Nebraska becomes first power four program to add women’s flag football as varsity sport

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Athletic Department on Friday announced the addition of women’s flag football as a varsity sport.

The announcement coincides with the NCAA’s approval of women’s flag football as an NCAA Emerging Sport for Women.

The addition of women’s flag football gives the Huskers 25 intercollegiate programs, including 15 women’s teams and 10 men’s teams.

Flag football is the first sport Nebraska has added since beach volleyball began competition in the spring of 2013.

Nebraska is the first power four conference school to announce the addition of women’s flag football.

The Huskers will play their inaugural competitive flag football season in the spring of 2028, running from January to May.

Nebraska will immediately begin searching for a head coach and building a roster this spring, with plans to have a coach hired by summer and to recruit approximately 15 players by the start of the fall 2026 semester.

“This is a banner day for Nebraska Athletics and for women’s sports,” Nebraska Director of Athletics Troy Dannen said in a press release. “In a time of uncertainty and change in college athletics, creating new participation opportunities continues Nebraska’s rich history of elevating women’s athletics.”

Dannen continued, “Flag football is one of the nation’s fastest growing sports and has exploded in popularity at the youth, high school and collegiate level. There is also great synergy in our first season in 2028, aligning with the inclusion of flag football at the Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles.”

As of the summer of 2025, NCAA sponsorship data showed that at least 40 NCAA schools planned to sponsor women’s flag football in the 2025-26 academic year.

According to the NCAA, as many as 60 schools may participate this spring.

“Congratulations to the University of Nebraska and the NCAA for taking this significant step in support of women’s flag football,” said Big Ten Conference Commissioner Tony Petitti. “We are happy to see Nebraska provide additional opportunities for student-athletes to compete at the highest level.”

The growth of flag football extends beyond the collegiate ranks.

Flag football is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world, with 20 million players worldwide, and will make its Olympic debut in Los Angeles in 2028.

Recently, NFL clubs voted to support financially the development and launch of a professional flag football league.

Flag football is now offered at a high school level in 38 states. All 32 NFL clubs support and participate in youth flag football programming in their home markets and beyond, further strengthening the sport’s reach and appeal among the next generation of athletes.

“The University of Nebraska’s launch of a women’s flag football team marks a groundbreaking moment for collegiate athletics,” said Troy Vincent Sr., NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations. “As the first Power Four Division I program to embrace this opportunity, the University of Nebraska and Athletic Director Troy Dannen are true pioneers in elevating flag football to even greater heights. Their leadership sends a powerful message about the future of the sport and the limitless possibilities for young women to compete at the highest level.”

To be considered for NCAA championship eligibility, sports in the Emerging Sports for Women program must be sponsored at the varsity level by at least 40 schools.

If legislation is adopted, the NCAA governance structure establishes a championship. That process can take two years or longer to work through logistics such as budgeting, site selection and other details.

The athletic department will officially announce the new program on Wednesday at 11 a.m.