SPRINGFIELD, IL (Dec. 5, 2025) – The University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) has announced the addition of women’s flag football as the institution’s 18th varsity sport following completion of a comprehensive Sports Sponsorship Study conducted by Collegiate Consulting. The Prairie Stars will begin recruiting student-athletes in fall 2026 ahead of the inaugural spring 2027 season.
Women’s flag football emerged as the top priority following a comprehensive study evaluating participation trends, recruiting pipelines, operating costs, and enrollment potential. “We have watched the interest in this sport grow rapidly in the nation, in our state, and in this region, and now look forward to providing an opportunity for women with a passion for flag football to continue playing in college while earning a premier education in Central Illinois,” said Mike Hermann, UIS Director of Athletics.
As part of the engagement, Collegiate Consulting conducted a multi-sport feasibility analysis that evaluated the opportunity for nine potential new varsity programs, including flag football, men’s volleyball, and women’s lacrosse.
The study examined conference alignment within the Great Lakes Valley Conference and peer conferences, analyzed recruiting participation data at the state and national levels, benchmarked operating and start-up budgets, assessed facilities requirements, and modeled projected scholarship and net tuition revenue impacts to support UIS’s long-term growth strategy.
“Flag football stood out in our analysis as a unique opportunity for safely growing participation while maintaining strong financial responsibility,” said Russell Wright, President and Founder of Collegiate Consulting. “UIS is entering this space at the right time. The recruiting base is already established, the startup costs are minimal, and the sport aligns well with the university’s enrollment and student-athlete experience goals.”
Illinois supports 200 high school flag football programs with more than 4,000 participating athletes. Nationally, participation exceeds 68,000 student-athletes across 17 states. The study projected start-up costs of approximately $10,000 and annual operating expenses near $29,000, positioning flag football as one of the most cost-efficient varsity additions at the Division II level.