The 2026 National Arena League season appears to provide the most stability and sustainable growth that the league has seen in years. The long list of improvements, coupled with solid additions to the team roster, will allow fans to enjoy the game without the worry of teams disappearing or a lot of moving around. This 2026 season Preview will also cover everything you need to know with the previews of each individual team, where they stand, all league upgrades, and what you can expect as we inch closer to the start of league games on March 7th.
Check out our previous Article to learn more about improvements made early in the off-season.
Table of Contents
How to Watch
Many fans took to social blast the fact that the NAL will be behind a paywall this season. Very similar to the IFL, it is its own network, the NAL network. Also mirroring the IFL is the pricing, 30$ for the full season, and 10$ a month. However, the IFL charged an extra $10 to view the playoffs, while NAL has said that the playoffs and championship game are included in their initial sign up price.
The top tier gets you “All Access” and 20% off your next purchase on the NAL Shop. In comparison to many outdoor leagues, this is a steal of a deal. For example; if you purchase the NAL Network subscription, then use your 20% discount on say a Fan Jersey at $69.99, you will save over $13 and essentially the Network subscription has paid you back just under half of it’s annual cost. The NAL has had a very blatant shift in the strategy of the league since Brandon Ikard took over as the commissioner.
He has focused on streamlining the league in such a way that fans can find all the league content, and merchandise in one location. He has gone out and actively pursued league wide sponsorships and partnerships that reflect a larger goal of building out a pool of revenue to be shared amongst the teams, or utilized to further build out the league as a whole.
This offseason alone has seen the announcements of partnerships with Black Rifle Coffee, MyBookie.com, Phorm Energy, and launched the NAL Network with a functional application already out on Apple. Seeing this offseason as anything other than a monumental shift in the NAL is foolish at best and ignorance at worst. However the NAL has not just focused on bringing in partnerships, they have also focused on addressing something all fans will certainly appreciate for 2026: Streaming Quality.
The league has instituted rules that mandate teams must have a high standard for their broadcasts this season, or the league will step in and make the necessary improvements. We had a chance to watch the Pueblo Punishers preseason game on the network and were blown away by how well the rollout went. No matter the tier you buy, we highly suggest it. The picture was very clear, camera work was great, and an overall professional set-up. While the time clock was an issue, it was the first EVER game for Pueblo, and their arena and we are certain this will not be a problem in the future.
If we see this level of production throughout the league it will without doubt elevate the league and the way fans view it. The NAL launched the NAL Network App for Iphone with a plans for one on android. If you’re interested the links are below.
My Bookie– New Betting Partner
Major League Feel
There are a few traits every major league on the planet tend to share; Television Quality Broadcasts, National Sponsors, and of course Sports Betting. The NAL as mentioned has addressed broadcast quality, and added national sponsors, now step 3 is complete.
If you are a diehard fan and want to put your ability to predict games to the test, well you can. Recently the NAL came out and announced a partnership with My Bookie. We decided to check it out, and it’s not a bad setup. It is an Offshore gambling site available to most states, 46 according to freeslots99.com and various other websites.
Making an account is easy, you just do the usual signing up. It is set up to use “wires” or crypto so if you’re not used to that, this may not be for you. We are not promoting gambling of any form, simply letting you know that if you’re in the market for it, it is available for the first time in the National Arena League.
Playoff Structure
The 2026 season has nine teams playing, which often leads to an awkward spot for building a playoff structure. Four feels like too few and eight is too many. The leadership for the league, we feel, found a sweet spot that gives every game meaning even in the final week. The solution? A six-team playoff with first-round byes for the top two teams.
This will give even a 9-0 team a reason to keep fighting to ensure a first-round bye. It also gives the seventh and eighth place squads a fighting chance on the off chance they can play themselves into the bottom seed the final two weeks.
With that being said, here is our preseason play prediction:
First Round Bye:
Omaha
Colorado
In the Field:
Southwest Kansas
Salina
Sioux City
Pueblo
Just missed it:
Amarillo
Louisiana
Not a chance:
Dallas
Team Season Previews
*Not in Order of Preseason Rank
Omaha Beef
Head Coach: Brandon Negron
Years in NAL: 3rd Season
2025 Record: 9-2
Preseason Rank: 1
Rundown:
As Coach Negron enters his first full season with the Beef they are looking like the typical Omaha. They have recruited well going into the season, and we shouldn’t expect anything less than we have the past couple of seasons. Outside of a red-hot Beaumont (and a preseason blunder) the Beef have not lost a game in 3 seasons. If it’s possible, you could see an even more improved Omaha than you did last season, how you ask?
