top of page

BREAKING NEWS
TOP HEADLINES


CLASSROOM OF CHAMPIONS: D1 ELITE TEAMS GET THEIR GRADES
The final season of D1 Elite as we know it is over. And what a strange year it was.
We saw an undefeated regular season team. We saw a dynasty continue its reign. We saw a newly promoted team shock the league. We saw several historic clubs fight for survival. Most importantly, we saw the beginning of a new era.
For the first time in French football history, standings were not the only thing that mattered. The creation of Ligue Élite for 2027 added an extra layer of drama, c
Jul 30


Wild Card Weekend Turns One-Sided in French D1 Playoffs
The French D1 playoffs opened with a clear message from two contenders: when the stakes rise, so does their level. In wild card weekend action, the Flash de La Courneuve and the Blue Stars de Marseille delivered statement victories to punch their tickets to the semifinals.
At La Courneuve, the scoreline eventually became brutal, but the game did not begin that way. Facing the Grizzlys Catalans for the second straight postseason, the Flash were surprisingly shaken early. A bo
May 29


D1 ELITE: EVERYTHING STILL TO PLAY FOR BEFORE THE PLAYOFFS BEGIN
One final weekend remains before the French D1 postseason arrives, and despite several teams already securing their positions, the regular season still has unfinished business to settle.
The North Conference picture is nearly complete after last week’s early showdown in Thonon-les-Bains, where the Molosses secured their playoff berth. In the South, however, tension remains everywhere. Toulouse, the Catalan Grizzlys and Aix-en-Provence all enter Week 10 with realistic hopes o
May 15


Week 6 Power Rankings - D1 Élite
As always, a reminder before we get into it: this is subjective. These rankings are based on results, game flow, momentum, level of opposition, and the overall impression each team left this weekend. They are not the standings, and they are not meant to be taken personally. The goal is simple: place teams where they feel right now, after comparing what we thought we knew at the halfway point with what Week 6 confirmed, corrected, or reshaped. And this week gave us clarity.
A
Apr 10


Keegan McCormack-Reamer on Resilience, Resetting, and Starting Over
For Keegan McCormack-Reamer, this next move is about more than football. It is about trust, opportunity, and the chance to write a new chapter in a place that already feels familiar. As he begins his journey in Germany, the quarterback speaks openly about resilience, growth, and the motivation that continues to push him forward. With long-term goals, high standards, and a championship in his sights, he is approaching this fresh start with both gratitude and determination.
Ho
Mar 27


Week 5 Power Rankings - D1 Élite
As always, a reminder before we get into it: this is subjective. These rankings are based on results, game flow, momentum, level of opposition, and the overall impression each team left this weekend. They are not the standings, and they are not meant to be taken personally. The goal is simple: place teams where they feel right now, after comparing what we thought we knew through the first month of the season with what Week 5 confirmed, challenged, or completely changed.
And w
Mar 26


Week 4 Power Rankings for the D1 Élite
As always, a reminder before we get into it: this is subjective. These rankings are based on results, game flow, momentum, level of opposition, and the overall impression each team left this weekend. They are not the standings, and they are not meant to be taken personally. The goal is simple: place teams where they feel right now, after comparing what we learned in Week 3 with what was confirmed, corrected, or exposed in Week 4.
And this week gave us movement.
At the top, t
Mar 11


FFFA Semi-Finals Weekend Review
You missed the chaos, the drama, and the jaw-dropping moments of those two electrifying back-to-back semi-final weekends?
Don’t worry, we’ve got your back. As your ultimate sports guide and savior, we’re here to walk you through every major twist, turn, and turning point from both unforgettable matchups.
Whether it was last-minute touchdowns, shocking upsets, or heroic performances, we’ll break it all down for you, play by play, highlight by highlight. So buckle up and get
Jun 18, 2025


FFFA D1 - Power Ranking Week 3
The FFFA D1 week 3 was last weekend, so here's the updated power ranking of the two division in the french league!
Feb 20, 2025


Charlie Hockney: A Journey of Resilience and Ambition
Explore Charlie Hockney's journey from UK university football to competing in France. A tale of resilience, triumph, and unwavering ambition
Apr 6, 2024


Gridiron Dreams: Odell Turnbull's Journey from Houston to France
Discover Odell Turnbull's inspiring football journey from Houston to France's Elite Division 1 in this interview.
Mar 12, 2024
OTHER NEWS


