SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (November 12, 2026) – One year after hosting the first national women's collegiate flag football tournament featuring NCAA Division I universities, Fiesta Sports Foundation is bringing the Fiesta Bowl Flag Football Classic presented by Oakley back for its second edition on April 10-11, 2027, at Arizona Athletic Grounds in Mesa. The 2027 eight-team field brings together four of the top club teams in the country and four Division I varsity programs in their inaugural seasons.
 
The Fiesta Bowl Flag Football Classic presented by Oakley is a two-day, 7-on-7 showcase modeled on the world-class hospitality and team-centric approach that has defined the Fiesta Bowl since 1971. Day one features two games of pool play to set seeding for playoff bracket competition on day two, culminating with the championship game and trophy presentation.
 
Defending champion University of Central Florida (UCF) is back, along with 2026 semifinalists Arizona State, Florida and Georgia. The coast-to-coast tournament field also includes varsity programs from Cal Poly, Eastern Michigan, UT Arlington and Nebraska, the only Power Four school to sponsor flag football as a varsity sport. The result is a tournament featuring club teams that helped build the women's college game and the varsity programs shaping where it goes next, further cementing Fiesta Sports Foundation's leadership in the growth of flag football at every level.
 
The second iteration of the tournament arrives at a pivotal moment for the sport, with women's flag football named an NCAA Emerging Sport for Women in January 2026. At the annual NCAA Convention in January 2027, NCAA member schools will vote on whether to make women's flag football an official championship sport. If passed, the first NCAA championship is projected for spring 2028 – the same year flag football makes its debut at the Los Angeles Olympic Games.
 
"The first Fiesta Bowl Flag Football Classic presented by Oakley set out to provide a true Fiesta Bowl experience for teams, student-athletes and fans, and the result was a nationally recognized stage for the future of this sport, which includes this year moving to Arizona Athletic Grounds for its world-class facilities that our teams and fans will love," said Fiesta Sports Foundation Executive Director & CEO Erik Moses. "The evolution continues this year as Division I varsity programs are becoming a reality across the country. Bringing together some of the best club teams against brand-new varsity programs, including the first from a Power Four conference, is exactly what this event was built to do – celebrate where women's flag football has been and help lead where it's going."
 
A Fiesta Bowl Feel for a Field of Champions
 
The inaugural Fiesta Bowl Flag Football Classic in April 2026 set a new standard for the collegiate game, with top-seeded UCF going undefeated and knocking off in-state rival Florida, 19-7, in a championship game televised live to a national audience on ESPNU.
 
The Knights' victory in the inaugural title game was sealed by a 44-yard touchdown run from Offensive MVP Kayla Ludwig after an interception by Defensive MVP Eliana Higbie-Long. Standing across from them in that title contest was Florida, the five-time reigning NIRSA national champion. The Gators reached the final by rallying from a 14-0 deficit to defeat Georgia, 27-14, in the semifinals.
 
Georgia, a 2026 semifinalist, returns representing one of the fastest-growing regions for the women's game. Arizona State is the youngest of the club programs but has quickly emerged on the national scene with an improved roster every season of its existence.
 
Joining them are four Division I programs set to make history in their inaugural seasons. Nebraska became the first Power Four school to add women's flag football as a varsity sport in January 2026, hiring Head Coach Liz Sowers, a past Team USA gold medalist who led Ottawa University (Kansas) to five consecutive NAIA national championships. Her twin sister Katie Sowers, a former NFL assistant coach with the Falcons, 49ers and Chiefs, serves as associate head coach. Salpointe Catholic High School (Tucson) graduate Rylen Bourget is a wide receiver on the inaugural Huskers team after having a standout 2026 Flag Football Classic performance as a member of Arizona State's roster.
 
UT Arlington launched the first Division I women's flag football program in Texas and the first varsity program in the Western Athletic Conference. Inaugural Head Coach Melinda Nguyen arrives from Kansas Wesleyan, where she went 49-17 over three seasons, and has four national team players from Australia, Japan and Spain on the roster. Alexis Eley, a Gilbert Highland graduate, was the first-ever MVP of the Fiesta Bowl Flag Football Showdown in 2024 and played in the inaugural Copper State Invitational in 2025. Eastern Michigan announced its varsity program in April 2026, just days before the inaugural Flag Football Classic kicked off. Head Coach Jesse Siordia previously founded Michigan's first collegiate varsity flag football program at Siena Heights University, and the Eagles' 23-player roster includes national-team talent from around the world as well as four players who played high school flag football in Tucson, Gilbert and Goodyear, Arizona, participating in Fiesta Sports Foundation clinics, Flag Football Showdown and All-State teams.
 
