The Big 12 is taking steps toward becoming the first FBS conference to sponsor women’s flag football, beginning in 2028 with a minimum of six teams, Sports Business Journal has learned. An official announcement is set for Tuesday. The efforts, which remain in the exploratory phase, are being spearheaded by Commissioner Brett Yormark and Chief Football & Competition Officer Scott Draper from the conference side, along with an intimate assist from the NFL.

“We’re trying to meet the moment,” Draper told SBJ. “Our goal here is growth. Our goal is to advance Big 12 membership opportunities and growth for [the conference]. We see this as an opportunity to do that.”

The Big 12 and NFL previously announced a partnership in December that was expected to include collaborations around technology, officiating and, of course, flag football.

More recently, the relationship featured NFL EVP/Football Operations Troy Vincent speaking with Big 12 presidents and ADs earlier this year specifically about flag football.

“We think this is a natural extension of what we’re currently doing to grow in the Big 12, then the partnership with the NFL comes into play,” Draper said. “It’s well documented what they’re doing around flag … It really helps with their help and focus on flag, with our focus on flag, we’ll be able to really accelerate the growth of the sport not only at the collegiate level, but at the high school level.

That the Big 12 is exploring flag football comes after the NCAA added it as an emerging sport in January, while it’s seen as a sport with major growth potential.

There are already 20 million players worldwide and more than four million youth participants in the U.S. alone (a 50% increase from 2020). It is also offered at the high school level across 39 states, while participation there has climbed 60% year-over-year.

Men’s and women’s flag football, too, will debut at the 2028 Summer Olympics in L.A.

“This effort is really an extension of us doubling down on growing opportunities for women at the collegiate level,” Draper said. “… This is just an extension of that growth mindset and the opportunity for us to be innovative and first.”