The game of flag football continues its expansion. Recent developments have continued to push the game forward, and Thursday another first was unveiled.
The Fiesta Sports Foundation, which runs the Fiesta Bowl, announced it will host the first-ever collegiate women’s flag football event to feature Division I programs.
The Fiesta Bowl Flag Football Classic will take place between April 18-19 on campus at Arizona State University. The Fields at Dorsey will play host to the two-day event that will showcase college teams from around the country.
Arizona State will be joined by Central Florida, Charlotte, Florida, Georgia, Grand Canyon University, USC and Alabama State as the participants.
“As flag football continues its rapid ascent nationwide, bringing forth the first-ever national college event for the ever-growing Division 1 community helps to elevate the collegiate game, celebrate these student-athletes and shape the future of the sport on a national stage,” Fiesta Sports Foundation executive director and CEO Erik Moses said in a statement.
Alabama State is particularly significant. It is the first school that offered scholarships as a DI program for flag football. Mount St. Mary’s, Mercyhurst and Long Island are others that offer the sport at a varsity level.
UT Arlington will join that group in 2027. Close to 60 Division I schools offer flag football as either a varsity or club sport.
“This Fiesta Bowl Flag Football Classic tournament invite is huge for us and for women’s flag football,” Alabama State head coach Tyrone Poole said. “It’s a national stage that validates our sport and inspires the next generation.”
The 7-on-7 event, sponsored by Oakley, will feature a championship format with three pool play games followed by bracket play on the second day.
Power Four Schools Join The Flag Football Buzz
While flag football has gained traction at smaller programs around the country, Power Four schools are now starting to enter the mix. The University of Nebraska made waves earlier this month by announcing flag football will be its 25th varsity sport.
The Cornhuskers then became the first Power Four team to offer a high school recruit a scholarship. Orange Lutheran High School quarterback Makena Cook received the news from Nebraska football coach Matt Rhule.
Nebraska plans to begin playing games at the varsity level in the spring of 2028. The Cornhuskers want to have a head coach in place by the summer. They anticipate having a roster of close to 15 players by the fall.
Other Power Four programs currently operate at the club level. Clemson, Duke, Florida State, Rutgers, Virginia, UCLA, NC State and Penn State are other Power Four schools with established teams.
“This tournament is an incredible opportunity to continue growing the sport of flag football while competing at a high level,” Florida quarterback and club president Mieke Rowe said. “We’re proud to be part of an event that brings together elite programs and fosters a competitive atmosphere for athletes, fans and the sport as a whole.”
NFL Backing Helping Push The Sport Forward
Flag football continues to grow at all levels. The Fiesta Sports Foundation indicates that over 2.5 million athletes play the game. In the US, 17 states have sanctioned flag football more than a dozen others working towards the same.
The NCAA has started to pave a path for more programs to create varsity-level programs and eventually make it a championship sport for all divisions. Just two weeks ago, the NCAA added flag football to its “Emerging Sports for Women” program.
That will continue the process of flag football eventually earning a championship and tournament. The NCAA requires a minimum of 40 schools to sponsor a sport at varsity level, among other benchmarks, to reach championship status.
All three divisions approved the recommendation.
One key catalyst driving the sport behind the scenes has been the NFL. The league is active at the grassroots level. It has also been a big part of growing the collegiate game as well.
“Adding flag football to the NCAA’s Emerging Sports for Women program is a historic milestone for the game,” NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent Sr. said this month. “This decision reflects the growing global enthusiasm for flag football and will open doors for young women to pursue their dreams and compete at the collegiate level.
“We applaud the NCAA for this transformational decision and look forward to collaborating with them to ensure flag football continues its path toward championship status.”
Flag football will also make its Olympics debut in the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.