Rounding out the field is Cal Poly, the first school in California to add Division I women's flag football. The Mustangs are led by Head Coach Rod Sherman, a longtime successful tackle and flag football coach, and Team USA National Team players Maci Joncich and Ashlea Klam, also the first professional flag football ambassador for TMRW Sports and the upcoming Premier Flag League. Gilbert High School graduate Brenna Ramirez is also on the roster, having served as a guest speaker at the Fiesta Bowl Flag Football Youth Clinic in 2024, and was co-captain of the USA 17U Girls Flag National Team.
 
Participating teams receive premium accommodations, curated hospitality experiences, player gifting and a signature Fiesta Bowl welcome designed to make every student-athlete feel like a star on and off the field.
 
"Flag football is at an exciting point in its evolution, with growing participation and new opportunities creating a stronger pathway for the next generation of athletes. At Oakley, we believe in pushing sport forward by investing in athletes, championing innovation and helping create opportunities for competition at every level," said Head of Football at Oakley, Dylan Bohanan. "The Fiesta Bowl Flag Football Classic brings that commitment to life, providing collegiate athletes with a national platform to showcase their talent and be part of the sport's continued growth. We are proud to partner with the Fiesta Sports Foundation to help shape what's next for women's flag football."
 
Fiesta Sports Foundation's Investment in Flag Football
 
The Fiesta Bowl Flag Football Classic is one part of Fiesta Sports Foundation's growing investment in flag football at every level. The grassroots work includes the Fiesta Bowl Copper State Invitational, an in-season high school girls flag football tournament launched in 2025, and the Fiesta Bowl All-State flag football team. 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.
 
Together, these events reflect the Foundation's long-term strategy of connecting youth participation, high school competition and elite collegiate opportunity, so that the sport's momentum turns into lasting impact.
 
Moving the Flag Football Classic presented by Oakley to Arizona Athletic Grounds will provide teams and fans an elevated experience. Teams will experience meeting rooms, dedicated player hospitality space, medical resources and world-class playing surfaces. Fans will enjoy restaurants, LED scoreboards and a festival environment.
 
"We're proud to partner with Fiesta Sports Foundation and welcome the Fiesta Bowl Flag Football Classic presented by Oakley to Arizona Athletic Grounds in 2027," said Mike Burke, Arizona Athletic Grounds CEO. "This event showcases the incredible growth of women's flag football and reinforces AAG's position as a premier destination for national championship events. We look forward to welcoming these outstanding student-athletes to our world class facilities and providing a high-quality experience for everyone involved."
 
Flag Football's Continued Rise Nationwide

• According to an August 2026 survey by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), high school girls flag football participation jumped from 68,847 to 102,360 athletes at 3,990 schools in 2025-26. That is a 48.7 percent increase in a single year, and it put flag football among the 10 most popular sports for high school girls for the first time.
• The NFHS expects 37 states to either sanction girls flag football or conduct independent or pilot programs by the 2026-27 school year.
• Nearly 400 college club and varsity programs across all governing bodies are set to compete in 2026-27, including nearly 140 projected NCAA varsity programs across 10 conferences at the Division I, II and III levels
• Women's flag football was added to the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program in January 2026, formally recommended for championship status in May 2026, and approved for championship funding by the NCAA Board of Governors in August 2026. If the divisions approve the legislation in January 2027, the first NCAA championship is projected for spring 2028.
• Flag football will make its Olympic debut as a medal sport at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

 
They Said It
 
"When I attended the Fiesta Bowl Flag Football Classic last year, I remember thinking that I'd never seen a flag football event run like this. The professionalism and overall atmosphere created a true championship experience. It honestly reminded me of the women's basketball Final Four. Fiesta Sports Foundation has a long-standing reputation for delivering first-class events, and that commitment was on full display throughout the tournament. We're incredibly grateful for the invitation and excited for the opportunity to compete on such a special stage."

• Nebraska Head Coach Liz Sowers

"UCF is excited to return to the Fiesta Bowl Flag Football Classic this year! Last year was an incredible experience, from competing against new teams to the amazing hospitality of the Fiesta Sports Foundation. With the growing popularity of flag football, we are even more excited for this year's tournament. Thank you for the opportunity to return and defend our title!"

