Welcome to the December 8 edition of the women's college flag football newsletter here at Collegiate Flag Football. We will look at the various stories and happenings across the sport over the last two weeks, between Monday, November 24, and Sunday, December 7, 2025. Have a suggestion or want to include something in the weekly newsletter? Drop us an email!

7 Additions, 1 New League

The New York Jets and Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) announced the formation of a college flag football league, set to debut in spring 2026. The ECAC will start with 10 teams in 2026 and add five more for spring 2027. The announcement also revealed that Fairleigh Dickinson University (NJ), Mercy University (NY), and Sweet Briar College (VA) will add flag football programs.

Bridgewater College (VA) will add a varsity women's flag football team beginning with the 2026-27 academic year. Bridgewater is the fifth school from the NCAA Division III Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) to add a flag football program. The ODAC is "taking steps toward recognizing the competition" in the future, signaling a flag football championship as early as the 2027 spring season.

Freed-Hardeman University (TN) announced the addition of flag football beginning with the 2026-27 academic year. FHU is the fourth team from the NAIA's Mid-South Conference to add the sport.

Missouri Valley College announced it will add a women's flag football team beginning with the 2026-27 academic year. Missouri Valley is the sixth member from the NAIA's Heart of America Athletic Conference to add the sport.

The University of Illinois Springfield will add a varsity women's flag football team beginning with the 2026-27 academic year. UIS is the second school from the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Valley Conference to add the sport, following Lewis University (IL).

2025-26 Scheduling News

Cal Poly (CA) will host its first spring tournament on Saturday, May 9, and Sunday, May 10, 2026. The tournament is open to any school that wishes to participate and it will be held on campus in San Luis Obispo, California. Any collegiate flag football program interested in competing at Cal Poly's tournament should contact Ryan Weisenberg (rweisenb@calpoly[dot]edu).

UPDATED THIS WEEK: The 2025-26 National Collegiate Flag Football League (NCFFL) spring 2026 campaign will feature a 10-game season, with playoffs and a championship in 2026. For current NCFFL members, there are still slots available for the Maryland Regional, Pennsylvania Regional, and National Championship. The NCFFL also posted the current list of participants for spring 2026. Dates for the spring tournaments and championships are as follows:

The first spring tournament will take place on Saturday, March 28, and Sunday, March 29, at Howard Community College (MD) in Columbia, Maryland. The second spring tournament will take place two weeks later, on Friday, April 10, and Saturday, April 11, at Lancaster Bible College (PA) in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Finally, the NCFFL National Championships will be held on Saturday, May 2, and Sunday, May 3, at the Capelli Sports Complex in Tinton Falls, New Jersey.

The NCFFL is looking for schools that would like to host a flag football tournament during the 2026-27 academic year. The NCFFL plans to have at least 8 events next season. For fall 2026, the aim is to have 2 East Coast and 1 West Coast tournaments. For spring 2027, the NCFFL is hoping to have 4 regionals in the Central and Eastern US, 2 in the Midwest and West Coast, and the National Championship. Those interested should email admin@nc-ffl[dot]com for additional information.

UPDATED THIS WEEK: The NCFFL updated the membership for the 2025-26 academic year. Over 20 schools will participate during the 2025-26 academic year, and the most recent team added was St. Joseph's University - Long Island. The full list of schools is provided below.

• Campbellsville University (KY)
• College of Staten Island (NY)
• Ferrum College (VA)
• Harford Community College (MD)
• Howard Community College (MD)
• Iona University (NY)
• Kean University (NJ)
• Lancaster Bible College (PA)
• Long Island University (NY)
• Mercyhurst University (PA)
• Penn West California (PA)
• Radford University (VA)
• Rutgers University (NJ)
• Siena Heights University (MI)
• St. Joseph's University (Brooklyn, NY)
• St. Joseph's University (Long Island, NY) New
• SUNY Cortland (NY)
• University of Albany (NY)
• University of Delaware
• Villa Maria College (NY)

The Women's Collegiate Flag Football League (WCFFL) is looking for additional teams to compete during the 2025-26 academic year. The WCFFL will have tournaments in the spring. Those interested should contact Venisha Lee (wcflagfootball1@gmail[dot]com).

The Golden State Games will take place in Irvine, California, on MLK weekend from Friday, January 16, through Sunday, January 18, 2026. Although the Women's College Division has filled up, those interested in playing preseason games can join the waitlist.

