Per Form 172 instructions, a separate Form 172 should be prepared for each NOL. However, currently only one instance of Form 172 is supported.

Use the NOL Worksheet from prior years to complete and attach additional 172's.

See: 
Common questions about Net Operating Losses(NOLs), Form 172 and diagnostic ref 61199 in Lacerte
Common questions about Net Operating Losses(NOLs), Form 172 and diagnostic ref 61199 in ProConnect T... 

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If Form 172 is not highlighted, IOW no Form 172 appears in Forms, will it be sent?

And if no 172 appears then does that mean I need to create it in the Prior Year NOL input screen?

And since this isn't a critical diagnostic that means to me that the IRS doesn't care. And maybe they don't care because they can look for the prior year NOLs in past tax returns.  (I've been through this before so I'm not - yet- frustrated yet it seems Intuit would have some pipeline to the IRS to be able to have more complete guidance, in a similar way that Spidell has with the FTB.)

Thank you for listening Intuit Gabi!

Hi @Strongsilence-CPA -
Following up to confirm that form 172 will only generate for a current year NOL. If you put in a prior year NOL, it won't display on the forms tab.