Conference alignment for the inaugural season of the NIRSA Club Flag League is now set, creating a national structure for one of the fastest-growing sports on college campuses.
The league’s first season officially kicks off in January 2027, with nearly 90 women’s teams expected to compete across ten geographically based conferences. Schools will play an average 12-game schedule, with over 540 games and 75-85 jamboree-style events expected nationwide.
The inaugural women’s conferences are:
Gulfstream Division
Florida State University, Florida A&M University, University of Florida, University of North Florida, University of Central Florida, University of South Florida, Florida Gulf Coast University, Florida Atlantic University, University of Miami, Florida International University, and Atlantis University.
Atlantic Piedmont Division
Georgia College & State University, University of North Georgia, University of Georgia, University of Alabama, Clemson University, Georgia Tech, Georgia Southern University, and University of South Carolina.
Palmetto Division
University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Winthrop University, Coastal Carolina University, Wake Forest University, North Carolina A&T State University, Radford University, High Point University, Duke University, North Carolina Central University, NC State University, Fayetteville State University, Old Dominion University, and Hampton University.
Capital Division
University of Delaware, University of Maryland, Howard University, George Mason University, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Coppin State University, Penn State University, University of Pittsburgh, University of Virginia, and James Madison University.
North Atlantic Division
University of Massachusetts Amherst, University at Albany, University of New Haven, College of Staten Island, Princeton University, University of Pennsylvania, Rutgers University, and Widener University.
Great Lakes Division
University of Michigan, Bowling Green State University, Purdue University Fort Wayne, Ohio University, Oberlin College, University of Wisconsin-River Falls, and Indiana University.
Gulf Plains Division
University of Oklahoma, University of North Texas, Texas Southern University, and Louisiana State University.
Continental Divide Division
University of Utah, Weber State University, Utah Valley University, Boise State University, University of Colorado Boulder, University of Denver, University of Montana, Montana Technological University, and Montana State University.
Sierra Pacific Division
Sacramento State, University of Nevada, Reno, UC Berkeley, and UC Davis.
Pacific Southwest Division
UCLA, USC, Claremont Colleges, Cal Poly Pomona, Cal State Long Beach, UC Santa Barbara, San Diego State University, UC San Diego, MiraCosta College, Arizona State University, Grand Canyon University, University of Arizona, and University of New Mexico.
“This is where the NIRSA Club Flag Football League starts to feel real,” says Pam Watts, Executive Director of NIRSA. “We aren’t just creating opportunities for students to play flag football. We’re building a national collegiate structure where schools can compete regionally, develop rivalries and ultimately earn the opportunity to compete for a national championship.”
Rather than asking teams to travel across the country, NIRSA’s league model is built around geography and a “jamboree” format. Three to six schools will gather at a host location and play multiple games during a single event. Teams will primarily face conference opponents, with opportunities for non-conference competition as well. NIRSA will coordinate league scheduling in collaboration with participating teams.
Student-centered competition
The format creates some immediate college football-style rivalries in a new setting: USC-UCLA, Florida-Florida State, Georgia-Georgia Tech, Michigan-Indiana, Duke-NC State and Arizona-Arizona State, among others.
The season will culminate with a national championship tournament featuring the top teams from each conference. The championship format is slated to include pool play followed by bracket competition, semifinals, and the national championship game.
The league is also being built with athletes having seats at the table. A seven-member Student Athlete Advisory Committee will be providing feedback and helping to shape the decisions that affect the player experience.
The new collegiate league, developed in partnership with the National Football League (NFL), will be supported by Franklin Sports, who will supply flag football belts, footballs, and related equipment to support the continued growth of the NIRSA Club Flag League.
Additional details regarding schedules, championship location, and broadcast opportunities will be announced in the coming months.Franklin on Instagram @franklinsports, @franklinsportseqp, and @franklinpickleball, on Facebook @franklinsports, and on X @franklinsports.
- If you have additional questions about NIRSA Flag Football, please contact NIRSA National Flag Football Manager Nik Sandona; for media inquiries, contact Jake Duhaime, MAXX MGMT.
