Cal Poly Eyes Women’s Flag Football Varsity Status

College Sport’s Rapid Ascent Continues

Cal Poly is poised to become the sixth NCAA Division I institution to introduce women’s flag football as a varsity sport, with the program potentially launching as early as 2027. This move signals growing momentum for the sport at the collegiate level.

A Wave of Collegiate Adoption

In an announcement to the campus community, Cal Poly Athletic Director Don Oberhelman revealed the university’s intentions. Cal Poly joins a growing list of Division I schools, including Alabama State, Long Island, Mercyhurst, Mount St. Mary’s, and UT Arlington, that have either announced or are actively pursuing the addition of women’s flag football.

NCAA Endorsement Fuels Growth

Flag football received a significant boost in February when the NCAA recommended its inclusion in the Emerging Sports for Women program. If formally adopted at the 2026 NCAA convention, this could pave the way for expanded collegiate opportunities, though a championship tournament may still be some years away.

The sport’s trajectory is further highlighted by its inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. This global recognition appears to be directly translating into increased collegiate interest. Nebraska Athletic Director Troy Dannen recently noted that stakeholders should “keep a close eye” on the sport after hosting an exhibition game. Meanwhile, ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips indicated that the conference is actively monitoring flag football developments and has initiated preliminary discussions.

An email obtained via an open records request, sent by NCAA Senior Vice President Felicia Martin to Division I athletic directors, underscored the sport’s importance. The combination of flag football’s Olympic recognition and its expanding popularity among youth and high school players has elevated its importance as one of NCAA President Charlie Baker’s top priorities for the Association, wrote Martin in May 2024, also providing data and resources on the sport’s expansion.

Cal Poly’s Strategic Investment

Don Oberhelman expressed his hope that an early investment in women’s flag football will enable Cal Poly to emulate the success of its beach volleyball program, which also grew from the NCAA’s Emerging Sports for Women initiative to achieve championship status. The Mustangs have made five NCAA Tournament appearances in beach volleyball, reaching the national semifinals in the last two years.

Cal Poly is also upgrading its STUNT program from club status to a varsity sport. Both of these additions are part of the university’s long-term planning to increase opportunities for female student-athletes, Oberhelman stated. This is particularly important as Cal Poly’s female student population has increased over the last 12 years from 42 percent of enrollment to 51 percent.

Expanding Reach Beyond Division I

While only a few Division I schools have embraced women’s flag football, the sport is already well-established at Division II and III levels. The Division III America East conference completed its first full varsity season this past year, culminating in a conference championship.

Jacqie McWilliams-Parker, commissioner of the Division II CIAA, has shared her ambition to establish flag football as a varsity sport within the league for the 2026-27 academic year. This indicates a broader, multi-divisional commitment to developing the sport for female athletes across the NCAA landscape.