SELINSGROVE, PA – Susquehanna University has announced the addition of women's flag football as its 24th NCAA Division III sport. The team will compete at the club level during the spring of 2027, before moving to varsity for the 2028 spring season. A national search for the program's inaugural head coach is underway.

Susquehanna becomes one of the first universities in the Landmark Conference to announce the addition of flag football to its athletics lineup. More than 40 institutions across the NCAA currently sponsor flag football, with dozens more announcing plans to add the sport. In Pennsylvania, 152 high schools now compete in girls' flag football, and the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association will host its first sanctioned state championship in May 2027. Eighteen states across the country currently sanction the sport at the high-school level.

Women's flag football continues to experience rapid growth at the youth, high school and collegiate levels. The sport's momentum includes its inclusion in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. "We are excited to provide new opportunities for women to compete at Susquehanna while continuing to grow our athletics community," said Director of Athletics Sharief Hashim. "This addition aligns with our commitment to expanding access, supporting enrollment, and delivering an exceptional student-athlete experience."

The sport was added to the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program with overwhelming support during its most recent convention in January 2026, with legislation projected to hold its first NCAA Flag Football Championship as early as spring 2028. Emerging sports are women's sports recognized by the NCAA to expand participation opportunities and support the development of new championship pathways. Since the NCAA launched its Emerging Sports for Women program in 1994, eight sports have achieved championship status, including wrestling and acrobatics & tumbling.

This will mark the first time Susquehanna adds a sport while it is in the program.