UCLA and USC are joining the NIRSA Club Flag Football League for its inaugural season in January 2027.
In partnership with the NFL, NIRSA is the first-of-its-kind, 7v7 women’s flag football league that will feature several talented institutions across the nation. There will also be a national championship help in April 2027.
“Flag football is a cornerstone of NIRSA, and this league represents a natural evolution of our commitment to expanding access and opportunity in collegiate recreation,” said Pam Watts, NIRSA Executive Director. “As interest in flag football continues to accelerate, we are proud to partner with the NFL and our member institutions to create a structured, competitive environment that supports student development, leadership, and lifelong wellbeing.”
“We’re grateful for NIRSA’s leadership and partnership because this initiative is about more than competition, it’s about opportunity,” said NFL SVP of Global Flag Football Brian Flinn. “We’re not just launching a league, we’re continuing to redefine who football is for and what’s possible at the collegiate level, elevating the sport and expanding pathways for athletes at every level.”
In addition to UCLA and USC, other programs joining the league include: Georgia, Florida, Penn State, Central Florida, Colorado, Bowling Green, Radford, Coastal Carolina, North Florida and Wisconsin–River Falls. There are currently two HBCUs committed to the league in Texas Southern University and North Carolina A&T State University.
As the inaugural season approaches, more schools are expected to join the league.
Future 2028 Olympians Are Likely Competing in NIRSA
For the first time in history, flag football will be part of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
NIRSA creates a strong pipeline for flag football players to go from high school to college to the Olympics. Therefore, it is likely several future Olympians are already competing for NIRSA member schools. The development of this new league will also help with identifying and developing future Olympic flag football players.
Flag football is quickly growing around the world, and the launch of NIRSA is creating a platform for the next generation of flag football players to develop.
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