• UCF President Rylee McDaid

"UCF couldn't be more excited to participate in the 2^nd annual Flag Football Classic. Fiesta Bowl and Oakley have created such a phenomenal event, atmosphere and stage for our beautiful sport. We can't wait to see what they've built in year two as we continue to grow the sport for young ladies all around the world."

• UCF Head Coach Brandon Baroody

"We're incredibly excited to compete in the Fiesta Bowl Flag Football Classic and represent Cal Poly at such a prestigious event. As a program in its early stages, opportunities like this are incredibly meaningful as we work to build something special and establish a tradition of excellence. Women's flag football is growing at an incredible pace, and we're proud to be part of a movement that is creating opportunities for the next generation of female athletes."

• Cal Poly Head Coach Rod Sherman

"We're incredibly grateful to once again be part of the Fiesta Bowl Flag Football Classic, an event we consider the premier showcase for women's flag football in the country. Opportunities like this mean so much more than simply competing on the field. Fiesta Sports Foundation continues to demonstrate an unwavering commitment to growing the game, creating opportunities for young women and elevating the sport we all love. To be included in an event of this caliber, alongside talented athletes and programs from across the country who share our passion, is something we're truly proud of."

• Arizona State Head Coach Jesse Pap

"We are so excited to be invited back to the Fiesta Bowl Flag Football Classic and have the opportunity to compete on a national stage against some of the best teams in the country. This tournament represents so much more than flag football. It's a chance to showcase the hard work, dedication and talent of female athletes. It's exciting to see how far women's flag football has come and the opportunities that continue to open for future generations."

• University of Florida Captains Manasvi Vijayaraghavan and Mady Culver

"We are incredibly honored to return to the Fiesta Bowl Flag Football Classic and compete alongside some of the best teams in the country! What started as a vision to create more opportunities for women to play flag football competitively at the collegiate level has grown into something truly special. I could not be prouder of the program we have built. We are grateful for the opportunity to represent the University of Georgia and look forward to continuing to contribute to the growth and future of women's flag football."

• University of Georgia Captain Katie Northenor

"We couldn't be more excited to represent Eastern Michigan and the entire Midwest at the Fiesta Bowl Flag Football Classic. As one of the trailblazing FBS Division 1 programs leading this sport, our athletes have put in the work to earn this amazing opportunity. We're ready to bring that Michigan grit to Arizona and compete with the best of the best!"

• Eastern Michigan Head Coach Jesse Siordia

"We are incredibly excited to attend the Fiesta Bowl Flag Football Classic to be part of an organization that recognizes the potential of women's flag football. Creating opportunities for the next generation of athletes is a passion for me. Fiesta Sports Foundation's commitment to investing and growing this sport is inspiring and we are excited to be part of the momentum shaping its future."

• UT Arlington Head Coach Melinda Nguyen

 

ABOUT FIESTA SPORTS FOUNDATION
 
Since its inception in 1971, the Fiesta Sports Foundation has been a world-class community organization that executes innovative experiences, drives economic growth and champions charitable causes, inspiring pride in all Arizonans during and outside of college football bowl season. As a nonprofit organization, it is driven by its vision to create unforgettable experiences through world-class sporting events, unparalleled hospitality and life-changing community impact. Through the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, Cactus Bowl and its year-round events, including the Phoenix Children's Fiesta Bowl Parade presented by Lerner & Rowe, corporate partnerships and numerous community events throughout the year, the Foundation provides charitable resources to support Arizona nonprofit organizations that serve communities through a focus on youth, sports and education. Learn more at www.FiestaSportsFoundation.org and @Fiesta_Bowl on X/Instagram.
 
ABOUT OAKLEY
 
Founded in 1975 in Foothill Ranch, Southern California, Oakley has built a global legacy in sport performance and culture. With over 900 patents and counting, Oakley is fueled by a legacy of delivering the unexpected, led by a collective of visionaries, pioneers, and mad scientists who elevate physics to an art form to push the boundaries of human potential. This relentless pursuit of innovation beyond reason has made Oakley one of the most iconic and inimitable brands in sport, trusted by world-class athletes globally who rely on the brand to perform at the highest level.
 
Oakley is known for its High-Definition Optics and Prizm™ technology, offering optical clarity, precision, impact resistance, and UV protection in its ? range of eyewear, from sunglasses and prescription eyewear to premium goggles. The brand's design philosophy extends to apparel, footwear and accessories that deliver technical excellence and bold aesthetics.
 
Proudly part of EssilorLuxottica, Oakley continues to design for the future and deliver to the present. Additional information is available at oakley.com.