BROWNWOOD, Texas – Howard Payne University Athletics is excited to announce the addition of Women's Flag Football as its 14th varsity sport, with competition set to begin in the 2026-2027 academic year. The move marks another significant step in

HPU's commitment to expanding opportunities for female student-athletes and enhancing the university's vibrant athletic tradition. The announcement comes as part of a unified initiative among all six American Southwest Conference (ASC) institutions to launch women's flag football programs. 

"We are thrilled to add women's flag football to our varsity sports offerings," said Adam Bright, Director of Athletics at HPU. "This sport is growing rapidly nationwide, and we're proud to be part of a forward-thinking group of institutions in the ASC that are working together to create new pathways for women to compete, lead, and succeed at the collegiate level."

Women's flag football has seen a significant rise in popularity over the past five years, with participation among young women seeing a 63% growth in the past five years and more than 500,000 young women participating nationwide. The sport is supported by the NFL, including both Texas based NFL teams, and is set to make its debut in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics recently recommended adding flag football to the Emerging Sports for Women program, with an official vote scheduled for the NCAA Convention in January 2026.

"Howard Payne University is committed to offering transformative experiences for our students, and athletics plays an important role in that mission," said Dr. Cory Hines, President of Howard Payne University. "The addition of women's flag football reflects our dedication to providing meaningful opportunities for student-athletes to grow in character, leadership, and faith. We are excited to see this program take the field."

Flag football is a non-contact sport played with seven players per side on an 80-yard field, emphasizing speed, strategy, and teamwork. Teams typically include 20-25 athletes, and most competition takes place in the spring semester.

HPU will begin the process of hiring a head coach and launching recruitment efforts immediately, with a focus on building a competitive and character-driven program.

"We look forward to welcoming our first class of women's flag football student-athletes to campus and starting a new chapter in HPU Athletics," added Bright. "This is a unique moment to build something special from the ground up and a dynamic opportunity for Howard Payne University to recruit a new generation of student-athletes. We look forward to building a strong, competitive program rooted in our values of faith, leadership, and excellence on and off the field."

For more information or to express interest in HPU Women's Flag Football, prospective student-athletes and supporters are encouraged to visit www.hpusports.com.

Link to prospective flag football student-athlete form