NIRSA member schools are already getting excited to compete in the inaugural NIRSA Flag Football League.
The new collegiate league, developed in partnership with the National Football League (NFL), will feature a diverse and competitive group of institutions from across the country, with a national championship tournament in April 2027 set to cap off the inaugural season.
The new NIRSA Club Flag league will include powerhouse universities and emerging programs alike, including the University of Georgia, University of Central Florida, University of Florida, Bowling Green State University, University of North Florida, Pennsylvania State University, Clemson University, Coastal Carolina University, University of Wisconsin River Falls, Grand Canyon University, Radford University, and leading historically Black colleges and universities such as Texas Southern University and North Carolina A & T State University.
Serving a new generation of students
Played in a 7v7 format, the league is designed to elevate competitive opportunities for women in flag football while reinforcing NIRSA’s commitment to fostering connection, competition, and lifelong wellbeing through campus recreation.
“Flag football is a cornerstone of NIRSA, and this league represents a natural evolution of our commitment to expanding access and opportunity in collegiate recreation,” says Pam Watts, NIRSA Executive Director. “As interest in flag football continues to accelerate, we are proud to partner with the NFL and our member institutions to create a structured, competitive environment that supports student development, leadership, and lifelong wellbeing,” she adds.
“We’re grateful for NIRSA’s leadership and partnership because this initiative is about more than competition; it’s about opportunity,” says NFL SVP of Global Flag Football Brian Flinn. “We’re not just launching a league. We’re continuing to redefine who football is for and what’s possible at the collegiate level, elevating the sport and expanding pathways for athletes at every level,” adds Brian.
Flag football is experiencing rapid global growth, with recent studies estimating more than 20 million players worldwide and 4.1 million youth participants in the United States as of 2026. The sport’s rise has been fueled by its accessibility, and inclusivity, along with increasing institutional support. Notably, girls’ high school participation has surged by 105% between 2023 and 2024, and the sport will make its debut at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
The launch of the NIRSA Club Flag Football league builds on NIRSA’s broader efforts to advance the sport across collegiate recreation, including investments in officiating development, standardized competition structures, and national championship pathways through the NIRSA Championship Series. By aligning resources, expertise, and institutional support, NIRSA continues to serve as a catalyst for the growth of emerging sports at the collegiate level.
Through its partnership with the NFL, the league will also benefit from operational infrastructure, and long-term sustainability—further positioning flag football as one of the fastest-growing and most accessible sports in higher education.
The Women’s Club Flag Football League will provide student-athletes with opportunities to compete, lead, and connect with peers nationwide, while reinforcing NIRSA’s mission to advance recreation, sport, and wellbeing across college campuses.
Additional details regarding schedules, championship location, and broadcast opportunities will be announced in the coming months. Schools with clubs eligible to compete in the 2027 NIRSA Club Flag season should visit the NIRSA website to learn more and register your interest.
- If you have additional questions about the league, please contact NIRSA National Flag Football Manager Nik Sandona; for media inquiries, contact Jake Duhaime, MAXX MGMT.
