Big 12 Explores Adding Women’s Flag Football Varsity Sport for 2028 NCAA Season
✨ Coach, Parents & Player Tips
Coach’s Clipboard: Pair your players up at the start of practice to share one hustle moment they’re proud of, then let their partner dub them with a goofy superhero nickname that sticks for the day—instant laughs, respect, and a culture that high-fives hard work as much as touchdowns.
Postgame Parents: Next time you’re pegging laundry on the line, challenge your kid to balance on one foot and clip each clothespin—it sneaks in ankle and hip‐stability gains without stealing chore time (and hey, maybe you’ll both spot fewer missing socks!).
Players Snap: When your brain loops your mistakes, hit the reset: inhale, shout “game on,” and attack the next snap like you’re collecting a bounty—no reruns, just payback.
🔎 Feature Story
🏅 Big 12 becomes first major college league to explore adding women’s flag football as varsity sport
The Big 12 Conference is evaluating a 2028 launch of women’s flag football as a varsity sport with at least six teams, becoming the first Power Five league to formalize its support. This initiative builds on the NCAA’s emerging sport designation and the sport’s Olympic debut, strengthening development pathways and elevating competitive opportunities at the collegiate level.
“We’re trying to meet the moment. Our goal here is growth. Our goal is to advance Big 12 membership opportunities and growth for [the conference]. We see this as an opportunity to do that,” Big 12 chief football and competition officer Scott Draper said.
🌍 Regional Roundup
Florida (Lee County): Girls’ flag football enters its third high school season in Lee County with programs operating at varsity intensity, highlighted by Bonita Springs High’s undefeated, statewide No. 3–ranked team, despite limited NCAA scholarship prospects. Coaches are securing funds, running film sessions and equating training standards with boys’ tackle football programs.
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Los Angeles, California: The Los Angeles Rams held their Girls Flag Football Spring Classic and Shell Academic Challenge during Women’s History Month, offering youth clinics led by team mascots and cheerleaders to foster grassroots participation and academic engagement. The event served as a community outreach initiative promoting flag football skills and league interest among local girls.
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South Carolina: The Big South Conference will add women’s flag football as a sponsored varsity sport in 2027-28, becoming the first Division I multi-sport league to do so under the NCAA’s Emerging Sports for Women program and setting up its inaugural championship. Five member institutions have already launched programs with NFL support to meet Title IX goals and expand regional opportunities.
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⭐ Player Spotlight
Courtney Kovacs – Wide Receiver/Safety, St. Joseph’s University. Courtney powered the Hawks to a 3-1 ECAC mark with 31 receptions for 275 yards and three receiving touchdowns, added 20 rushing yards, threw a touchdown pass, and even caught an extra point to force overtime in a 14-8 victory.
She hauled in 31 receptions for 275 yards and three receiving touchdowns, added 20 rushing yards, threw a touchdown pass, and even caught an extra point to force overtime in a 14-8 victory. — ECAC announcement
📈 Flag Growth Focus
🔥 NFL & TMRW Pro League Partnership
The NFL has partnered with TMRW Sports, backed by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, along with all 32 franchises and high-profile investors to launch a new professional men’s and women’s flag football league. The competition will debut around the LA28 Olympic Games, positioning flag football as a premier global sport.
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🔥 Big South Pioneers Women’s Flag Football
The Big South Conference will become the first Division I multi-sport conference to sponsor women’s flag football starting in the 2027–28 season, adding it as its 19th sport with five member schools on board. Supported by the NFL, the program aims to hold its inaugural championship in Spring 2028 ahead of the sport’s Olympic debut at LA28.
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🔥 Rams Host 2026 Girls Flag Football Spring Classic
The Los Angeles Rams marked Women’s History Month by hosting the 2026 Girls Flag Football Spring Classic and Shell Academic Challenge, featuring youth clinics led by mascot Rampage and the Rams cheerleaders. This event underscores the team’s community commitment and growth strategy for expanding girls’ participation in flag football.
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⚡ FlagSnap Daily Blitz
NFL partners with TMRW Sports and high-profile investors—including all 32 franchises, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Billie Jean King and Serena Williams—to launch a pro men’s and women’s flag football league ahead of the LA28 Olympics.
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Strategy consultant Michael Fassnacht reports flag football has grown to over 8 million players worldwide—surpassing youth tackle football—and predicts the NFL’s pro league and Olympic debut will further accelerate its growth.
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Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton says he’d be “surprised” if any current NFL players make the U.S. flag football roster for the 2028 Olympics without months of dedicated training in the sport’s unique skills.
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NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell expects NFL players to compete in flag football at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and highlights the sport’s accessibility, especially for young women seeking a global football stage.
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The Los Angeles Rams marked Women’s History Month by hosting a Girls Flag Football Spring Classic and Shell Academic Challenge, where youth athletes trained alongside Rampage and the Rams Cheerleaders in drills and STEM activities.
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Flagler Palm Coast reached the Five Star Conference flag football tournament final with explosive runs by Nereyda Campos and a decisive fourth-quarter touchdown from Tori Spann.
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The Big South Conference will sponsor women’s flag football as a Division I varsity sport in 2027-28—becoming the first multi-sport league to do so—with five charter schools on board and NFL support for start-up programs.
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🏁 Final Whistle
— Kobe Bryant
