Last week we introduced you to what an All-American rundown was going to look like. This week?
Well, we are going to give you a little look into how each of the three leagues will function in 2026. While the American Indoor Football League is technically in its third week, the majority of league play is still over three weeks away. We found the need for an in depth explanation due to the overall chaos that seems to follow the AIF. Along with the mass confusion between the American Arena League and American Arena League 2 coming into the April relaunch of the AAL.
We have covered it in the past but listening to the commentators during the Penn-West Michigan game (and online discourse) made it apparent that the indoor football world needed a refresher. We all love the game, and understanding how all the cogs drive the machine is a big part of being able to enjoy and appreciate it. We are going to include this in place of recent news due to a relatively quiet news cycle in the three leagues.
Table of Contents
2026 American Indoor Football (AIF) Set up:
In 2026 the AIF will field five teams that play one another, and seven overall:
1.West Michigan
2.North Michigan
3.Cedar Rapids
4.Wyoming
5.Pennsylvania(TT)
Independent Teams:
1.Odessa Drillers
2.Midland Frac-Attack
This setup was originally going to make up the AIF Northern Division but several teams and the overall planning fell through. The mess leaves just the Odessa Drillers and Midland Frac-Attack in the South. Instead of driving owners broke with travel, Odessa opted to play an all-home (outside of Midland)independent schedule. This move effectively ended the two divisions set up. Fairly recently the Midland Frac-attack was announced, which is to follow the same pattern set forth by Odessa. Yes, we do see the framework in place to build around, but the overall lack of news coming from the AIF leaves many fans lost.
We hope to see this drastically improve going into 2027. If all goes to plan, the league should be a semi-stable 5-7 franchise setup. At least for 2026 it is a semi-organized league with 4 full-time, 1 travel, and 2 home-only independent teams. According to Inside the Arena those four full-time members will be the only ones eligible for a playoff bid. Ultimately leaving the regular season as a seven-to eight-game run for seeding. The setup is odd, but Rome wasn’t built in a day, and you can’t expect the AIF to rebuild overnight.
If you’re interested in American Indoor Football this AIF 2026 preview will interest you:
2026 American Arena League (AAL) Set Up:
In 2026 the AAL will field four pro-level teams:
1.Columbus Lions
2.Wheeling Miners
3.Mississippi WolfPack
4.Jersey Bearcats
The Miners and Lions left the NAL after just a year in (and back in) the league. This mostly stemmed from the NAL’s moves toward a mostly Midwest format. It wouldn’t make much sense for a team from Georgia or West Virginia to play in a league that looks very much like the old CIF.
The ownership of all four are experienced, head on right kind of guys that are fully committed to ensuring all games are played. Due to each of the teams only having three home games against league opponents, the AAL2’s roster of 14 teams will be utilized to fill out home schedules for all four.
Only to clear up confusion, the AAL is a committed, Pro league that will crown its own champion separate from the AAL2. Despite being two different leagues they have plenty of interaction. The AAL will even hold a draft of AAL2 players after the second week of the season. Leadership in the AAL is even open to letting teams use the AAL2 as a runway to launch into being fully pro team in the higher league.
For more on the AAL check out these recent articles:
AAL Draft:
https://shadysportsnetwork.com/2025/12/26/aal-announce-draft-for-2026/
AAL What you need to know:
https://shadysportsnetwork.com/2025/10/30/aal-2026-what-you-need-to-know/
2026 American Arena League 2 (AAL2) Set Up:
The AAL2 will play a full schedule of regional AAL2 teams in 2026 (and against some AAL teams), with 14 teams:
- Peach State Cats
- Mid-Michigan Grizzlies
- Michigan Raptors
- Michigan Avengers
- Ohio Legends
- Virginia Legion
- Carolina Aviators
- Tri-State Panthers
- Steel City Stampede
- Tri-City Rivergators
- NJ Eagles
- Maryland War Eagles
- Pittsburgh Outlaws
- Carolina Predators
As mentioned above they will even take on some pro-level teams. The AAL2, like in the previous seasons, will function as the highest level of developmental indoor football that exists. It will have three regions, South, East, and North that all compete amongst themselves. At the end of the season, all will be seeded on regional record and play out a playoff bracket. This ensures each player on each team gets the maximum exposure!
Commissioner AJ Roque and the AAL2 have done a phenomenal job of attracting well-organized teams and keeping them around, and the 2026 season will be no different. Word is the league is already working on assembling it’s plan for 2027 expansion. If you are a current or potential team owner on the eastern side of the country AAL and AAL2 offer friendly travel and this could prove to be an attracting factor to new teams in the area.
The rules that have been set in place make it so that no team, and no region can cause any of the other teams to fail. If a team does not complete its obligations, there is a warning, and then swift action is taken. At the end of the day, the goal of the league is to advance players, and even teams to the next level.
