The 2026 UFL season marks the debut of the Columbus Aviators after the league decided to relocate 3 of their 8 franchises. The Aviators inherited the roster of the unhomed Michigan Panthers, although the complexion of the team will be very different after the league decided to redraft their rosters and dismiss all the general managers and several coaches, including the reigning UFL Coach of the Year, Mike Nolan, who previously led the Michigan Panthers to the UFL Championship.
While the core from the ‘25 Panthers will be very different, with key pieces like MVP QB Bryce Perkins and league-leading receiver Siaosi Mariner heading north for the CFL and WR Malik Turner to the NFL, many key pieces do remain, such as RB Toa Taua, who rushed 110 times for 476 yards and 9 touchdowns and was tied for the 2nd most missed tackles forced among running backs by my count at 19, over the season and playoffs.
On defense, the team is bringing back key players such as DE Kenny Willekes, DT Walter Palmore, and LB Noah Dawkins. But there are some noticeable absences in names who were key pieces on the team for many seasons, such as DE Breeland Speaks and LB Frank Ginda.
Week 1: at Orlando Storm
Date/Time: Sunday, March 29, 8:00 PM ET
Stadium/Broadcast: Inter&Co Stadium (ESPN)
Home/Away: Away
Opponent Identity: Orlando is another location newly received a UFL team after the San Antonio Brahmas were relocated. The Storm will be led by Anthony Becht, who coached the St. Louis Battlehawks over the last 3 seasons, posting an impressive 22-8 record.
The Storm have retained RB Jashaun Corbin, who led the league in rushing yards over the regular season after rushing 97 times for 514 yards (5.3 average) and 4 touchdowns, and had 13 missed tackles forced by my count. They have also added receiver Chris Rowland, who recorded 52 receptions for 601 yards and 3 touchdowns with 8 missed tackles forced (by my count) over 12 games, including the playoffs in the DC Defenders’ championship run.
Orlando (former San Antonio Brahmas core) emphasizes a physical defense led by LB Tavante Beckett (39 stops) and a balanced offense with RB Jashaun Corbin (13 MTF) and WR Chris Rowland (8 MTF, 610 yards). QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson could exploit the Aviators’ coverage issues.
Week 2: vs. DC Defenders
Date/Time: Friday, April 3, 8:00 PM ET
Stadium/Broadcast: Historic Crew Stadium (Fox)
Home/Away: Home
Opponent Identity: The UFL Championship MVP, Jordan Ta’amu, is back with the DC Defenders to try to win another championship after emerging victorious over the Michigan Panthers in last year’s UFL Championship. He’ll be without his favorite target from last season in Chris Rowland, who the Aviators will face in week 1, but he does have returning to the Defenders with him WR Cornell Powell, who caught 29 passes for 418 yards and 7 touchdowns over 9 regular season games.
On defense, the Defenders bring a tough defensive line, bringing back edge rushers Derick Roberson and Andre Mintze, who were among the more productive pass rushers in the league last season. At defensive tackle, the Defenders are bringing back Joe Wallace after a stint with the Toronto Argonauts. Paired with DT Devonnsha Maxwell, the Defenders have an intimidating defensive line.
This will be a crucial game for the Aviators as they debut in front of their home fans.
Week 3: at Dallas Renegades
Date/Time: Sunday, April 12, 12:00 PM ET
Stadium/Broadcast: Toyota Stadium (ABC)
Home/Away: Away
Opponent Identity: The Arlington Renegades have rebranded to the Dallas Renegades this offseason and will be under head coach Rick Neuheisel moving forward after posting a 5-5 record last season. The Renegades have QB Luis Perez returning to the team for his 4th season as a Renegade. Joined with him is running back Dae Dae Hunter, who rushed 113 times for 399 yards and 2 touchdowns, and was 2nd among running backs in missed tackles forced by count with 19.
The Renegades were better than their record would indicate last season, posting the third-best point differential at 61 (225 points for, 168 against). Linebacker Donald Payne returns to the Renegades after finishing 4th in tackles in the league last season with 66 total tackles, including 7 tackles for a loss, and also had an interception. The UFL has no shortage of edge rushers, and the Renegades have returning to them Willie Taylor III and Taco Charlton at defensive end.
Week 4: vs. Dallas Renegades
Date/Time: Friday, April 17, 8:00 PM ET
Stadium/Broadcast: Historic Crew Stadium (Fox)
Home/Away: Home
Opponent Identity: The Aviators have 3 back to back matchups over the 2026 season, and this is their first one. The UFL no longer has a conference alignment, and in a 10-game season, these back-to-backs will be essential. The Aviators will have home-field advantage in week 4.
