There are not a ton of active rivalries left in the indoor and arena game due to the relative instability of some franchises and leagues. Even with that being the case, the ones that do exist are some of the most intense you’ll ever have the pleasure of watching. From on-field play, to post-game bench-clearing to online banter between the fans, the following clashes have led to some of the best games (and worst post-game fights) the fifty-yard game has ever seen:
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1)Battle of I-29
Omaha Beef Vs Sioux City Bandits
First Game: 6/22/02 33-30 Sioux City
Series Record: Omaha Leads 31-24
Out of every rivalry in the Indoor game, this one has stood the test of time… the bitterness between these two franchises has lasted through three decades, six leagues, and never failed to be a fight till the end! Take for instance, these squads played twice in 2025, and despite Sioux City having the worst campaign in over a decade they took Omaha to the wire 24-17 in game one. Game two not as close but still a speedboat race to the end at 55-42.
In 2024, the bus ride between these two was for more than just bragging rights, the NAL championship! The result? A 47-46 overtime heart stopper. The most casual fan of the fifty-yard game still tunes into this series when it’s on, I know we sure do! This is the Steelers-Cowboys and of the 90s, or the Iron Bowl of Indoor. No matter how good or bad the other is you’ll never really know how it will turn out until they jump the dasher boards and leave it all out on the field!
The Battle of I-29 is everything good with Indoor football… two long-standing teams with a bitter hatred for each other on the field, this rivalry is older than any league or rivalry around today at () total of games, and I’m confident they will be playing until the sport is no more!
2) Arena Sun Flower Showdown
Southwest Kansas Storm Vs Salina Liberty
First Game: 6/4/2022 36-13 Salina
Series Record: 6-3 Liberty
This battle between these Kansas AF1 squads is always heated… so much so that it boils over off the field. After one of the three 2025 match-ups, these two ended up in a post-game brawl that went into the tunnel. The rage felt by both sides is understandable, of those three games, not one was decided by more than 2 points, Salina even “upsetting” Southwest Kansas to sneak into the AF1 playoff, on the final play of the regular season.
This rivalry is not only heated, but it has survived three leagues and two different versions of the fifty-yard game(Indoor and Arena), starting in Champions Indoor Football… scraping by in AFL… and currently calling the Arena Football One home. Like most rivalries, geography drives this rivalry (and playing several times each year), with less than a three-hour bus ride between the two.
As previously mentioned the games between them are always thrillers and as long as they are both around the “Arena Sun Flower Showdown” will be a cornerstone of whatever league they are in. With so much uncertainty surrounding potential 2026 offseason realignment, there is a scenario where this rivalry could be put on at least a brief hiatus if the two teams play in different leagues.
3) California Clash
San Diego Strike Force vs Bay Area Panthers
First Game:3/21/22 Strike Force 33 Panthers 38
Series Record: 8-3 Bay Area
Not only is there a bitterness between these two, but both have recently been regarded as top IFL franchises. Since California Clash began in 2022 both teams have been in the playoffs, and this year is no different with Bay Area atop the West and San Diego not far behind.
In a three-game series this season Bay Area stretched the overall lead by handling the Strike Force with ease in the first two. To us, the greatest part of this rivalry is that it even exists. Indoor and Arena football have a rich history in California, but with heavy operational costs in the state, it makes it difficult for any franchise to last.
Adding to the hate between the two is the fact that San Diego entered play in the IFL years before Bay Area but has nothing to show for it, Bay Area even knocking off the Strike Force in the first round of the playoffs en route to their IFL National Title in 2023. Let’s hope both can keep up with rising costs, and be around for more classics like we say in 2024 and 2023.
4) Indoor Arrogance
Green Bay Blizzard vs Mass Pirates
First Game: 5/2/21 Pirates 36 Blizzard 40
Series Record:6-5 Pirates
On the field is one thing, but online is another story. This is a bout between two of the loudest, most boastful IFL squads and fan bases that exist (outside of Arizona). Green Bay’s “Strictly Blizzness” fuels the trash talk between the two, Blizzard Owner Kathy Treankler just adds fuel to the fire year over year, game over game. Against a team in Mass that runs on nothing but Daddy’s Money, Krish’s (of SSN) Trash talk and fading memories of NAL greatness and a single IFL title.
The Eastern Conference bout, at least recently, has leaned heavily toward the boys from Wisconsin. Heavy rumors of a move by Mass to Florida may shift this rivalry geographically but I have no doubt that the banter will continue. The ridiculous part of it? They are completely opposite franchises, Mass has proven to be more of a fly by night quick to fire staff kinda team while Green Bay has been around since the af2 and employed just 4 more coaches all-time than the Pirates in 23 seasons.
Both have had ups and downs (Green Bay was a dumpster fire on, but not off, the field previous to the 2020s) but in our humble opinion, neither team has earned the right to be as obnoxious as they are. Previous to 2024 Green Bay hadn’t made the playoffs since 2019. Since the 2021 IFL national championship for the Pirates, they have slowly declined to the 7-9 form they currently sit at.
In 2025 Green Bay swept Mass, tacking on a 29-point victory in game two. No Matter the location of Mass, this will always be a banter-filled mess that can only be settled on the field, even in both losses this season you couldn’t keep Mass quiet and if Green Bay manages to win an IFL title this year expect it to only get even unbearable.
