Roanoke College announced this week that it will elevate women’s flag football to varsity status beginning in the spring of 2028, a move that will bring the institution’s total varsity sports to 29.
A sport poised for Olympic visibility
Flag football, played in a 7‑on‑7 format from February through May, features four 12‑minute quarters on a 40‑yard‑wide by 80‑yard field. Teams advance the ball by running and passing while defenders pull flags to stop play, a structure that has helped the sport gain traction across campuses nationwide.
The Maroons will compete in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference, which is considering the addition of women’s flag football as its next full varsity sport. An automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament could follow, giving the program a direct path to the national stage.
Building a new coaching legacy
The college has launched a nationwide search for its first head coach, underscoring its commitment to the program’s success. The initiative builds on Roanoke’s longstanding tradition of excellence in women’s athletics, a legacy that has produced conference titles and NCAA tournament appearances across multiple sports.
Beyond the campus, the move reflects a broader surge in collegiate flag football. The sport’s emergence as an NCAA Emerging Sport and its scheduled debut at the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles have accelerated interest, prompting schools to invest in infrastructure, scholarships and recruiting pipelines.