Ithaca College Adds Women’s Flag Football to Varsity Sports Lineup
Ithaca College has announced women’s flag football as its 29th varsity sport, a significant addition to its athletics program. The team will begin competing in the 2027-28 academic year and will play home games at Butterfield Stadium. The move also supports broader efforts to expand women’s participation in collegiate sports.
Ithaca College’s Newest Varsity Sport
On October 15, Ithaca College athletics announced that women’s flag football will become a varsity sport. Ithaca will be the 11th NCAA Division III college in New York and the 75th in the United States to offer a varsity women’s flag football team. The team will begin competing in spring 2028, with games scheduled from March through April.
Game Structure and Venue
Ithaca College’s women’s flag football team will play 7-on-7 on an 80-by-40-yard field. The team will host its home games at Butterfield Stadium, which also hosts the college’s football and men’s soccer teams. It’s expected to play 12 games per season, with 12 to 16 athletes on the roster.
Conference Affiliation and Competition
The team is still determining its conference affiliation. Ithaca College will be the fourth team in the Liberty League to offer varsity women’s flag football, joining Union College, William Smith College, and St. Lawrence University. The Liberty League doesn’t officially recognize women’s flag football at this time.
Empire 8 Conference
Ithaca College’s former athletics conference, the Empire 8, has a more established women’s flag football presence, with five competing teams: SUNY Geneseo, SUNY Brockport, Elmira College, Hartwick College, and Russell Sage College. That activity could give Ithaca College’s new team a competitive landscape.
NCAA Recognition and Emerging Sports for Women Program
In 2026, NCAA Division III members voted to recognize women’s flag football as a varsity sport. The decision is part of the NCAA’s Emerging Sports for Women program, launched in 1994 to expand women’s participation in college sports. The program currently includes four sports: flag football, equestrian, rugby, and triathlon.
Previous Additions at Ithaca College
Women’s flag football is the second emerging women’s sport Ithaca College will add in three years, following women’s wrestling in 2025. The additions reflect the college’s commitment to offering female athletes a wider range of athletic opportunities.
Recruitment and Coaching
Ithaca College is looking for a head coach and recruiting players for the new team. The college posted a listing on its prospective faculty and staff database on October 14. The athletics department has also shared a recruiting link for prospective student-athletes on the official announcement page.
Leadership and Vision
Aaron Bouyea, Ithaca College’s director of intercollegiate athletics, said launching the varsity sport for the 2027-28 academic year was one of President La Jerne Cornish’s goals. The initiative reflects the administration’s focus on expanding the student-athlete experience.
National and Regional Impact
Ithaca College joins a growing number of institutions adding women’s flag football to their athletic programs. The American Southwest Conference, Atlantic East Conference, Empire 8, Middle Atlantic Conference, Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference, Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference, and United East Conference are all expected to sponsor varsity flag football by 2027.
Broader Implications
This move benefits Ithaca College and adds to the broader landscape of women’s collegiate sports. It gives more female athletes the chance to compete at a high level and supports the NCAA’s Emerging Sports for Women program.
For more details, read the full announcement on the Ithaca College announcement page.