NCAA Division I Women's Flag Football Teams (2026-27 List)
17 colleges field NCAA Division I varsity women's flag football as of October 16, 2026.
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (2027-28) has announced a first varsity season. The NCAA allows athletic scholarships at this level.
Updated
NCAA Division I rules.From the NCAA.
- Athletic scholarships: Allowed
- Athletic aid is allowed, and no flag football equivalency limit is set. At schools under the House settlement, a 25-player roster limit replaces scholarship limits from 2027-28.
- Championship
- An NCAA Emerging Sport for Women since January 2026, with no NCAA championship yet. The divisions vote on one in January 2027, and the first is projected for spring 2028.
- Contact and eligibility
- Calls, texts and recruiting materials from June 15 after sophomore year. Off-campus contact and official visits from August 1 of junior year. Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center.
Governing body: NCAA. Sources:
- NCAA Division I Proposal 2026-73: flag football roster limit
- NCAA Division I Proposal 2025-11: roster limits
- NCAA Division I Proposal 2026-16: recruiting rules
- NCAA: flag football added to Emerging Sports for Women
- NCAA: flag football moves toward championship status
- NCAA Eligibility Center: Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete, 2026-27
Season by season.Campus by campus.
Programs fielding a team, each season
| Season | Programs | New that season |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 1 | 1 |
| 2025-26 | 4 | 3 |
| 2026-27 | 17 | 13 |
Today's list counted back, so a program that folded is not in the early seasons.
Every NCAA Division I team.Every source.
Know a program we missed? Send us the source.
By state.Find yours.
Your questions.Straight answers.
Which colleges have NCAA Division I women's flag football?
3 conference groupings, largest first. Independent or not yet in a conference: Alabama State University, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Eastern Michigan University, University of Nebraska, University of North Alabama, University of South Carolina Upstate and University of Texas Arlington. MEAC: Delaware State University, Gardner-Webb University, Mississippi Valley State University, Norfolk State University, North Carolina Central University and University of Maryland Eastern Shore. ECAC: Fairleigh Dickinson University, Long Island University, Manhattan University, Mercyhurst University and Mount St. Mary's University.
Which states have the most NCAA D-I women's flag football teams?
Teams play in 13 states. Leading: Alabama (2), Maryland (2), New York (2) and North Carolina (2).
When did NCAA D-I flag football start?
The earliest dated program on the list began in 2024-25: Alabama State University. 13 teams joined in 2026-27, the newest season.
How does NCAA Division I compare with other college levels?
By programs fielding a team, unconfirmed listings counted, it has the 7th most of the 8 level lists. Ahead of it: NJCAA (37) and CCCAA (21).
How do you get recruited by an NCAA Division I program?
Get on the record early, whatever rules her league plays. Stat every game she plays, then email the coaches in this table with her athlete profile; college coaches scout verified numbers on BreakAway.
More college lists
Her numbers, on the record.
Statting is free in the BreakAway app. Every game she plays builds a verified stat line on her athlete profile, the record college coaches read when they scout.