FLORIAN BIERBAUMER INTERVIEW - “Seikovits and I played rock-paper-scissors to decide…”
“Seikovits and I played rock-paper-scissors to decide…”
Florian Bierbaumer is one of the star players of the Vienna Vikings. The Graz native, who carries the nickname “Cheat Code”, recently had to take an enforced break due to an ankle injury but used the time to try out new things alongside his recovery.
The former NFL hopeful looked back on his AFLE season so far exclusively with First Down Magazine, spoke about his experience as a co-commentator, his collaboration with f
Aug 13


IFL Teams Get Their Grades!
With the IFL having wrapped up its 2026 season about a month ago — featuring the Guelfi Firenze victory over the Panthers Parma in Ferrara—the final bell has rung, and it is time to grade the teams in the top league.
This article reviews the season for the nine teams competing in the First Division of Italian Football.
Which teams made the grade, which ones have work to do before the new term, and which ones failed?
Guelfi Firenze: A
The Italian Football League’s model te
Aug 6


SUPERSERIEN TAKEAWAYS 2026
Tyresö gets it’s championship
After a lot of years of being the dark horse to win the prestigious SM-Guld, the Tyresö Royal Crowns can finally call themselves Champions of Sweden upsetting #1 seed Carlstad and #3 seed Stockholm in the semis and final respectively.
This team had arguably no weakness and only finished in the #4 seed by having a game overturned and losing to both SMM and Calrstad with only one score each during the regular season.
While the semi against the C
Jul 16


Perfect From Start to Finish: Budapest Cowbells Capture the HFL Championship
The HFL Championship Game had everything fans could ask for. Hard hits, defensive stands, momentum swings, and late-game drama. After an unbeaten regular season, the Budapest Cowbells completed the job, defeating the Győr Sharks to finish the year with a perfect record and lift the HFL trophy.
It wasn't an offensive shootout. Instead, it was a defensive battle for most of the afternoon, with both teams refusing to give an inch.
The game opened with an early fumble by the Co
Jul 14


DAFL History Made: Wild Boars Complete a Perfect Season to Become the First DAFL Champions
The inaugural DAFL Championship delivered an exciting battle between the Wild Boars and the Bucharest Titans. Both teams entered the final determined to make history, but in the end, it was the Wild Boars who proved why they had been the league's most dominant team all season.
From the opening kickoff, both offenses showed they were ready for the big stage.
The Wild Boars struck first as RB Bogdan Djordjevic powered into the endzone to give his team an early lead. The Titan
Jul 14


IFL - Italian Bowl Weekend Recap
The Italian Bowl Weekend took place in Ferrara on July 4–5, 2026, with all three FIDAF senior football finals held at the same venue: the Paolo Mazza Stadium.
Saturday saw action from the IFL2 and the IFL, while Sunday’s stage belonged to the Nine Football League - the third division of Italian football.
Who won the three titles? Who were the standout players? What tone will the sport set for the coming year?
2026 Italian Bowl – Guelfi Firenze vs. Panthers Parma: Guelfi’s
Jul 9


First Down Magazine's IFL 2026 Season Awards!
With the Italian Bowl 2026—the 45th edition in Italian football history—just a week away, it is time to present awards to the top players of the season that is now drawing to a close.
Ahead of the grand finale, the Italian editorial team at First Down Magazine is announcing its picks for the season's top players in Italian Football’s Top tier.
The categories are:
MVP (Most Valuable Player)
OPOY (Offensive Player of the Year)
DPOY (Defensive Player of the Year)
MIP (Most Imp
Jul 3


XLeague Breakdown!
With well known names from European football such as AJ Wentland and Reece Horn moving to the XLeague in 2026, many on the old continent have been asking for information about football in Japan.
So, here are some facts about Japanese gridiron - including several to show how it differs from the game in Europe.
Football started at the university level in Japan in 1934, and within a year USC came to the Land of the Rising Sun to play games against Japanese colleges - starting
Jun 30


AFLE and EFA Hit Cruising Speed as Early Contenders Begin to Emerge
The 2026 European football season is no longer warming up. Both the AFLE and the EFA are already moving at full speed, and after another packed weekend of football, the early shape of both competitions is becoming clearer. Some teams are confirming their status as contenders, others are still searching for rhythm, and several teams that looked beaten have shown enough fight to suggest that this season will not be short on drama.
AFLE Week 2: Vikings Stay Perfect as Thunder,
Jun 5
bottom of page


























