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Knox College Announces Addition of Women's Flag Football

Emerging Sport to Begin Competing in Fall 2026

by Knox College Athletic Communications

Galesburg, IL (01/16/2026) — Knox College Athletics is pleased to announce the addition of women's flag football as the department's newest intercollegiate athletic opportunity.

Prairie Fire Women's Flag Football will begin competition as a club sport in fall 2026, competing in the spring of 2027, then planning to transition to full varsity status during the 2027-28 academic year. An anonymous donor has generously provided start-up funds to launch this new opportunity for Knox scholar-athletes. This phased approach allows Knox to build the program intentionally while welcoming students who want to be part of something that is new, competitive, and rapidly growing.

The addition of flag football coincides with the January 16 NCAA vote to officially include the sport in the Emerging Sports for Women program, a designation designed to support the long-term growth of women's athletics nationwide.

"Adding Women's Flag Football aligns with Knox's institutional priorities around academic excellence, access, gender equity, and thoughtful athletics expansion, while also responding to clear interest from prospective students and families seeking innovative athletic pathways at the collegiate level," said Vice President and Athletic Director Justin Newell. Knox is joining fellow Midwest Conference teams Illinois, Beloit, Ripon, and Cornell Colleges in sponsoring women's flag football, creating new opportunities for conference competition and emerging rivalries.

Flag football is one of the fastest-growing sports for women, with strong participation in Illinois, expanding national interest, and increasing NCAA sponsorship. Knox's early investment in this emerging sport creates a unique recruiting opportunity for prospective student-athletes who want to compete early, help build a new program, and pursue a high-impact academic experience.

"Welcoming women's flag football into the Emerging Sports for Women is a meaningful step toward expanding access, equity and opportunity," said Jacqie McWilliams, commissioner of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association and chair of the NCAA Committee on Access, Opportunity and Impact. "This sport has already sparked passion nationwide, and now countless young women will see a path that once didn't exist. We celebrate the programs leading the way and look forward to the transformative impact they will have on the future of collegiate athletics."

If you are a prospective student-athlete interested in being part of Knox Women's Flag Football, we encourage you to complete our interest questionnaire.

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