The 2026 NAIA flag football season was the component of the 2026 college football season organized by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) in the United States. It was the sixth season of the NAIA sponsoring flag football as a varsity women's sport, in contrast with traditional, full-contact college football which is played almost exclusively by men. With 34 schools playing in this season, it remained classified as an "emerging" sport by the NAIA. The postseason tournament was moved to the IMG Academy for this season. The Warner Royals won their first championship with a 13–6 victory over the Keiser Seahawks, completing an undefeated season. This was the first season that Ottawa (KS) failed to win the championship, having won the inaugural five championships.
During this season, Warner quarterback Kathryn Hutchinson set NAIA single season records for touchdown passes, completions and passing yards.
Standings School Record Warner 24–0Milligan23–1 Ottawa (KS) 17–3Hope International13–4Lindsey Wilson (KY)13–4 Keiser 16–5 Baker 15–5 Kansas Wesleyan 14–5Saint Francis15–6La Sierra10–5 Life 11–6 Midland 11–6Webber International11–6 St. Thomas (FL) 11–7 Thomas 10–7Siena Heights18–15 Southwestern (KS) 7–6 Graceland 10–10Arizona Christian7–7 Campbellsville 8–11Cottey6–9 Point 6–9Texas Wesleyan4–6Cumberland (TN)8–15William Woods4–8Reinhardt6–13 St. Mary (KS) 4–9Simpson3–8Benedictine Mesa3–9Hesston College3–10Brewton–Parker3–13 Florida Memorial 2–13OUAZ1–14 Bethel (KS) 0–11
Rankings The top 10 from the NAIA Coaches' Poll
Preseason poll +RankingTeam1Ottawa (KS) (7)2Keiser (1)3Warner4Baker5St. Thomas (FL)6Kansas Wesleyan7Webber International8Thomas9Milligan10Life
Postseason
NAIA Women's Flag Football Invitational
Playoff participants +TeamConferenceQualification methodBakerKansas Collegiate Athletic Conference14–3 (8–2)At-largeHope InternationalGreat Southwest Athletic Conference13–2 (10–0)Automatic qualifierKansas WesleyanKansas Collegiate Athletic Conference11–3 (8–2)At-largeKeiserSun Conference13–3 (8–1)At-largeOttawa (KS)Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference15–1 (10–0)Automatic qualifierSaint FrancisNAIA East Region13–4Automatic qualifierSt. Thomas (FL)Sun Conference11–5 (7–3)At-largeWarnerSun Conference20–0 (10–0)Automatic qualifier
Bracket
References