ABILENE, Texas – Hardin-Simmons University is proud to announce that women's flag football will become its newest varsity sport, beginning in the 2026-27 academic year.
This addition aligns with a wider initiative by the American Southwest Conference (ASC), which will begin sponsoring the sport across all six member institutions.
The move comes as women's flag football continues to gain national momentum. With support from the National Football League and its inclusion in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, flag football is one of the fastest-growing sports among young women. Over the last five years, participation has increased by 63 percent, with more than 500,000 girls and young women playing prior to college.
Flag football is currently under consideration for inclusion in the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program, with a formal vote expected at the January 2026 NCAA Convention. As a non-contact sport emphasizing strategy, speed, and agility, it is typically played with seven athletes per team on an 80-yard field and features spring semester competition.
Dr. John Neese, HSU's associate vice president for athletics, praised the decision as a forward-thinking step in HSU's student development strategy.
"At Hardin-Simmons, we believe in offering opportunities that integrate academics, character, and competition," said Neese. "The addition of women's flag football gives our student-athletes a chance to compete at a high level in a sport that reflects the values of teamwork, discipline, and innovation. Our goal will be to hire a coach during the spring, 2026 semester to begin the recruiting process."
The addition of flag football will bring HSU's total number of NCAA Women's sports to nine, joining basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, track and field, and volleyball.
Hardin-Simmons is committed to fostering excellence in women's athletics, and the launch of a flag football program marks an exciting new chapter in that story.