5) East Coast Clash
Massachusetts Pirates vs Jacksonville Sharks
1st Game:4/14/2018 Pirates 63 Sharks 56
Series Record: 6-5 Jacksonville
Yes, Mass makes it on this list twice, once for being a bit mouthy, once for geography ( and a little league history). Not only are these teams the only two currently located on the East coast in the IFL but they have history that goes beyond the IFL. In 2018, the second year of the NAL and the first for the Pirates the rivalry began. The first meeting between them surprised everyone, the brand new team from Lowell went into Jacksonville and knocked off the well-established sharks 63-56.
Jacksonville would go on to sweep the final two over Mass, before both would be eliminated in round one of the 2018 NAL playoffs..2019 would see a 3-0 Sharks sweep of the Pirates and a NAL Championship, and Mass exit for the IFL not long after. These two wouldn’t meet up again until 2024 when Jacksonville made the jump to the IFL themselves. Since? Some of the grimiest, spine-rattling games the IFL has ever seen.
Take for instance in a 2025 match-up up a widow maker of a throw to the goal line ended in a brutal hit that had tensions high on the field and both fan bases enraged. A certain unnamed podcast went on for over 30 minutes about how grimy Mass was, and even one of SSN’s own Krish added to the fire. I’ve never sat down to watch a Mass-Jax game expecting a good clean sixty minutes.
Whether it be envy of recent success or both of these teams still trying to prove themselves to the indoor world they always wind up in a chippy nasty game that comes down to the fourth quarter (the loser trying to start a brawl). All that being said they will probably have something to say about being in this article, but rivalries like this are what make Indoor Football as great as it is.
Potential Rivalry:
Mile High Mayhem:
Pueblo Punishers Vs Colorado Spartans
First Game: TBD 2026
This one has not seen Pueblo kick off yet, but if Pueblo can stick around for a few years, this could be an absolute war, similar to Omaha and Sioux City. Less than two hours separates them, meaning we could reasonably see “away” fans make the trip, something rarely seen in the NAL! Pueblo Punishers Owner Lisa Rohrich has talked about trying to arrange a bus for fans who would like travel to away games. Keep an eye on this one, I’m sure we will get a home and away between the two in 2026!
One Team Rivalries:
Washington Wolfpack – The Goal Line
Series Record: 4-17
This one is kind of self-explanatory, in 2025 we saw the single worst offensive performance from a team that wasn’t subbing in semi-pro scrubs. In nine games they failed to even hit 28 points, something most teams can hit by halftime. The anemic offense didn’t stop there, in the second-to-last game the only score for Washington came via a drop kick resulting in a 71-4 drubbing.
All jokes aside if Washington can’t get on the other side of this rivalry all the community outreach and franchise establishing with be for not! No one wants to show up and watch the home team never cross the goal line. Washington has made several changes to their franchise in an effort to grow their revenue streams, and ticket sales. This is likely a direct effort to try and be more competitive in free agency and ultimately on the field in 2026.
We are pulling for the Wolfpack in 2026 and beyond. If having the best looking uniforms translated to scoring points, Washington would be undefeated.
Columbus Lions – League Stability
Series Record: 0 – 9
As News continues to come out of the Lions possibly league jumping again, and we take a look back in time at the Walgreens Receipt long list of leagues Columbus has played in one thing becomes clear:
They have no interest in long road trips and would rather play in a 5-team league that folds after 7 games, this franchise despite all of its small league success is allergic to finding stability in a league, just take a look at the list:
- World Indoor Football League (2007)
- American Indoor Football Association(2008–2009)
- Southern Indoor Football League(2010–2011)
- Professional Indoor Football League(2012–2015)
- American Indoor Football (2016)
- National Arena League (2017–2022)
- American Indoor Football Alliance(2023)
- American Indoor Football (2024)
- National Arena League (2025)
- ??? (2026)
We do understand that sometimes you have to make decisions to keep the team sustainable in this industry… but the Lions need to find team owners they would like to stick with and settle down. Much love for Columbus, but I think we can all agree it doesn’t mean as much to hang a title banner if you were the only team that didn’t fold before the championship game.
Arizona Rattlers Fan Base – Off the Wall
First Game: 4/19/25 0-4 Off The Wall
Series Record 0-1
The Arizona Rattlers fan base was ignited into a frenzy when their head coach went on a tirade about the referees, the replay officials, and everyone short of himself. Fans everywhere were upset that their team was “cheated” out of victory by the officials. Off the Wall and their unique (and hilarious) brand of humor chimed in on these rants in the way only Trey could.
Using nuggets of truth formed by his fair analysis of the game, laced with just the right out amount of his patented sarcasm he quickly became the antagonist in this rivalry. Rattlers fans may be feeling the sting over his comments, but as the saying goes the truth hurts, and the tape never lies. Subscribe and follow Off the Wall, and check out his series Turf Tapes.
For all who love the 50-yard game, these are the games (and jokes) that make this sport one of the most fun, entertaining, and flat-out the greatest sports on earth! If you’re a die-hard fan of one of the above share a comment and let us (or your rival) know what you think! If you want to watch a rivalry that can only be seen on Shady Sports: Around the Indoor Football World, tune in and watch the weekly clash between Krish and anyone who has a negative take or thought about the Mass Pirates! If you enjoyed this article please check out more of our indoor and arena football content.
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Information for this article comes from several sources including but not limited to. Thank you to those that contributed to the information in this article.
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