SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (January 29, 2026) – Fiesta Sports Foundation continues its groundbreaking football engagement initiatives with the creation of the first-ever national collegiate flag football tournament featuring Division I universities, further cementing its leadership in the growth of flag football at every level.
The inaugural Fiesta Bowl Flag Football Classic presented by Oakley is a two-day, 7-on-7 showcase on April 18-19, 2026, that features eight of the nation's top women's collegiate flag football programs coming to Arizona to compete for the first national competition of its kind. Games will be hosted on Arizona State University's Tempe campus at the Fields at Dorsey, a proven venue for elite flag football competition.
"For more than 50 years, Fiesta Sports Foundation has been focused on innovation, hospitality and creating unforgettable experiences," said Fiesta Sports Foundation Executive Director & CEO Erik Moses. "Creating the Fiesta Bowl Flag Football Classic presented by Oakley is the next step of that mission. As flag football continues its rapid ascent nationwide, bringing forth the first-ever national college event for the ever-growing Division 1 community helps to elevate the collegiate game, celebrate these student-athletes and shape the future of the sport on a national stage."
Competing Teams from Coast-to-Coast
Teams from Alabama State, Arizona State, Charlotte, University of Florida, University of Georgia, Grand Canyon University, University of Central Florida (UCF) and University of Southern California (USC) will enjoy a Fiesta Bowl-level experience for their student-athletes while establishing a new national standard for collegiate flag football competition.
Modeled to include the hallmark world-class hospitality and team-centric approach that has defined the Fiesta Bowl since 1971, the Fiesta Bowl Flag Football Classic presented by Oakley will feature a multi-day championship format, with three-game pool play on the first day leading into a title game playoff bracket and awards celebration for day two.
Participating teams will enjoy premium accommodations, curated hospitality experiences, player gifting and a signature Fiesta Bowl welcome designed to make every student-athlete feel like a star both on and off the field
This initiative reinforces Oakley's long-term commitment to help advance flag football and create meaningful opportunities for athletes as the sport continues to evolve. As one of the leading product design and sport performance brands, Oakley has been at the forefront of flag football's ascent, including the Oakley Icon Alliance National Championships for girls club flag football.
"At Oakley, we believe in the power of sport to unlock confidence and opportunity for every athlete. Flag football is one of the most exciting growth stories in sports, and we are here to support players from their time at an introductory clinic to local leagues and however far their careers take them," said Oakley Vice President and Head of Global Sports Marketing Corey Hill. "Oakley's commitment to innovation, inclusion and elevating the athlete experience at every level aligns perfectly with the mission of the Fiesta Sports Foundation. We are excited to help establish the inaugural Flag Football Classic as a defining moment for collegiate flag football and the future of the sport."
Fiesta Sports Foundation Investment in Flag Football
The Flag Football Classic builds on Fiesta Sports Foundation's expanding footprint in flag football, following the successful launch of the Fiesta Bowl Copper State Invitational, an in-season high school girls flag football tournament formed in 2025, and the formation of the Fiesta Bowl All-State flag football teams. The Foundation also serves as a presenting partner of the Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) girls flag football state championships and supports the sport through clinics, showcases and community initiatives throughout Arizona.
The Fiesta Bowl Flag Football Classic represents the next step in Fiesta Sports Foundation's long-term strategy to intentionally connect youth participation, high school competition and elite level collegiate opportunity, developing first-in-class events that ensure the sport's momentum translates into lasting impact.
"From youth and high school programs to now the collegiate level, we are committed to helping flag football grow in a meaningful and sustainable way," Moses said. "This tournament is about building a tradition, creating opportunity and providing these athletes an elite experience."
Flag Football's Explosive Growth Nationwide
- Women's flag football is experiencing explosive growth across the country, with participation surging at the grassroots and high school levels, with more than 2.5 million athletes now competing annually
- National high school participation has increased by more than 60 percent over the last several years, with 17 states having sanctioned flag football as a championship sport and 20-plus others in a pilot program
- That growth is translating directly to the collegiate level, where flag football has earned recognition as an NCAA Emerging Sport for Women, with more than 150 NCAA institutions currently offering flag football programs at the club or varsity level, including nearly 60 by Division 1 institutions
- Alabama State was the first Division 1 school to offer scholarships
- Nebraska is the first Power Four conference school to announce the addition of women's flag football as a varsity sport with scholarships
- Flag Football will be a competitive medal sport within the Olympic Games for the first time as part of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles
They Said It
"This Fiesta Bowl Flag Football Classic tournament invite is huge for us and for women's flag football. It's a national stage that validates our sport and inspires the next generation."
- Tyrone Poole, Alabama State Head Coach
"This tournament is more than a game, it's a special moment! To host the first-ever Fiesta Bowl Flag Football Classic at ASU shows the unstoppable growth of women's flag football, especially with the recent NCAA announcement recognizing the sport. We are ready and excited to make history. Forks up!"
- Sierra Smith, Arizona State Founder and Team Captain
"Being part of the very first Fiesta Bowl Flag Football Classic is incredibly meaningful for us at ASU. It represents how far this sport has come and the belief that others have shown in its future. The support behind this event validates our athletes, our program, and the work being done to grow opportunities for women in the game."
- Jesse Pap, Arizona State Head Coach
"I'm proud of our team for earning this opportunity. Competing at the Fiesta Bowl Flag Football Classic matters for our players and for the future of women's flag football."
- Landin Sledge, Charlotte Head Coach
"The University of Florida is beyond excited to participate in the Fiesta Bowl Flag Football Classic. This tournament is an incredible opportunity to continue growing the sport of flag football while competing at a high level. We're proud to be part of an event that brings together elite programs and fosters a competitive atmosphere for athletes, fans and the sport as a whole."
- Mieke Rowe, UF Flag Football President & Quarterback
"The UGA Club Flag Football Team is beyond grateful to accept an invitation to the Fiesta Bowl Flag Football Classic. We are excited for this opportunity to represent the University of Georgia and showcase the talent that it has to offer against teams from all over the country."
- Caroline Caplinger, Georgia Head Coach
"The Fiesta Bowl continues to give women's Flag Football the spotlight it deserves. Being a part of the Fiesta Bowl shows how quickly women's Flag Football is growing and we are proud to be on that stage."
- Brian Tice, Grand Canyon Head Coach
"What an honor to be among the trailblazers of our sport as it gains popularity and momentum across the country. We can't wait to compete in the Fiesta Bowl Flag Football Classic, which is an important milestone in opening the door for more women to play at the collegiate level."
- Rylee McDaid, UCF Flag Football President
"We are so excited to be selected for the inaugural Fiesta Bowl Flag Football Classic! We are honored to be trailblazers in college club flag football. It's been a dream of mine to attend a Bowl Game, and now we are making that a reality for women!"
- Alia Pasternak, USC Flag Football Founder and President
