First NCAA school in Tennessee to sanction the sport at the varsity level

BRISTOL, Tenn., July 2, 2024 — Women’s flag football is coming to King University.

The addition for the 2025-26 academic year makes King the first NCAA school in Tennessee to sanction the sport at the varsity level, which is now sponsored by Conference Carolinas and is a championship sport. It was also recently sanctioned as a varsity sport by the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA).

“Women’s flag football is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world, and we are excited to provide this opportunity for our female student athletes,” said David Hicks, King’s vice president for athletics. “The ability to partner with our peers in Conference Carolinas to provide an immediate championship opportunity will elevate the experience for our players and make women’s flag football one of the premier sports on campus.”

Flag football is the most inclusive and accessible football format, played by people of all ages and genders, with female athletes driving some of the fastest growth – something that has been noticed by USA Football, the NFL, and its teams – including the Tennessee Titans.

“To go from seeing relatively little opportunity to connect young women with football in Tennessee, to seeing it sanctioned as a TSSAA championship and now an NCAA sport in our state is an incredible accomplishment for all involved,” said Josh Corey, senior director of cause marketing for the Tennessee Titans. “We wish King University and Conference Carolinas the absolute best as they bring this championship to the college stage.”

The sport marks King’s 29th varsity addition, with the Tornado’s first season of competition scheduled for spring 2026. 

Teams will consist of seven members wearing tightly fixed flag belts with sockets and two pop flags on either side of the hips. Players will compete on a 40- by 80-yard field for four 12-minute quarters. Teams score 6 points for a touchdown and can gain an extra 1-2 points for a set play from the 5- or 10-yard lines. The offense has 4 downs to cross the midfield and 4 downs to score; if unsuccessful, teams surrender possession to their opponent, who start at their own 5-yard line.

The Tornado will play on a dedicated field inside King’s brand new track and field complex, completed this spring, and will be one of only six conference schools sponsoring the sport. The NCAA hopes to establish women’s flag football as a championship sport by 2028, coinciding with its inclusion at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

“More than twenty thousand players competed in girls’ flag football at the high school level in 2023, which is about a third more than the previous year,” Hicks said. “As usual, Conference Carolinas is leading the way by being the first NCAA Division II conference to sponsor women’s flag football, and King is excited to be an early leader in this effort.”

A nationwide search for a head coach is now underway, and King is also recruiting its first team. Those interested in either playing or coaching should email jdhicks@king.edu.