NEW THIS WEEK: Baker University (KS) announced its 2026 schedule, which will start on Wednesday, February 25, at home versus Midland University (NE). The Wildcats will then have three games in two days. On Friday, February 27, Baker will play at Ottawa University (AZ), followed by a doubleheader on Saturday, February 28, at Arizona Christian University and Benedictine University Mesa (AZ).

March will start with four home games: University of Saint Mary (KS) on Wednesday, March 4, Ottawa University (KS) on Wednesday, March 11, Southwestern College (KS) on Saturday, March, and Kansas Wesleyan University on Tuesday, March 17. After that, the month will end with a trio of road games. Baker will play at Hesston College (KS) on Wednesday, March 18, at William Woods University (MO) on Wednesday, March 25, and at Bethel College (KS) on Saturday, March 28.

In April, Baker will have another three road games against Cottey College (MO) on Wednesday, April 1, Midland (NE) on Saturday, April 4, and Graceland University (IA) on Wednesday, April 8. The schedule can also be found below by toggling the arrow to the right.

NEW THIS WEEK: Kansas Wesleyan University announced its 2026 schedule as well. The season will begin on Saturday, February 28, at home against defending NAIA champions Ottawa University (KS). March will start with a game at Midland University (NE) on Wednesday, March 4, followed by a home game against Graceland University (IA) on Saturday, March 7.

The schedule continues with a road game at Hesston College (KS) on Wednesday, March 11, a home game against the University of Saint Mary (KS) on Saturday, March 14, and another road game at Baker University (KS) on Saturday, March 21. The month will end with two home matchups: Southwestern College (KS) on Wednesday, March 25, and William Woods University (MO) on Saturday, March 28.

April will feature just two regular season games for Kansas Wesleyan. They'll play at Bethel College (KS) on Wednesday, April 1, and at Cottey College (MO) on Saturday, April 4. The schedule can also be found below by toggling the arrow to the right.

NEW THIS WEEK: Ottawa University (KS) released its 2026 spring schedule. The five-time defending NAIA champions will face a test right out of the gates as they take on Keiser University (FL) and Florida Gateway College on Thursday, February 26. They'll end the month with a game against Wingate University (NC) on Friday, February 27.

March will begin with back-to-back home games against Bethel College (KS) on Wednesday, March 4, and Southwestern College (KS) on Saturday, March 7. Next up will be back-to-back road games against Baker University (KS) on Wednesday, March 11, and Graceland University (IA) on Saturday, March 14. The Braves then have three straight home games versus North Central Missouri College on Wednesday, March 18, Cottey College (MO) on Friday, March 21, and Kansas Wesleyan University on Saturday, March 21.

March will end with a matchup at the University of Saint Mary (KS) on Wednesday, March 25, and a home game against Midland University (NE) on Saturday, March 28. April will feature three games, starting with Senior Night on Wednesday, April 1, against Hesston College (KS). Ottawa will wrap up the regular season at William Woods University (MO) on Saturday, April 4, and at Kansas Wesleyan on Saturday, April 11. The schedule is also listed below.

NEW THIS WEEK: The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh announced its 2026 spring schedule. The Titans will start the season at home on Wednesday, February 25, against Aurora University (IL). After a long break, UW-Oshkosh will face Illinois Wesleyan University and Marian University (WI) in a doubleheader on Sunday, March 22.

April will be a busy month with six games. They'll be at home on Saturday, April 4, against Rockford University (IL), followed by another doubleheader on Thursday, April 9, against Rockford and Marian. On Sunday, April 12, they'll welcome Bryant & Stratton College (WI) and have a return game at BSC on Saturday, April 18. April will end with a road game at Aurora on Friday, April 24.

The Titans will have two games in May. They'll play a doubleheader on Saturday, May 2, against Wittenberg University (OH) and Purdue University Northwest (IN). The schedule can also be found below.

NEW THIS WEEK: William Woods University (MO) dropped its schedule for next spring. The Owls will start the season on Saturday, February 28, at Southwestern College (KS), followed by another road game at Cottey College (MO) on Wednesday, March 4. This first home game will take place on Saturday, March 7, against Bethel College (KS).