Week 5: at Houston Gamblers
Date/Time: Sunday, April 26, 12:00 PM ET
Stadium/Broadcast: Shell Energy Stadium (ABC)
Home/Away: Away
Opponent Identity: Houston will be under new leadership as they rebrand from the Houston Roughnecks to the Houston Gamblers under new head coach Kevin Sumlin. Houston had a 1-9 season in 2024, which they followed up with a 5-5 season in 2025, thanks to closing out their season with 2 straight wins. The club is still looking for its first playoff berth since the return of the USFL in 2022.
The Gamblers have added RB Nate McCrary, who finished the regular season 5th in rushing yards after rushing 97 times for 380 yards (3.9 average) and 2 touchdowns. He had 442 yards and 3 touchdowns, including the playoffs, and had an impressive 15 missed tackles forced by my count.
Currently on Houston’s roster, they have quarterbacks Hunter Dekkers and Donovan Smith, who are both newcomers to the UFL. Houston has an impressive receiving room with names such as Braylon Sanders, Jontre Kirklin, Justin Hall, and Kai Locksley, to name a few of their capable playmakers.
Week 6: vs. Houston Gamblers
Date/Time: Friday, May 1, 8:00 PM ET
Stadium/Broadcast: Historic Crew Stadium (Fox)
Home/Away: Home
Opponent Identity: Columbus will host Houston in the 2nd half of a back-to-back as they enter the 2nd half of the season. The Gamblers have brought back defensive staples LB Marvin Moody and S Markel Roby and added a talented edge rusher in Malik Fisher, who won the championship with DC last season.
Week 7: at St. Louis Battlehawks
Date/Time: Friday, May 8, 8:00 PM ET
Stadium/Broadcast: The Dome at America’s Center (Fox)
Home/Away: Away
Opponent Identity: Columbus’s lone game against the Battlehawks this season will see them travel to the most intense UFL environment when they go to St. Louis. The Battlehawks will be coached by Ricky Proehl, who takes over for Anthony Becht, who took over for Orlando, respectively. St. Louis will have a different-looking offense as they no longer have quarterback Manny Wilkins on the roster, who was the starter to begin last season. WR Hakeem Butler will instead see Michael Pratt, Ben Wooldridge, or Brandon Silvers throwing passes his way. They are also without RB Jacob Saylors, who signed with the Detroit Lions.
The B-Hawks did retain some key pieces on defense, which was the source of their success last season as they had the fewest points allowed. Defensive ends Pita Taumoepenu and Travis Feeney are both retained by the team and were a pair of game wreckers. Linebacker Mike Rose was also retained. Added to the secondary is cornerback Nate Brooks, who was with the Michigan Panthers in 2024 before strong play from him earned him time in the NFL.
Week 8: at Birmingham Stallions
Date/Time: Sunday, May 17, 1:00 PM ET
Stadium/Broadcast: Protective Stadium (Fox)
Home/Away: Away
Opponent Identity: The Birmingham Stallions will be coached by someone not named Skip Holtz for the first time since the team’s return in 2022. The Stallions have been the team to beat in spring football over the last 4 seasons, posting a 33-7 record over that span and winning the USFL in 2022 and 2023 and the UFL Championship in 2024. Moving forward, the team is coached now by former Battlehawks and Alabama quarterback A. J. McCarron.
The Stallions have protected the rights of QB Matt Corral, who has the talent to win league MVP, and will have the likes of Deon Cain, Marcus Simms, Samson Nacua, and Cam Echols to throw to.
On defense, the Stallions are bringing back some key pieces such as DE Ronnie Perkins, LB Kyahva Tezino, and CB Steven Gilmore. The Stallions added a St. Louis fan favorite in kicker Rodrigo Blankenship, who is an NFL caliber kicker.
Week 9: vs. Birmingham Stallions
Date/Time: Saturday, May 23, 3:00 PM ET
Stadium/Broadcast: Historic Crew Stadium (ABC)
Home/Away: Home
Opponent Identity: Week 9 will see Columbus host the 2nd half of a back-to-back for the third time of the season. These late-season games are extremely important for the playoff race, and playing Birmingham twice in the final 3 weeks places an emphasis on the importance of winning early in the season.
Week 10: vs. Louisville Kings
Date/Time: Sunday, May 31, 6:00 PM ET
Stadium/Broadcast: Historic Crew Stadium (Fox)
Home/Away: Home
Opponent Identity: Columbus will close out their season in what is a favorable matchup against the Louisville Kings. The Kings are the relocated and rebranded product of what used to be the Memphis Showboats. The Showboats went 5-5 in their inception in 2023, but followed that up with back-to-back 2-8 seasons and are looking for their first playoff berth. With there being so many changes across the league, it is not yet known what this rebuilt Louisville Kings team will look like in action. The team will be coached by Chris Redman, who was a alumn of Louisville and spent over a decade throwing passes in the NFL.
The team currently has 2 quarterbacks listed on their roster in Jason Bean and Chandler Rogers, who are both newcomers to the UFL. Much of the Kings’ roster is very different from last season’s iteration of the Memphis Showboats, with several UFL newcomers on the roster.
