MOORHEAD — Former Concordia Cobbers women's soccer player Emily Larsen said college football has been part of her life "forever," so she relished the chance to compete on the gridiron last spring.
Larsen played for the Cobbers women's flag football team, which competed in the inaugural Minnesota Vikings college women's flag football league.
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“It’s so exciting because football, I feel like, is so predominantly male-focused," Larsen said. "It’s kind of exciting to give girls the opportunity to try something similar.”
The second season of Cobbers women's flag football is also in the works.
“Year 2 is happening," said Concordia athletic director Rachel Bergeson.
2025 Midwest College Women’s Flag League Championship Tournament on April 26, 2025
Bailey Quern (10) elevates to catch the football for the Concordia Cobbers at the 2025 Midwest College Women’s Flag League Championship Tournament on April 26, 2025, at TCO Performance Center in Eagan, Minnesota.
Contributed / Concordia Sports Information
Bergeson said she was on a conference call with the Vikings last week, and Dec. 22 is the deadline to opt into the upcoming season. Bergeson said she's also on the advisory counsel for the Midwest Women's College Flag League, in which the Vikings are a primary partner.
“The Minnesota Vikings are really what helped us get this off the ground as quick as we did," Bergeson said.
The Vikings contributed $140,000 to support the league and participating teams.
The Cobbers were one of the seven teams who played in the Midwest league last spring. They played in two jamborees and the championship tournament at the Vikings' TCO Stadium in Eagan, Minnesota.
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“It was one of the best experiences that I’ve had and I’m happy that it’s growing and more people are able to do it now," Larsen said.
2025 Midwest College Women’s Flag League Championship Tournament on April 26, 2025
Jordyn Kahler (18) looks to catch the football for the Concordia Cobbers at the 2025 Midwest College Women’s Flag League Championship Tournament on April 26, 2025, at TCO Performance Center in Eagan, Minnesota.
Contributed / Concordia Sports Information
Bergeson said she anticipates more than 10 teams will participate this upcoming spring.
The College of St. Benedict announced this week that its intends to launch a women's flag football team. The Bennies are planning to have an announcement Saturday, Oct. 25, at halftime of the St. John's football game.
Augsburg, Augustana University, Concordia, Gustavus, Bethel, the University of Northwestern, St. Paul, and Wisconsin-Stout were the six teams who played last spring. Wisconsin-Stout won the championship.
“We’ve seen a big jump in interest from last year to this year in college programs in the state of Minnesota," Bergeson said. “The Minnesota Vikings really made it a great experience, especially the championship weekend at TCO.”
Larsen is the daughter of North Dakota State athletic director Matt Larsen and she's been around college football as long as she can remember. So after Emily completed her four-year women's soccer career at Concordia last fall, she jumped at the chance to play flag football.
“I didn’t go into it with any crazy expectations," she said. “I’m an athletic individual and like to be involved in things especially when it comes to being competitive.”
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emilylarsen3.jpg
Former Concordia women's soccer player Emily Larsen played for the Cobbers women's flag football team last spring.
Sophie Schaumann / Concordia Sports Information Office
Emily said she will be in graduate school next spring so she plans to play for the Cobbers in their second season of flag football.
“The experience itself was great," said Emily, who primarily played safety. “The jamborees were just an incredible experience.”
Bergeson said the Cobbers had 18 players on their roster last season. The teams played 5-on-5, but that could change to 7-on-7 for Year 2, depending on various factors. That is yet to be determined.
Bergeson said flag football is a growing sport at the high school level in Minnesota and that expansion is creating momentum at the college level.
“We’ve seen a big jump in interest from last year to this year in college programs in the state of Minnesota," Bergeson said.
Flag football will be an Olympic sport for the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles. Bergeson said she expects the NCAA will vote in January on potentially making women's flag football an emerging sport.
“That starts the process to establish legislation," Bergeson said with a successful vote. “It’s definitely a really important first step.”
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The NCAA doesn't currently sponsor women's flag football.
Eric Peterson
By Eric Peterson
Peterson covers college athletics for The Forum, including Concordia College and Minnesota State Moorhead. He also covers the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks independent baseball team and helps out with North Dakota State football coverage. Peterson has been working at the newspaper since 1996.