There will be a pair of road games after that. WWU will play at Midland University (NE) on Saturday, March 14, and at Graceland University (IA) on Wednesday, March 18. Next up will be home games against Hesston College (KS) on Saturday, March 21, and Baker University (KS) on Wednesday, March 25. March will conclude with a road trip to Kansas Wesleyan University on Saturday, March 28.

April will feature a quintet of games to close out the regular season. The Owls will start at home by facing the University of Saint Mary (KS) on Wednesday, April 1, and Ottawa University (KS) on Saturday, April 4. They'll have a return trip to Saint Mary (KS) on Saturday, April 11, before closing out the season on Saturday, April 18, with a doubleheader at home against Rockford University (IL) and Kansas Wesleyan.

Clemson's Flag Football Team Talks Growth

Clemson University's (SC) flag football team was featured in the school's student newspaper, The Tiger. In the article, club president and founder Amanda Andreano discusses the humble origins of the team. She played in the school's intramural league, but found herself wanting to play more competitively. That led her to start a club team, which officially entered the university's Club Sports Association in spring 2024. Clemson competed in the SWCFFA's inaugural fall season this year and will be back for competition in spring 2026.

Coaching News

Anna Maria College (MA) posted a job description for a part-time women's flag football head coaching role. Anna Maria will begin competing in the 2026-27 academic year.

NEW THIS WEEK: Arizona State University named Preston Hale as the club team's defensive coordinator.

Aurora University (IL) posted a job description for a part-time assistant women's flag football coaching position.

Benedictine University (IL) posted a job description for a seasonal assistant coaching position.

Campbellsville University (KY) is seeking a part-time assistant flag football coach. The Tigers named Spencer McCown head coach in July 2025.

Cedar Crest College (PA) posted the job description for the flag football head coaching vacancy. Amanda Avvento was previously the head coach.

NEW THIS WEEK: Centenary College of Louisiana named Morgan Dorsey as the first head coach in program history. Dorsey is also the college's women's soccer head coach.

The College of Saint Benedict (MN) posted a job description for a women's flag football head coaching vacancy. CSB will begin competing as a club team during the 2025-26 academic year.

NEW THIS WEEK: Freed-Hardeman University (TN) named Jarred Clayton as the program's inaugural head coach. FHU will begin competing during the 2026-27 academic year.

Greenville University (IL) posted a job description for a women's flag football head coaching position. Greenville hasn't made an official announcement about adding a flag football program.

Grossmont College (CA) posted the job description for the women's flag football head coaching role.

Guilford College (NC) posted the job description for the women's flag football head coaching vacancy. Guilford will begin playing flag football in the 2026-27 academic year.

Hastings College (NE) posted the job description for the women's flag football head coaching position. Hastings will begin playing in the 2026-27 academic year.

Howard Payne University (TX) posted the job description for the women's flag football coaching vacancy. HPU will begin competing during the 2026-27 academic year.

Indiana Wesleyan University posted the head coaching job description for the newly formed flag football team. IWU will begin competing during the 2026-27 academic year.

Lewis University (IL) posted the job description for the women's flag football head coach opening. Lewis will play its first season in the 2026-27 academic year.

Manhattan University (NY) posted a job description for the women's flag football head coaching vacancy. Manhattan has not made a formal announcement regarding the addition of a flag football program.

NEW THIS WEEK: McPherson College (KS) is looking to fill its head coaching vacancy. Those interested can fill out the application here or contact Ed Loeb at loebe@mcpherson[dot]com. McPherson will begin playing in the 2026-27 academic year.

NEW THIS WEEK: Northwest Shoals Community College (AL) head coach Jamie Jeffreys resigned from his position. Northwest Shoals has posted the job description for the vacancy.

NEW THIS WEEK: St. John Fisher University (NY) posted the job description for the women's flag football head coaching role. SJFU will begin competing in the 2026-27 academic year.

NEW THIS WEEK: Thiel University (PA) announced Jon Bevier as the program's first head coach. Bevier coaches the linebackers on the men's tackle football team. Thiel will compete as a club team in spring 2026.

The University of Bridgeport (CT) posted the job description for a women's flag football head coaching vacancy. Bridgeport will play its first season in the 2026-27 academic year.

Union College (NY) posted the job description for the women's flag football head coaching position. Union will begin competing in the 2026-27 academic year.

NEW THIS WEEK: The University of Illinois Springfield posted the job description for the women's flag football head coaching role. UIS will begin competing in the 2026-27 academic year.

