SCAC Introduces Women’s Flag Football for 2026-27 Season

Big news for college sports fans: the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) just announced they’re adding women’s flag football to their varsity lineup. This kicks off in the 2026-27 season and feels like a real turning point for women’s athletics.

The first championship’s already scheduled for spring 2027. It’s a move that opens more doors for female athletes and really puts a spotlight on how fast flag football is catching on nationwide.

The SCAC’s Bold Move to Add Women’s Flag Football

By bringing in women’s flag football, the SCAC is tapping into a sport that’s picking up serious steam lately. The conference now sponsors 19 varsity sports—so there’s just more space for student-athletes to get out there and show what they’ve got.

SCAC Commissioner Dwayne Hanberry mentioned this isn’t just about adding another sport. It’s about building new chances for high-level competition and growth.

Participating Institutions

Centenary College, Concordia University (Texas), Hendrix College, and Millsaps College are in for the first season. They’ll play a double round-robin schedule spread over three weekends, each hosted by a different school.

The season wraps up with a conference championship weekend. Each team gets six conference games, so expect a busy and competitive few months.

Flag Football’s Rapid National Growth

Flag football is exploding in popularity in the U.S. By 2026, over 200 collegiate varsity and club teams should be playing, and nearly 40 more are expected to join in 2027.

It’s even been added to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, which is pretty wild. The NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics has suggested flag football join the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program, with a vote planned for January 2026.

Requirements for NCAA Championship Status

To get NCAA championship status, flag football needs to hit a few marks:

• At least 40 schools across all divisions sponsoring varsity flag football
• Meet the minimum contest and participation requirements

These rules aim to make sure the sport is on solid ground and offers real competition for student-athletes.

Millsaps College Joins as an Affiliate Member

With the SCAC’s announcement, Millsaps College will join as an affiliate member for women’s flag football starting spring 2027. Millsaps was a core SCAC member from 1989 to 2012 and is now the first school in Mississippi to add varsity women’s flag football.

Their team launches as a club this spring, then goes varsity by 2027. It’s a cool return for Millsaps, and the timing feels right.

Significance of Millsaps’ Inclusion

Millsaps College Director of Athletics Justin LeBlanc said he’s proud to join the SCAC as an affiliate member. He pointed out that flag football is creating new chances for female student-athletes, and Millsaps wants to help drive that momentum.

Commissioner Hanberry agreed, mentioning Millsaps’ experience and strong reputation in the conference.

Looking Ahead to the Inaugural Season

The SCAC’s first varsity women’s flag football season kicks off in spring 2027. This comes after Concordia University (Texas) hosted a successful showcase last spring, bringing together teams from Centenary, Concordia, Hendrix, and Schreiner.

That event drew a lot of interest and really helped push the league to move forward with flag football. You could feel the excitement building.

Impact on Female Student-Athletes

Adding women’s flag football to the SCAC lineup is a big win for female student-athletes. It gives them more chances to compete, improve, and get noticed on a championship stage.

Honestly, you can sense the energy around flag football right now, and the SCAC’s happy to be part of this growth.

Conclusion

The SCAC just made a big move by adding women’s flag football to its lineup. It’s honestly a huge step for college sports.