Cal Poly Aims to Introduce Women’s Flag Football

Cal Poly is joining the ranks of Division I schools that are looking to add women’s flag football as a varsity sport. In a recent update to the campus community, Athletic Director Don Oberhelman mentioned that this new sport could make its debut in 2027.

This makes Cal Poly the sixth NCAA Division I institution to express interest in forming a women’s flag football team, following the likes of Alabama, Long Island, Mercyhurst, Mount St. Mary’s, and Arrington.

Back in February, women’s flag football took a significant step forward when the NCAA suggested it for inclusion in its Emerging Sports for Women program. If it secures this status at the 2026 NCAA Convention, there could be possibilities for future competitions, potentially even something akin to an NCAA tournament.

Meanwhile, enthusiasm for flag football is clearly on the rise, especially with its upcoming debut at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Troy Dunnen from Nebraska Advertising emphasized the importance of closely considering the sport after an exhibition at Husker Games in April. Additionally, ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips indicated that the conference is monitoring developments in flag football.

An email obtained by SB Nation revealed that NCAA Senior Vice President Felicia Martin shared growth statistics on the sport with Division I athletic managers, underscoring its potential.

In his announcement about Cal Poly’s new initiative, Oberhelman expressed his hopes for a lasting legacy of success once the investment in athletic programs is underway. He pointed to beach volleyball, a sport that has evolved from the NCAA’s emerging sports program into an established championship sport, as a model. The Mustangs have participated in five NCAA beach volleyball tournaments and competed in national semi-finals recently.

In addition to flag football, Cal Poly is elevating its stunt program from club to varsity status.

Oberhelman highlighted that these additions are part of a broader long-term strategy to create more opportunities for female student-athletes. Notably, the female enrollment at Cal Poly has increased from 42% to 51% over the last 12 years.

While several Division I schools are making strides in women’s flag football, there is also growing interest at the Division II and III levels. For instance, this past season, Division III America East completed its inaugural varsity season of women’s flag football, culminating in a conference championship, marking a milestone for the NCAA. Jacqie McWilliams-Parker, Commissioner of the Division II HBCU conference, expressed his intention to have flag football included in the league starting in the 2026-27 academic year.