Well, a lot has been added to the already loaded Beef. If you scroll up and down the roster page there is no shortage of experienced talent. Take for instance Brandon Munoz, a former IFL standout DL/LB and the ‘25 tackle champion. Munoz will make it next to impossible for opposing QBS to feel comfortable over the middle of sitting in the pocket.
Pair that with an elite passer in Demry Croft, a solid OL and you may see some unsettling blowouts early in the season. Even the backup QB Tyler Lauenstein is hungry and a solid QB2 if needed. Rumor has it they also added a high level Devopmetal QB from out East during camp.
The biggest threat to Omaha winning it all is in the states of Colorado (not the Punishers) and Kansas. Even with much stiffer competition in the NAL this year the “championship or bust” mentality this franchise carries will see them through a ton of winning. If they do happen to drop on expect brutality for the remainder of their schedule. This is the example everyone wants to follow “The Standard is the Standard” as we hear so often. Omaha to no ones surprise is our pick for 2026 NAL Champion, and definitely the team to beat this season.
Louisiana Rouxgaroux
Head Coach: Michael Blair
Years in NAL: 2nd Season (2025 as Shreveport Rouxgaroux)
2025 Record : 3-6
Preseason Rank: 8th
Rundown:
Louisiana comes into 2026 with a new branding/look, a new arena, and a lease on life as a franchise. After an abysmal 3-6 2025 effort that saw very limited success and all the signs of a failing franchise the purchase of the franchise by Keith Carter has completely revamped them (see article link below). Despite the overall uptick in outlook we don’t see much room for error coming into the 2026 season
Coach Michael Blair has years of experience at a more developmental level of football we aren’t fully convinced he can completely transfer to the NAL the way he hopes yet. After serving as the QB coach in 2025, he takes over as the Head Coach for his first season at the professional level. The Rouxgaroux sport a fairly local roster, but not entirely, which lends itself to being a middle-of-the-pack team in the NAL for 2026. Rosters are ever-changing in the NAL but we can’t say with certainty they will be in the 6-team field when the Dust settles.
It will be extremely interesting to see how William Walters, the Columbia College product, does for the Rouxgaroux. He seems to be a solid starting QB that the staff is excited about. Louisiana carried more than usual into the preseason game and we will have to see who all makes the final 25. As mentioned above this isn’t a roster of national flown-in players, there are even a few earning call-ups from the developmental ranks like the AAL2 and NLFA.
The key to the entire season will be getting the most out of the guys you have and focusing on schemes. If they can manage to be the team with better discipline coming out of every single game it has a chance to be a special season. The stands should be fuller, and the buzz is there, the on-field product just has to deliver.
Amarillo Warbirds
Head Coach:
Years in NAL:1st (Expansion Team)
2025 Record: N/A
Preseason Rank: 7th
Rundown:
Amarillo comes in as a brand-new franchise. Yes, the branding and owner aren’t new to the sport, but this team is coming in as fresh as any other expansion franchise. If you are looking from the outside in, this seems to be the opposite of Dallas, a well-geared, put together franchise that can make a long run in Indoor Football. They have actually shown to be too prepared at times, catching some flak for holding a mini-camp of sorts before league activities were technically allowed. However this shows a desire to want their product to look the right way when it hits the field. Love or hate that move you have to respect the underlying thought behind it.
Leif Curtis and his co-owners have done a decent job of getting the name and brand out since the original announcement. This paired with snagging an unproven but hungry head Coach, Jermaine Blakey, could see them win more than anyone has predicted.
Blakeley, from all accounts, seems ready to prove himself in his current role, but only time will tell. He and his staff also brought in a better-than-expected roster considering the Warbirds are brand new (depending on how you look at it). The staff he has under him isn’t new to the game with over a decade of experience between them all.
That experience in the game has lent itself to the ability to get established players like Tyalen Shaw. Shaw led the former West Texas Warbirds to lower-level titles in the past and can serve as a bit of leadership. Not only do they seem shored up at QB the running backs room is loaded. The battle to see who emerges as the starter between Batiste and Palmer could very well drive both to productive seasons.