The University of North Alabama posted the job description for the women's flag football head coach opening. The Lions will begin competing in the 2026-27 academic year.

NEW THIS WEEK: The University of Texas at Arlington named Melinda Nguyen as the program's inaugural head coach. Nguyen was previously the head coach at the NAIA's Kansas Wesleyan University, going 49-17 overall and 27-5 in the KCAC in her three seasons in charge. UTA will begin competing during the 2026-27 academic year.

Future Camps and Clinics

Newsletter email note: An interactive calendar with all the dates and hosts has been placed at the top of this section on the website. Due to the limitations of HTML within emails, I am unable to send the calendar as part of the weekly rundown in the email. A direct link is provided here. The camps and clinics are listed in order of date, from the earliest to the latest date. The listed times are specific to that school's time zone.

There will be a showcase camp at Locust Grove High School (GA) on Sunday, December 14, in Locust Grove, Georgia. The camp will take place from 9:30 AM to 3 PM and is open to players graduating between 2026 and 2029. Coaches from Chowan University (NC), LaGrange College (GA), Meredith College (NC), Reinhardt University (GA), and Wingate (NC) will be in attendance.

NEW THIS WEEK: The University of Toronto (Canada) will host a women's football development camp for flag and tackle disciplines. The camp will take place on Sunday, December 14, from 9 AM to 3 PM and will be held at the University of Toronto Dome.

USA Flag will host the 2026 World Championships from Wednesday, January 14, through Sunday, January 18, 2026, in Tampa, Florida. The deadline to secure a spot is Friday, October 10. Teams can still register between October 11 and December 5, but will be placed on a waiting list.

The Golden States Games will take place from Friday, January 16, through Sunday, January 18, 2026, in Irvine, California. There will be divisions for nearly every age group, including a women's college flag division. Part of the Games will have a Prospect Showcase hosted by Cal Poly, and they will partner up with the NFL's Los Angeles Chargers.

Duke University (NC) will partner with Next Level Flag Football to host a 7-week season from Sunday, January 18, 2026, through Sunday, March 1, 2026. The league is coed and open to local students in first through sixth grades.

The Heritage Girls Flag Bowl will be held on Saturday, January 31, 2026, in San Diego, California. The Flag Bowl is open to junior and senior high school students. Players interested in participating can register here, with coaches from the two teams evaluating and ranking players to provide an opportunity to be drafted to play in the Heritage Bowl. The registration deadline is Saturday, October 25, and players will be drafted on Saturday, November 1. Players participating in the Flag Bowl will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to San Diego.

NEW THIS WEEK: The Houston Texans will host a girls flag football college showcase on Saturday, January 31, 2026. The showcase will be held at the Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Texas. The registration form can be found here.

Villa Maria College (NY) will have a women's flag football camp & showcase on Saturday, February 14, 2026, which will feature US Women's National Team member Izzy Geraci. The camp will take place from 12 PM to 2:30 PM at Villa Maria's athletic center in Buffalo, New York.

Howard Community College (MD) will host a spring flag football league in the Spring of 2026. Games will be played each Sunday, starting March 22, 2026, and the league will conclude on June 14, 2026.

NEW THIS WEEK: Niagara Youth Flag Football (Canada) will host an All-Girls University Camp on Sunday, March 22, 2026, from 9 AM to 12 PM. The camp will take place at Youngs Sportsplex in Welland, Ontario, Canada. Canadian Universities Brock, Sheridan, and Western will be joined by the Villa Maria College from the Buffalo, New York area.

Howard Community College (MD) will host a flag football scouting combine the weekend of Saturday, March 28, 2026, and Sunday, March 29, 2026. The camp will take place in Columbia, Maryland, and is open to high school girls in grades 9 through 12. The camp coincides with the NCFFL's Maryland Championship Series.

Lancaster Bible College (PA) will host a flag football scouting combine on Friday, April 10, 2026, and Saturday, April 11, 2026. The camp will take place in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and is open to high school girls in grades 9 through 12. The camp coincides with the NCFFL's Pennsylvania Championship Series.

The NCFFL will host a national flag football scouting combine on the weekend of Saturday, May 2, 2026, and Sunday, May 3, 2026. The camp will take place in Tinton Falls, New Jersey, and is open to high school girls in grades 9 through 12. The camp coincides with the NCFFL's Nationals tournament the same weekend.

