College flag football

Last updated

College flag football
Governing body
First played2021 (NJCAA)

College flag football is the sport of flag football played by student-athletes at colleges and universities. The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) was the first college governing body to sanction flag football as a varsity women's sport in 2021.

Contents

History

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) partnered with the National Football League (NFL) to become the first college governing body to sanction flag football for female student-athletes at the varsity level. [1] Ten teams took part in the inaugural NAIA tournament in the spring of 2021. [2] The National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) followed and added the sport in the spring of 2023. [3] The Atlantic East Conference of NCAA Division III became the first National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) conference to sponsor the sport in the spring of 2025. [4]

Champions

NAIA

List of National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics flag football champions
Ed.SeasonDateChampionScoreRunner-upLocationWinning
head coach		Ref.
1
 2021 May 8, 2021 Ottawa (KS) 7–6 Keiser (FL) Atlanta, GA Liz Sowers [5]
2
 2022 May 14, 2022 Ottawa (KS) (2)24–20 Thomas (GA) Atlanta, GA Liz Sowers (2) [6]
3
 2023 May 20, 2023 Ottawa (KS) (3)18–13 Thomas (GA) Atlanta, GA Liz Sowers (3) [7]
4
 2024 May 10, 2024 Ottawa (KS) (4)21–13 Keiser (FL) Atlanta, GA Liz Sowers (4) [8]
5
 2025 May 8, 2025 Ottawa (KS) (5)34–20 Keiser (FL) Riverside, MO Liz Sowers (5) [9]

NJCAA

List of National Junior College Athletic Association flag football champions
Ed.SeasonDateChampionScoreRunner-upLocationWinning
head coach		Ref.
1
2023May 20, 2023 Florida Gateway College 20–0 Hesston (KS) Atlanta, GA Ricky Hufty [10]
2
2024May 9, 2024 Florida Gateway College (2)26–13, 45–6 [a] Hesston (KS) Atlanta, GA Ricky Hufty (2) [11]
3
2025May 8, 2025 Florida Gateway College (3)68–13 Daytona State (FL) Kansas City, KS Ricky Hufty (3) [12]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Best-of-three series

References

  1. ↑ "NAIA to sponsor women's flag football with NFL partnership". ESPN. May 4, 2020. Retrieved October 28, 2025.
  2. ↑ Deighton, John (May 28, 2021). "NAIA Women's Flag Football champion emerges at Mercedes-Benz Stadium". Atlanta Falcons . Retrieved October 28, 2025.
  3. ↑ "FGC Timberwolves Win NJCAA Flag Football Championship". Florida Gateway College. May 20, 2023. Retrieved October 28, 2025.
  4. ↑ Steele, Michele (March 3, 2025). "Atlantic East launches women's flag football as varsity sport". ESPN . Retrieved October 28, 2025.
  5. ↑ "OU's WFLAG Football Wins National Title". Ottawa University. May 11, 2021. Retrieved October 28, 2025.
  6. ↑ "Braves Repeat As Champions, Defeat Thomas 24-20". Ottawa University. May 14, 2022. Retrieved October 28, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Women's Flag Captures 3rd NAIA Championship, Defeats Thomas 18-13". Ottawa University. May 20, 2023. Retrieved October 28, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Women's Flag Captures Fourth Straight NAIA Flag Finals Championship". Ottawa University. May 10, 2024. Retrieved October 28, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Ottawa Claims Fifth-Consecutive Banner in Flag Football Finals". National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. May 8, 2025. Retrieved October 28, 2025.
  10. ↑ "FGC Timberwolves Win NJCAA Flag Football Championship". Florida Gateway College. May 20, 2023. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
  11. ↑ "FGC Timberwolves Win Back-to-Back NJCAA Flag Football Championships". Florida Gateway College. May 9, 2024. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
  12. ↑ "Three-peat! Florida Gateway claims another Women's Flag Football title". Florida College System Activities Association. May 8, 2025. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
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