Overall it will be a season of firsts, from the franchise all the way down to the head coach. Even the most dedicated fan should expect a learning curve going into the season, and with that a few losses. If all goes perfect we expect Amarillo to be a fringe playoff team, if all goes wrong, the only thing between them and 0-10 will be the Bulls. The concern for Curtis and company shouldn’t be to spend a bunch to win a bunch, but rather take note of the Louisiana experiment and try to establish themselves for longevity. While we are sure a good faith effort will be put into winning, don’t expect more than three or four wins in year one.
Dallas Bulls
Head Coach: Undecided
Years in NAL: 1st (Defacto Expansion Team)
2025 Record: N/A
Preseason Rank: 9th
Rundown:
The Bulls come into this season with quite a few questions. The first of which is who the head coach will be. The North Texas rebrand has seen quite a bit of turbulence this offseason. We are sure this won’t lend itself to a lot of wins, but only time will tell.
We did a bit of digging, but the turnover didn’t end with the coaching staff. The roster feels like it is in the same state and we aren’t quite to their first game. Despite all of this we are hopeful for a full season from Dallas. While we are hoping for the best, we haven’t seen a ton of wins for them. They even recently posted pictures of them laying down their turf for their first home game which is always an encouraging sign.
If they do manage a win outside of the “Team Mexico” exhibition game, it will have to come as an upset over one of the building teams ( Louisiana or Amarillo). They are 9th in the preseason and will most likely stay there all the way to the end.
Sioux City Bandits
Head Coach: Erv Strohbeen
Years in NAL: 3rd Season
2025 Record :3-6
Preseason Rank: 5th
Rundown:
Coach Erv is the longest-running coach for a single team in all of arena and indoor football. Despite the long tenure with the Bandits they saw one of the worst seasons in over a decade last season. A big part of the struggle was elevation in competition and a roster that left much to be desired but we aren’t convinced that Erv and staff won’t make noise in ‘26.
If you hop on the Bandits website and check the roster you will see a heavy mix of former FBS and lower-level college players. The recruitment seems to have improved this season, if they can sure up the OL and ensure that whoever starts under center has time to get the ball out thus season can be everything last year wasn’t.
Despite their ages, Sioux City has two quarterbacks competing to start in 2026: Lorenzo Brown who spent the majority of his career in Sioux Falls, and Verlon Reed who has become a stalwart in Sioux City over the last few seasons. We at Shady Sports are very confident that the Bandits will be a playoff team. With a ten-game season five or six wins are very possible, if everyone stays healthy. Erv is a legend, and one has to wonder how much longer until he hangs it up, if there is a chance this is it, we can only hope he makes it a great one.
Southwest Kansas Storm Preview
Head Coach: Gary Thomas
Years in NAL: First Season (AF1 in 2025)
2025 Record:7-5 ( AF1 Playoff team)
Preseason Rank: 3rd
Rundown:
The Southwest Kansas Storm comes into its first season in the NAL. Last season in the AF1 they were a playoff team and lost in a nail biter for a championship bid. While in an arena-style league offensively, under coach Thomas they had an indoor-styled offense already. With that in mind, it will be interesting to see if they can continue their success now in a league better tailored for their overall style of play.
During their 2025 season they saw multiple players take home year long awards. Quarterback Jalen Morton won Offensive Rookie of the Year, Defensive Back Michael Lawson won Defensive Player of the Year, and 3 players finished in the top 15 in receiving yards despite running a more diverse run game than any other AF1 team. Morton and Lawson are however now playing in the UFL for the Columbus Aviators, and the Storm will move forward with Matt Struck who previously started games for the Storm in 2024.
Head coach Gary Thomas, as previously mentioned, was on the doorstep of a championship game appearance last year but fell short. That is no surprise however, at the collegiate level he was a consummate winner and brought the school’s football program back to prominence after a three-decade drought. Now going into another year at the helm for Southwest Kansas he will look to build on last year and in this new league take that next leap to a championship for the Storm.
The true answer for them and overall success lies in building off of last season. If they can tighten up and play more consistently this year they could easily go the distance. While still being a playoff team last season, they suffered multiple last-minute losses that hurt their seeding. Looking ahead at 2026 the Storm are most certainly on the short favorites list to win the NAL title.
