For several seasons now, a growing murmur has echoed through the corridors of the National Football League . The league has increasingly fast-tracked its young prospects, pushing them onto the field earlier than ever and handing them ever-greater responsibility. Some of those players never fully develop, hindered by deeper structural issues in their progression. That trend has become impossible to ignore. In recent years, NFL franchises have entrusted rookies with enormous responsibility almost from day one: a young quarterback tasked with reviving a struggling franchise, a wide receiver expected to propel a contender toward a Super Bowl run, or a defensive newcomer asked to embody an entire unit’s identity. The race to accelerate development has become the norm, but it was not always this way. Once, even a first-round draft pick might wait years before earning a starting role. Today, patience has all but vanished. A League That No Longer Waits The shift has been most visible at quarterback, but it now extends across every position group. Young signal-callers are burdened with franchise-altering expectations in Year 1, often within unstable environments that ultimately stunt their growth. In 2025, while coaching Cam Ward , described internally as a “generational” prospect,  Brian Callahan was dismissed by the Tennessee Titans , joining four other head coaches who lost their jobs before the end of their rookie quarterback’s first season, including those overseeing Trevor Lawrence , Bryce Young , and Caleb Williams . Even highly talented rookies are rarely prepared to excel immediately at this level. League data shows an average statistical improvement of roughly 75 percent between a quarterback’s first and second seasons. In that context, what appears to be an opportunity, playing early, can quickly become a trap. Few cases illustrate this better than Justin Fields . Selected in the first round of the 2021 draft by the Chicago Bears , Fields arrived as the new face of the franchise. Electrifying as both a runner and passer, he surpassed 1,000 rushing yards in just his second season, a rare feat for a quarterback. Yet his development was hampered by instability: coaching changes, a porous offensive line, and persistent losing. Over three seasons in Chicago , he posted a 10–28 record as a starter. Traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2024 and later moving to the New York Jets in 2025, Fields has shown flashes of growth. But each stop has required him to adapt to incomplete rosters and evolving systems. His trajectory underscores a persistent NFL dilemma: even a gifted young quarterback can quickly be labeled a failure without a stable foundation. Potential Undermined by Instability Fields ’ story is hardly unique. In a league that prioritizes immediate results over long-term development, rookies across all positions are thrust into outsized roles before they possess the full toolkit to succeed. The consequences can be severe: shortened careers, early injuries, and shaken confidence. Beyond statistics, the physical toll is undeniable. The NFL is unforgiving; every mistake carries a price. Young players, often isolated in high-leverage situations,  face elevated injury risk. Several promising rookies have already seen their seasons derailed by serious injuries, shrinking their developmental window and, in some cases, jeopardizing careers before they truly begin. Meanwhile, the specter of the “bust” looms large in front offices and fan bases alike. High draft picks such as JaMarcus Russell demonstrated that elite physical tools alone are insufficient when circumstances are unfavorable. Fields ’ journey reinforces that even exceptional athleticism can be limited by weak rosters, organizational instability, and suffocating expectations. The NFL is playing a dangerous game: in chasing immediate returns from its youngest players, some teams may be sacrificing sustainable growth. And the phenomenon no longer affects quarterbacks alone. Receivers, linemen, defensive backs, no position group is immune. The risk of wasted talent is real. The League’s Dilemma Perhaps the most striking symbol of this developmental tension unfolded during Super Bowl LX , where the New England Patriots fell 29–13 to the Seattle Seahawks . On the sport’s grandest stage, one of the most scrutinized figures was rookie left tackle Will Campbell . Matched against one of the league’s most aggressive defensive fronts, Campbell surrendered as many as 14 quarterback pressures, according to Next Gen Stats , the highest total allowed by an offensive lineman in a single game this season. For some fans, his performance crystallized broader frustrations. Online forums quickly filled with harsh assessments questioning whether he belonged in the starting lineup at all. Others pointed to context. Was he playing on a knee still compromised by an MCL injury ? Was he simply overwhelmed by an elite pass rush on the biggest stage of his young career? Supporters countered that judging a 22-year-old rookie under such circumstances lacked perspective. That divide encapsulates the league’s broader tension: the hunger for instant performance colliding with the realities of human development. Public reaction, oscillating between ridicule, severity, and empathy, reveals how difficult it is to accept that a first major spotlight moment can unravel, particularly when it stems from an accelerated career timeline. Veteran offensive lineman Morgan Moses offered a measured perspective afterward: “I told him I’d never seen a rookie play the position the way he did at left tackle. He has tremendous potential. Now he can step back, recover, get back to work, and process everything he experienced.” Super Bowl LX delivered more than a final score. It exposed the limits of a system that sometimes places young talent under the brightest lights without a sufficient safety net. Campbell , overwhelmed by Seattle ’s defensive front, paid the price, his record number of pressures allowed raising questions about readiness in such a demanding context. Veterans insist his mistakes are correctable, yet his case remains a cautionary tale about rushed promotion, whether at the start of a season or in the aftermath of injury. In contrast, Sam Darnold offers a counterpoint. After turbulent early years that stalled his growth, Darnold found stability with the Seahawks , a structured environment that maximized both his experience and talent. His composed, mistake-free performance in the Super Bowl victory illustrated how patient, progressive development, even if delayed, can transform a once-questioned prospect into a decisive leader. This dual narrative, a young talent stumbling under premature expectations and a veteran flourishing in the right setting, crystallizes a central question facing the NFL : should the league rethink how it shepherds its youngest players toward maturity, rather than thrusting them immediately into the arena?

