The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) announced today the addition of women's flag football as a conference-sponsored sport starting in 2026-27.
The inaugural season will take place in the spring of 2027 with five schools competing. The GLIAC is the first Midwest-based NCAA Division II conference to officially sponsor women's flag football.
Conference member Purdue University Northwest, which officially began intercollegiate play in 2026, posting a 9-3 record, will be joined by Davenport University, the University of Wisconsin-Parkside and Saginaw Valley State University in addition to affiliate member Lewis University. The University of Illinois Springfield will also become an affiliate member of the GLIAC for flag football when it joins the league for the 2027-28 campaign.
"The GLIAC is proud to announce the addition of women's flag football, a sport that continues to experience tremendous growth and momentum across the country," said Commissioner Kris Dunbar. "This decision reflects our commitment to providing new competitive opportunities for student-athletes while supporting the evolution of collegiate athletics. We are excited to partner with our member institutions as we help shape the future of women's flag football and provide a platform for these student-athletes to excel both on the field and in the classroom."
Flag football took a big step recently, receiving a formal recommendation to become an NCAA championship sport. Its first championship is projected to occur in spring 2028.
The NCAA Committee on Access, Opportunity and Impact voted at its spring meeting to recommend Divisions I, II and III sponsor legislation to add a National Collegiate Flag Football Championship. The committee oversees the Emerging Sports for Women program, which aims to grow participation and competitive opportunities for women's sports across the NCAA.
Before the committee can make a recommendation to add a championship for an emerging sport, 40 schools must sponsor it at a varsity level and meet the sport's minimum competition and participant requirements. The sport's sponsorship numbers among NCAA schools reflect the growing demand and momentum for the game, with over 100 schools planning to compete during the next academic year.
Girls' high school flag football is exploding across the Midwest, transitioning from a pilot program to an officially sanctioned varsity sport in many states. For instance, in Michigan, the sport has surged in popularity. Participation jumped from just four pilot teams in 2023 to 80 teams across 15 leagues, culminating with the state championship at Ford Field, home of the Detroit Lions.
Flag football participation at all levels has also skyrocketed with the news of the addition of the sport to the 2028 Summer Olympic program.
NCAA women's flag football is played in a 7-on-7 format with an average roster size of about 25 players. The sport operates on an 80-yard by 40-yard field with 10-yard end zones, and games feature four 12-minute quarters.
Players wear flag belts with two detachable flags. A player is downed when an opponent pulls one of the flags off their belt. Blocking and tackling are strictly prohibited. Instead, offensive players screen-block or use position to create space.
Davenport head coach Ryan Adamovich
"We are absolutely thrilled to launch our women’s flag football program and officially kick off competition in the GLIAC for the 2026-2027 season. Having a prestigious conference affiliation right from the start provides our student-athletes with an elite, championship-caliber stage to compete on. There is an incredible wave of energy and excitement on campus as we build this program from the ground up and prepare to make Davenport a premier destination for the future of the sport"
Lewis head coach Aaron Richardson
"I am extremely excited for the opportunity to help continue growing the game of flag football while serving as Conference Chair. Our shared goal as conference coaches is to establish the GLIAC as the standard of flag football at the Division II level by creating a competitive and sustainable model for the sport. We are committed to providing an exceptional experience for all student-athletes—one that fosters development, passion, and opportunity for years to come."
Parkside head coach Jared Cardarelle
“I’m excited that a conference the caliber of the GLIAC is starting flag football. It means a lot to the game, and the girls that are playing it now and who will play in the future."
Purdue Northwest head coach Micah Lowe
"The addition of Women's Flag Football as a GLIAC-sponsored sport marks an exciting new chapter for collegiate athletics. This move reflects the tremendous growth of the sport and creates meaningful opportunities for female student-athletes throughout the region. We're thrilled to see the GLIAC take this step and help provide a competitive conference home for a sport that continues to gain momentum nationwide. The future of Women's Flag Football is incredibly bright, and we're proud to be part of its continued growth."
Saginaw Valley State head coach Amber Clark-Robinson
"I'm excited to see flag football continue to grow and for the GLIAC to provide another opportunity for student-athletes to compete at a high level. It's an honor for SVSU to be one of the first five schools competing in the conference. As an inaugural program, we're focused on building a strong foundation, creating a great experience for our athletes, and competing with the best of the best. This is another big step forward for the sport and we're excited to be a part of it!"
