The MEAC championship chase will include two new offerings beginning with this coming season.
Tuesday evening, the conference announced the addition of women’s flag football and women’s golf as championship sports, beginning with the 2026-27 athletic/academic year.
The MEAC now offers 16 sports with championship opportunities. The conference stated that championship formats and other details will be released at a later date.
“The addition of women’s flag football and women’s golf represents an exciting step forward for the MEAC and our member institutions,” MEAC commissioner Sonja Stills said in a statement released by the conference. “As we continue to create meaningful opportunities for student-athletes, these sports further strengthen our commitment to supporting the growth of women’s athletics, while enhancing the championship experience across our conference.”
The MEAC adding women’s flag football solidifies the sport’s status as NCAA Emerging Sport, with the potential for a national championship as early as spring 2028. Women’s flag football has also been added to the 2028 Olympic games.
The MEAC becomes the second HBCU conference to offer women’s flag football as a championship sport, joining the CIAA. Mississippi Valley State and Alabama State have women’s flag football programs in the SWAC, as well as Florida Memorial at the NAIA level.
Women’s golf will already have competitive programs as Howard claimed the Northeast Conference championship this past spring, with North Carolina Central and Maryland Eastern Shore also finishing in the NEC’s top 5.