After two weeks of high-intensity match-ups, it’s time to take a closer look at the shifting hierarchy of the league. Some teams have climbed the ladder with impressive performances, while others have stumbled, revealing weaknesses that could shape the rest of the season. From breakout stars to defensive stalwarts, these rankings highlight the teams that are asserting themselves, and those that will need to regroup, before the next round of games. 1. Black Panthers - Thonon-les-bains Flash - 2-0 This was the most anticipated game of the season, featuring two strong teams vying for the top spot. The Black Panthers came determined to dominate. By halftime, the game was evenly matched, with a well-rounded performance and a 14-point score. The second half shifted to a more defense-oriented battle. ATH Bafdile stood out on both sides, and the defense managed to pick the Flash twice. Their next matchup against the Meteors presents a prime opportunity to halt Fontenay ’s strong start to the season in two weeks. 2. Iron Mask - Cannes 2-0   They gave the Blue Stars no opportunity to get into the game. Connor Miller delivered an excellent performance, throwing three touchdowns with no interceptions, while consistently extending plays with his mobility and vision under pressure. His ability to keep drives alive proved to be a key factor throughout the game. Defensively, the unit led by Tyron Simon controlled the passing game for most of the contest, showing discipline and strong coverage, even though a late passing touchdown was conceded to the Blue Stars . The run defense was less consistent at times, allowing some gains on the ground, but it ultimately did not result in any points. Looking ahead, they will need to stay cautious and well-prepared for their matchup against the Argos on February 28. 3. Flash - La Courneuve The offense struggled to find its rhythm. Labarrière , who was unstoppable last year with Cannes , dropped at least two passes and seemed to be having an off day, uncharacteristic given his near-perfect catching record last season. Keegan Cormack-Reemer also saw a slight dip in accuracy and threw an interception. The offensive line appeared unusually porous, making it difficult to sustain drives. Defensively, the first half was inconsistent, but the second half showed much better focus and execution. That said, I wouldn’t count the Flash out just yet, they still have time to adjust. Cormack-Reemer and Labarrière are likely to reconnect, and they’ll have a prime opportunity to do so against the Diables Rouges in two weeks. 4. Grizzlys - Perpignan 2-0  This was one of the most defensive games we’ve seen in the past two weeks. No points were scored until midway through the third quarter, and it wasn’t Perpignan who opened the scoring. The defense remained dominant, recording multiple sacks and demonstrating strong coverage throughout. The offense struggled early on. QB Badis Grami was sacked several times and threw multiple interceptions, including a particularly costly second pick. But he managed to turn the game around. After a long gain on a mid-field pass near his own end zone, he delivered a brilliant fade to WR Alexandre Agnimel , who executed a spectacular catch. Following a turnover on downs, the team fooled the defense with a trick play: a pass from a wide receiver to Agnimel . A few plays later, Grami threw a deep fade to another key target, WR Idriss Ramky , in the end zone, sealing the game with only 40 seconds remaining. 5. Meteores - Fontenay-sous-Bois 2-0 A solid win against a weakened Molosses squad, but a win is still a win. The rushing attack was simply unstoppable. RB Graham Ouro-Bodi was dominant, racking up 144 yards and two touchdowns on just 12 carries, an absolute beast all game long. Defensively, the team was sharp when covering passing concepts, showing good discipline and awareness in coverage. However, they looked far less convincing against inside run schemes, often appearing out of position and struggling to fill gaps consistently. Unfortunately, based on what we’ve seen so far, it’s hard to see them standing up to the Black Panthers in two weeks. That said, football has a way of proving predictions wrong, and I’ll truly love seing they make me eat my words. 6. Blue Stars - Marseille 1-1 They fought hard throughout the game. QB Hadrien Lynda was under constant pressure and had to scramble frequently, but he still managed to deliver some excellent throws. His receivers backed him up with several spectacular catches. Defensively, the unit struggled to balance between stopping Yepmo ’s runs and containing Miller ’s passing attack. The result was a performance that wasn’t disastrous, but far from dominant. On the offensive line, number 71 had a difficult time in pass protection, though he showed more reliability when asked to block in the run game. They’ll have a chance to get things back on track in two weeks against the Grizzlys . 