We included maps of both to further break any confusion between them, AAL2 pictured below, AAL pictured above.
Also check out our recent articles to find out more on tbe AAL2:
Ohio Legends
https://shadysportsnetwork.com/2026/01/22/ohio-legends-on-the-rise/
AAL2 Player Spotlight
https://shadysportsnetwork.com/2025/12/28/2026-aal2-player-spotlight/
AAL2 Top Level Devopment
https://shadysportsnetwork.com/2025/10/23/american-arena-league-2-develop/
Breakdowns and Previews
Terms:
(TT): Travel Team
(SP): Semi Pro
(DT): Developmental Team
American Indoor Football: AIF
Week 2 Breakdown:
West Michigan 72
Pennsylvania. 20
As predicted in last week’s All American Rundown the Ironmen rolled… And rolled early. What we didn’t see coming was the way it would transpire. The Ironmen got up, and stayed up, even though you saw no quit in the Union.
Typically you don’t get much out of a 72-20 thrashing, but there is a ton that could be said on both sides. Starting with West Michigan, the cracks in the armour did show, any team they play with an above-average WR/QB room for the AIF may very well beat them. The Union was able to get down the field habitually, just not quite able to punch it in.
On the Pennsylvania side, it was very impressive to see a head coach of a travel team put as much heart into the game as we saw. At no point did you think he, or his offense had given up. The gumption to keep their heart in the game lifted them to 14 points late( on a couple of impressive throws), giving the final score a more respectable feel.
Overall? It was another senseless blowout at the hands of the Ironmen. It was the on-brand beatdown that you usually see, but it wasn’t all bad. We at Shady Sports are looking forward to the future games and the slight chance Cedar Rapids or Wyoming put West Michigan in their place!
Week 4 Preview:
February 14-15:
North Michigan At
West Michigan (-27.5)
This game is by far the hardest to predict that we have covered thus far. The Muskies are a reskinned and relocated version of the Chaos from last season. That relocation is about all they have in common with the Chaos. The socials haven’t been buzzing with signings but the Coaching Staff does seem to have quite a bit of lower-level indoor experience coming into this season.
This paired with a fairly decent QB has us in high hopes it won’t be a 42-0 first half. If the Ironmen showed any weakness last week it was against the deep ball. If North Michigan has any type of decent OL play this could be a decent game in the first half. This is the first meeting of full AIF members, but this will more than likely be the best against the worst the league has to offer.
Prediction: NM 26 WM 58
MidWest (SP) At
Cedar Rapids (-58.5)
Similar to how the Ironmen opened the 2026 campaign the Titans will bring a semi-local much weaker team in for a tune-up. MidWest is relatively unknown that will ensure the fans in the stands get to see senseless murder ball. That won’t be all, it will be a much-needed opportunity for the second-most-established team in the AIF to gauge the talent on the roster.
The move is a solid way to gain capital for the season and put your depth guys in live action. We expect a lot out of the Titans coming into the AIF schedule, that being said to say that this won’t be close. While preseason and tune-up games are a part of the game this only makes us long for Titans league play.
Prediction: CR 68 MW 18
CNY (DT) At Wyoming(-21.5)
We are calling it! This, for at least three quarters, will be much closer than anyone rooting for the cavalry wants it to be. CNY comes into town as a fairly established independent organization that knows how to field talented developmental teams. Wyoming, even with the list of talent, came into this as a brand-new franchise looking to establish itself.
The combo will lead to a fairly tight game. Ultimately the talent difference, and a long bus ride for CNY will give Wyoming the edge. Like with North MIchigan this is a start fresh kind of team, and even if we pore over rosters and get detailed intel, there is no telling what their season might look like. This game is the earmark that establishes the season, and what we will judge the next ten weeks of the season off of.
Prediction: CNY 31 WYO 48
AAL and AAL2
No Games
Overall we are in the biggest lull in the “All American” season. Games aren’t being played as frequently and only five of the twenty-three teams have even started camp. Until we really get into the season this selection will be heavily focused on bringing the fans all the info we have and even answering any questions anyone has. If you are reading this and want us to cover something you think we are missing let us know! Don’t forget to share and help build hype for the AIF, AAL, and AAL2!
Also don’t forget to tune in every Saturday at 7 am Central to hear Sam, Krish, TJ and the long list of high-profile indoor and arena football guests discuss everything indoor and arena ball! If you want to know arena ball, Around the Indoor Football World on Shady Sports is the place to have your eyes and ears!
- National Arena League (NAL): Week 4 Review
- All American Rundown Final Edition of 2026
- National Arena League (NAL): Week 3 Review
- Lumberjacks: 2026 NLFA Preview
- Shady Sports Alternative Football Betting Guide
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