University (NY), Mercy University (NY), Mercyhurst University (PA), Montclair State University (NJ), Mount St. Mary's University (MD), Penn State Schuylkill (PA), and Wagner (NY) will compete. The ECAC league was formed in a partnership with the NFL's New York Jets after a $1 million grant from the Betty Wold Johnson Foundation.
Stillman is the second team from the NAIA's HBCU Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) to add the sport. Southern University at New Orleans (LA) sponsors a club team. Stillman is the 12th college or university in Alabama to add a flag football program.
Alabama State University (NCAA Division I), Bishop State Community College (NJCAA), Calhoun CC (NJCAA), Huntingdon College (D-III), Lurleen B. Wallace CC (NJCAA), Northwest Shoals CC (NJCAA), Shelton State CC (NJCAA), Snead State CC (NJCAA), and Wallace State CC (NJCAA) competed or will compete in the 2025-26 academic year. Joining those 9 schools in 2026-27 will be the trio of Stillman (NAIA), the University of North Alabama (D-I), and the University of West Alabama (D-II). The NJCAA's Alabama Community College Conference (ACCC) is also expected to expand to 12 teams and introduce divisions for the fall 2026 season.
Both the NCAA and NAIA are continuing to see growth in flag football. All three NCAA divisions have recommended that flag football be added to the Emerging Sports for Women Program, with a vote expected at the NCAA's convention in January 2026. The NAIA started flag football in 2021 and will have a qualification-based invitational tournament for the first time in spring 2026.