Millersville University (PA) will host its 2nd annual girls flag football camp from Wednesday, June 24, through Sunday, June 28, 2026. The camp will feature two-a-day practices, film review, evaluations, guest speakers, and strength and conditioning.

Groups Drawn for the 2026 IFAF World Flag Football Championships

The groups are known for the 2026 IFAF World Flag Football Championships. On the women's side, Group A will be contested by Germany, Italy, Mexico, and Slovenia. Group B will be Australia, Nigeria, Spain, and the United States. Group C will be Austria, China, France, and Great Britain. Group D will be Brazil, Canada, Japan, and Panama.

The men's draw also took place, with Group A comprised of American Samoa, Australia, Israel, and the United States. Group B will be Austria, Canada, Japan, and Nigeria. Group C will be contested by Brazil, Germany, Mexico, and Switzerland. Group D will be France, Great Britain, Italy, and Panama.

The 2026 IFAF World Flag Football Championships will take place in Düsseldorf, Germany, from Thursday, August 13, through Sunday, August 16. The game schedule will be released at a later date. The IFAF also posted the World Rankings, with Mexico leading the United States in the women's rankings, while the US men's team leads Austria.

High School Champs Crowned in Alabama and Kentucky

Alabama crowned two high school state champions in flag football. For the Class 1-5A title, Moody got out to a large lead and held on to defeat Montgomery Catholic 27-18 to prevent a second straight title for MCPS. In the Class 6A-7A championship game, Central-Phenix City dispatched Vestavia Hills 46-7 to win its 57th straight game and third consecutive title.

In Kentucky, Assumption defeated Mercy 13-6 to win the school's second straight flag football championship.

Las Vegas Raiders Boost Utah High School Flag Football

The NFL's Las Vegas Raiders are helping improve the high school flag football landscape in Utah. The Raiders provided $100,000 in funding for programs to purchase the required equipment and to help start teams around the state. The ultimate goal is to see flag football become a sponsored sport in Utah. The Raiders and all NFL franchise have the shared initiative to have flag football sanctioned at the high school level across all 50 states.

Montclair State University Dean Talks Flag Football

Montclair State University's Keith Strudler talked about the rise of women's flag football in a recent commentary. Strudler, the Dean of the College of Communication and Media at Montclair, talked about the recent funding the New York Jets provided to help launch the ECAC's flag football league. Strudler characterizes flag football as entering its "salad days," or a newer sport with plenty of room to grow in the coming years. Strudler goes on to say that flag football can help provide women with more collegiate sport opportunities, while providing colleges with another way to maintain enrollment.

NFL, Big 12 Partner Up

The NFL and the Big 12 Conference announced a strategic partnership to advance the future of football. Part of the announcement was to collaborate to grow flag football across the Big 12 campuses. There were not many details provided on how the two will achieve this, other than providing resources, tools, and player appearances. The Big 12 currently has three flag football club teams: Arizona State University, the University of Colorado, and the University of Central Florida.

North Carolina Closer to Sanctioning Flag Football

The North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) had its Fall meeting at the start of December. One of the talking points was flag football, which is currently not sanctioned by the NCHSAA. The organization is awaiting the study commissioned earlier in the fall to make a more informed decision. That report is expected to be completed as early as February, with the NCHSAA possibly voting after the report is finalized.

NCHSAA Commissioner Que Tucker noted two outstanding issues that are preventing flag football from becoming a sanctioned sport. One is whether flag football should be played in the fall or spring, a topic that is to be addressed in the ongoing study. The other hurdle is funding, specifically, how the NCHSAA will pay for another championship when it currently has a $1.5 million deficit and is adding an additional four size classifications.

Unrivaled, Ashlea Klam Partner Up

Keiser University (FL) and US Women's National Team star Ashlea Klam is partnering up with Unrivaled Sports to provide more scouting opportunities for youth athletes. Unrivaled and Klam aim to put on more showcase events, which will allow athletes higher visibility to college coaches from around the country.

Villa Maria Head Coach Keith Wing Chats With CFF

Here at Collegiate Flag Football, we recently chatted with Villa Maria head coach Keith Wing about the school's program. Coach Wing spoke candidly about some of the early struggles to find opponents, the impact the NFL's Buffalo Bills have had on the program, the origins of the NCFFL, some upcoming events, and much more. The full interview can be found here.