Salina Liberty
Head Coach: Heron O’Neal
Years in NAL: First Season in NAL (AF1 in 2025)
2025 Record: 6-5 (AF1 Playoff Team)
Preseason Rank: 4th
Rundown:
The Salina Liberty take their rivalry with the SWK Storm to the NAL after both teams finished in the AF1 playoffs last year. They look to continue their run of excellence, having made the playoffs every year since 2018, with a championship in 2022 as members of the CIF. With the active off-season they have had the assumption is that their good fortune should continue.
Looking to bolster up the offensive side of the ball that started off slow last year before improving, they have added a number of weapons for the 2026 season. Adding WR’s Lovell Armstead and Duke Williams to a receiving core with “Fast” Ed Smith Jr. re-signed to the roster helps make up for the loss of Malik Honeycutt.
Head Coach Heron O’Neal is no stranger to arena/indoor football or winning championships. A career that has spanned over two decades, he has won multiple championships with multiple teams in different leagues. Anytime Heron O’Neal is your Head Coach, you can not be counted out.
Salina at one point looked to be on the ropes in 2025, until a midseason restructure of the roster led to a late rebound. Without fail Salina found a way into the playoffs adding to a resume for Coach O that already includes his enshrinement in the IFL Hall of Fame.
Colorado Spartans
Head Coach: Fred Shaw
Years in NAL: 3rd Season
2025 Record: 7-3 (NAL Playoff Team)
Preseason Rank: 2nd
Rundown:
The Colorado Spartans come into their third season both as a team and in the NAL. Last season brought the team’s first winning record and playoff appearance. This year they are looking for another playoff berth and their first playoff victory for the franchise. Seeing some of the moves they have made this off season put them towards the top of the league in expectations.
With the addition of former NFL, CFL, USFL, and XFL QB Paxton Lynch, hype for Colorado is at an all-time high. Any time an indoor team can sign a player with outdoor experience it usually translates to a good season, especially at a key position like quarterback. The only question is has Lynch already acclimated to the tighter space and throwing lanes of the indoor game? How many games with live action will it take for him to get used to only having three linemen for protection?
Time will tell, but many already have Paxton Lynch on their league MVP watch list. However Colorado’s talent or former Denver Bronco ties don’t stop there. Watch for the Spartans to be a dangerous team in 2026.
Pueblo Punishers
Head Coach: Tae Brooks & Clinton Solomon (Co-Head Coaches)
Years in NAL: 1st (Expansion Team)
2025 Record : N/A
Preseason Rank: 6th
Rundown:
As a brand new expansion team, the Pueblo Punishers look to hit the ground running and make a statement in year one. With solid ownership, marketing, venue, and nice field turf, it would appear Pueblo could be around for a long time if fan/community support follows.
The addition of Tevin Shipp is big for the punishers. Following the 2025 NFL draft, he received invitations to rookie minicamps with the Indianapolis Colts and Seattle Seahawks. Bringing in a young linebacker who was a force at UT Martin and had serious interest at the NFL level should solidify the defensive side of the ball. That will be vital early on for keeping them in games with the offense needing time to adapt to playing with each other.
A large part of the team’s success will come down to how the staff operates. Choosing to go with a co-head coach setup with both Tae Brooks (also defensive coordinator) and Clinton Solomon (also offensive coordinator). It could turn out to be a great decision, especially with the added difficulties any new franchise has. It could however, work against the end goal if conflicting personalities and coaching philosophies get in the way. Either way, it will be interesting to see how this first season goes.
Final Thoughts
As you have read above, it’s shaping up to be one of the best seasons on record for the National Arena League. Don’t forget to get your NAL Network set up and start enjoying everything this league has to offer this weekend as we get our first version of Mile High Mayhem and a solid match-up from two unproven teams in Amarillo and Louisiana! You definitely won’t want to miss Around the Indoor Football World every Saturday at 7 AM!
TJ, one of the hosts of ATIFW actually co-wrote this preview with me! Much appreciation to the time and detail put into making it great!
The My Bookie announcement graphic, all league photos, and anything team logos are all property of the league and individual teams,
Give Away
We are currently doing a giveaway to win a piece of Sioux Falls Storm turf that the team once used in games.
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