Fiesta Bowl Flag Football Classic returns to Arizona in 2027
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College flag football continues to evolve and Arizona is at the center of that growth.
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After hosting the first collegiate flag football tournament featuring Division I universities in April 2026, the Fiesta Bowl announced on Nov. 12 the tournament is coming back to Arizona for a second year. The tournament is moving from Arizona State’s campus in Tempe to the Arizona Athletic Grounds in Mesa from April 10-11, 2027. Oakley is back as the tournament sponsor.
University of Central Florida won the tournament last year, which was broadcast on ESPN. There are new teams joining the field in 2027. UCF is back, along with Arizona State, Florida and Georgia, which all made the semifinals in 2026.
“UCF couldn't be more excited to participate in the 2nd annual Flag Football Classic,” UCF coach Brandon Baroody said. “Fiesta Bowl and Oakley have created such a phenomenal event, atmosphere and stage for our beautiful sport. We can't wait to see what they've built in year two as we continue to grow the sport for young ladies all around the world.”
New schools in the tournament are Cal Poly, Eastern Michigan, UT Arlington and Nebraska. Eeach of them are among the few Division I schools that sponsor flag football at the varsity level.
Flag football was placed in the NCAA’s Emerging Sports for Women Program in January 2026 and is on the verge of becoming an official varsity sport. Nebraska is the only Power Four programs with varsity flag football and is set to play its first season in 2027.
Fiesta Bowl representatives met with Nebraska’s staff at the 2026 national championship game between Indiana and Miami, and Nebraska officials immediately expressed interest in competing in the Arizona tournament.
“We want to be the premier collegiate invitational for women’s flag football in the country,” Fiesta Bowl Executive Director and CEO Erik Moses told The Republic in 2026. “We’re going to work really hard to ensure (that). We want this to be the biggest tournament in the country that brings together the best teams, best players together in the Valley of the Sun in order to compete for a championship that we hope will be coveted in the coming years.”
Nebraska coach Liz Sowers was at the event last year and came away impressed.
“When I attended the Fiesta Bowl Flag Football Classic last year, I remember thinking that I'd never seen a flag football event run like this,” Sowers said. “The professionalism and overall atmosphere created a true championship experience. It honestly reminded me of the women's basketball Final Four. Fiesta Sports Foundation has a long-standing reputation for delivering first-class events and that commitment was on full display throughout the tournament."
For one Nebraska player, it will be a homecoming.
Tucson Salpointe Catholic alum Rylen Bourguet, a wide receiver and defensive back, transferred to Nebraska from ASU in the offseason, becoming the first former Arizona prep to play varsity flag football on scholarship for a Division I university. Nebraska also just signed Peoria Liberty senior wide receiver and defensive back Makenna Johnson and has already offered Highland junior quarterback Lacie Nemchick.
ASU coach Jesse Pap said he views the tournament as “the premier showcase for women’s flag football in the country.”
“Opportunities like this mean so much more than simply competing on the field,” Pap said. “Fiesta Sports Foundation continues to demonstrate an unwavering commitment to growing the game, creating opportunities for young women and elevating the sport we all love. To be included in an event of this caliber, alongside talented athletes and programs from across the country who share our passion, is something we’re truly proud of.”
Flag football became an AIA-sanctioned high school sport in Arizona in 2023.
According to an August 2026 survey by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), high school girls flag football participation jumped from 68,847 to 102,360 athletes at 3,990 schools in 2025-26. That is a 48.7% increase year-to-year. In Arizona, 157 schools across four conferences now sponsor flag football.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Fiesta Bowl Flag Football Classic returns to Arizona in 2027