ERIE, Pa.—Mercyhurst women's flag football is set to join the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC). The ECAC begins play in the spring of 2026 as the largest collegiate women's flag football league in the nation.
The league received a $1 million grant from the New York Jets through the Betty Wold Johnson Foundation and Jets Chairman Woody Johnson.
Mercyhurst will compete in both the ECAC and the National Collegiate Flag Football League and is eligible to win a championship in both leagues.
"Empowering young women through football has always been central to our mission," said Woody Johnson, Chairman of the New York Jets in a press release. "Partnering with the ECAC to launch this league creates a clear pathway for student-athletes to compete, grow, and lead—on the field and beyond."
Gameplay will feature the 7-on-7 format of flag football. The season will kickoff with a Media Day at MetLife Stadium in February, followed by a USA Football Talent ID Camp the following day. Regular season games will be played February through April on campus sites, culminating in the championship game at MetLife Stadium1 during the first weekend in May.
"We're proud to be a founding member of the ECAC's new women's flag football league, especially with the backing of an organization like the New York Jets," said Mercyhurst Athletic Director Joe Spano. "Being part of the ECAC puts our student-athletes in an incredible position to compete, grow and make history."
Other members of the ECAC include:
School
Allegheny College
Caldwell University*
Dominican University*
Eastern University
Fairleigh Dickinson*
Franciscan University
Kean University
Long Island University
Mercy University
Mercyhurst University
Montclair State University
Mount St. Mary's University
Union College*
Penn State Schuylkill
Sweet Briar College*
Mercyhurst announced that they would be field a women's flag football team in December 2024.
Zack Helsley was named the first ever head coach of the program in May.
