MHU to join Conference Carolinas in flag football

GREENVILLE, S.C. – Conference Carolinas announced the addition of three associate members in women's flag football. Mars Hill University, Mount St. Mary's University and Wingate University will all join the league when competition starts in 2025-26.

Conference Carolinas was the first NCAA Division I or II conference to announce plans to sponsor women's flag football and now will have 11 members when the league starts in the 2025-26 academic year.

"Conference Carolinas is thrilled with the additions of Mars Hill, Mount St. Mary's and Wingate to our women's flag football conference bringing our sponsorship to 11 institutions," Commissioner Chris Colvin said. "Flag football is one of the fastest growing sports in the country and the southeast region and we are excited to lead the way in the NCAA."

In July, Conference Carolinas announced the addition of women's flag football as the league's 30th sport with six members. Chowan University, Emmanuel University, Ferrum College, King University, Lees-McRae College and the University of Mount Olive announced the start of programs at the same time. Emmanuel began competing in 2024-25 while the other institutions will start in 2025-26. Barton College and Erskine College both announced the addition last fall, becoming the seventh and eighth institutions and they will also start in 2025-26.

"Mars Hill University is excited about adding women's flag football," Rick Baker, Mars Hill Director of Athletics said. "We have had a great experience being an associate member in Conference Carolinas for the last three years in the sport of acrobatics & tumbling and we are looking forward to continue that experience in women's flag football."

"Mount St. Mary's is very appreciative of the Conference Carolinas membership for accepting us for associate membership for women's flag football," Mount St. Mary's Director of Athletics Brad Davis said. "We are proud and excited to align with a forward-thinking conference that will provide unprecedented opportunities in the collegiate landscape for women's flag football student-athletes. We look forward to competing next spring!"

"There is a lot of energy and excitement around the addition of women's flag football at the university.," said Wingate Director of Athletics Joe Reich. "We think it will be a great addition to our overall athletics program. "We are fortunate to have a coach with experience coaching as a head coach in college already with coach Joe Schlager."

In 2025-26, it is anticipated that 16 NCAA institutions will be competing at the varsity level across all three divisions with 38 expected varsity level programs in 2026-27. At the NAIA level, there are 24 institutions currently participating women's flag football and seven at the NJCAA level.

"We are proud to see the continued growth of women's flag football at the collegiate level and applaud Conference Carolinas for leading the charge in expanding opportunities for female athletes," said Izell Reese, CEO of RCX Sports. "The addition of Mars Hill, Mount St. Mary's, and Wingate underscores the momentum behind this sport, and we look forward to seeing its impact on campuses and communities across the region."

At the high school level, 13 states currently sanction women's flag football, including Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia and Florida while North Carolina has pilot programs and South Carolina and Virginia have shown interest.

Additionally, at the high school level, the number of participants in girls flag football more than doubled from the 2022-23 school year to 2023-24. A total of 42,955 girls participated in flag football in 2023-24 compared to 20,875 the previous year – a 105 percent increase. Also, there has been a 173 percent increase from the 15,716 participants in 2021-22.

The NCAA Committee of Women's Athletics has recommended to each of the three divisions that women's flag football be recognized as emerging sport. Each division will consider that recommendation in the coming months.

The average roster size is approximately 25 players that will play 7-on-7. Teams score six points for a touchdown and can gain an extra one or two points for a set play from the five- or 10-yard lines. Players will wear tightly fixed flag belts with sockets and two pop flags on either side of their hips.

The NFL is a huge supporter of the growth of flag football. Numerous NFL facilities and stadiums have been utilized for competitions and clinics while several players have attended and engaged with athletes to grow the sport.  Across the country this past year, more than 750,000 youth took part in NFL FLAG leagues, with nearly 500,000 of those athletes being female, and 14 states have now sanctioned girls flag football as championship sports, thanks to the work of the NFL and RCX Sports, the official operator of NFL FLAG.