Get ready for a historic moment in college sports! The first-ever national collegiate flag football tournament featuring Division I universities is hitting the national stage, and you can catch all the action on ESPN.
The Fiesta Bowl Flag Football Classic, presented by Oakley, will be hosted at Arizona State University in Tempe on April 18-19. The championship and semifinal games will be broadcast live, exclusively on ESPNU and the ESPN app, bringing elite-level flag football directly to fans across the country.
This landmark broadcast deal is a massive win for the sport. "This is a monumental step... It is game-changing for our event, for the future of women’s collegiate flag football and it validates where this sport is headed," said Erik Moses, executive director & CEO of the Fiesta Sports Foundation. The move signals flag football's rapid ascent from a recreational activity to a premier televised competition.
An impressive lineup of powerhouse schools will compete for the inaugural title, including Arizona State, Alabama State, Charlotte, the University of Florida, the University of Georgia, Grand Canyon University, UCF, and USC. These club teams will now showcase their speed, strategy, and skill on a platform that promises to inspire a new generation of athletes and fans.
ESPN's commitment underscores the sport's explosive growth. "Flag football is one of the most compelling growth stories in sports," said Kurt Dargis, senior director of programming and acquisitions at ESPN. "Putting this championship on a national stage allows the storytelling that ESPN is known for as we inspire the next wave of flag football players and fans."
Calling the games will be a perfect pairing of expertise and energy. The broadcast team features play-by-play announcer Kyle Bailey alongside analyst Phoebe Schecter, a former captain of Great Britain's women’s national flag football team and a leading global voice in the sport. Her insight from the 2022 IFAF Women's World Championship, where she helped secure a silver medal, will provide unparalleled depth to the coverage.
Mark your calendars! This event isn't just a tournament; it's the dawn of a new era for collegiate flag football, blending high-level competition with national exposure. It's the perfect inspiration to gear up and hit the field yourself.