William Smith College will join the ECAC/NY Jets Flag Football League for its inaugural varsity season in 2027, Hobart and William Smith Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics Brian Miller announced Monday, marking a significant expansion of opportunities for the Herons’ athletic program. The move places William Smith in the nation’s largest collegiate women’s flag football conference.
The ECAC/NY Jets Flag Football League, launched in Spring 2026, features 15 teams and was established through a $1 million grant from New York Jets owner Woody Johnson and the Betty Wold Johnson Foundation. The league has quickly become a central hub for the sport’s rapid growth at the collegiate level.
William Smith will host its home games at McCooey Field, competing in a 7-on-7 format played on an 80-by-40-yard field with 15-minute quarters. Teams will operate under a four-down system, advancing the ball in 20-yard increments for first downs, while defenders end plays by removing flags attached at the hips.
The addition of flag football continues William Smith’s recent expansion in women’s athletics. Including the new program, the Herons have added four varsity sports over the past five years, bringing the department’s total to 16 teams and reinforcing a commitment to broadening participation opportunities.
William Smith will begin competition in 2027 at McCooey Field as part of the ECAC/NY Jets Flag Football League, with scheduling details to be announced at a later date.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].