7. Molosses - Asnière-sur-Scène 0-2 A difficult way to open the season for last year’s semi-finalists. From the opening snaps, they struggled to find consistency and tempo on offense. In an attempt to regain rhythm, the coaching staff made a change at quarterback, hoping to spark momentum and steady the unit. While the move showed intent, it didn’t fully resolve the underlying issues. The team appeared weakened in key areas, and it showed on both sides of the ball. Execution was inconsistent, drives stalled too quickly, and they lacked the sharpness needed to control the pace of the game. Too often, promising situations ended without points, as they struggled to convert on crucial downs and consistently move the chains. Running back Jerrey Key was one of the bright spots, putting together a respectable performance and fighting for extra yards when opportunities arose. A few defensive pieces also stepped up, showing resilience and flashes of intensity that kept the team within reach. However, isolated efforts weren’t enough to shift the overall dynamic. There’s no doubt the foundation is there, this is still a roster with talent and experience, but cohesion and rhythm will need to improve quickly. With two weeks to regroup, adjust, and refine their identity, the focus now turns to their upcoming home matchup against the Leopards , a team riding recent success and growing confidence. 8.   Leopards - Rouen 1-1 Yes, Villepinte looked fragile at times. But the Leopards ? They showed flashes of real class. After connecting on a deep bomb that flipped the field, quarterback Noah Carreau lined up for the next snap. He initially rolled to the right, scanning downfield, but pressure collapsed quickly. Instead of forcing a throw, he reversed course, sprinted back across to the left, turned the corner, and took it himself all the way to the end zone. Bang, bang. A pure playmaker’s sequence. Defensively, the Leopards weren’t bad. They showed structure, discipline, and some solid individual efforts. Still, there’s work to be done. Conceding a touchdown with less than 30 seconds before halftime is the kind of lapse that can change games, especially against stronger opponents. In the end, they escaped with a one-point win against a team widely considered one of the league’s weakest on paper. A win is a win, but if they want to build real momentum, the standard has to rise. The potential is there. Now it’s about consistency and control against the Molosses in two weeks. 9. Ours - Toulouse 0-2 They were so close to pulling it off. While leading 7–0, the defense did more than hold its ground, it controlled the Grizzlys ’ offense all the way until the final three seconds of the third quarter. Disciplined, physical, and focused, they executed their game plan nearly to perfection for three quarters. But on the other side of the ball, the offense remained stuck. Drives lacked fluidity, adjustments came slowly, and opportunities slipped away. When the momentum began to shift, the margin for error disappeared. Still, the defensive unit never lost concentration. Agnimel , Gramis , and Consor eventually found their way into the end zone, capitalizing when it mattered most. Those moments showed what this team is capable of when execution meets belief. There’s potential here, real potential. This roster could become many things depending on how it responds. The question now is whether they’ll make the right adjustments and turn promise into progression. Against the Centaures , there should be more opportunities to express their game. More space. More chances. Now it’s about taking them… We’ll see. 10. Centaures - Grenobles 0-1-1 A draw… against the Argonautes ? Well, that was something. It was a strange game to watch. Plays were made, yes. There were flashes on both sides of the ball. But nothing ever felt truly dominant, and nothing completely collapsed either. It lived in that uncomfortable middle ground: not sharp enough to impress, not poor enough to criticize heavily. Just… in between. At times, they moved the ball with purpose. At others, execution stalled at key moments. Defensively, they held their structure, but without really imposing themselves. It was the kind of performance that leaves more questions than answers. I’m especially intrigued by Tanner Marsh , now leading Centaures de Grenoble . The former Montreal Alouettes quarterback brings experience and pedigree, and you can sense there’s more potential to unlock offensively. But with the team not returning to the Elite League next season, it’s hard to define their trajectory. What are we supposed to expect? Right now, it remains unclear. 11. Argonautes - Aix-en-Provence 0-1-1 The overall level? Still hard to evaluate. They’re staying in the Elite League next year, which makes these performances even more important. You can see the intention, you can see the effort, but the consistency across four quarters isn’t fully there yet. It’s not about isolated plays anymore, it’s about controlling games. And in two weeks, the Iron Mask won’t give them time to figure it out. They won’t let them breathe. The tempo will be higher, he margin for error smaller, the punishment immediate. If adjustments aren’t made quickly, it could be a long afternoon in sight. 12. Diables Rouges - Villepinte   0-2 Not much to add here, except that they face the Flash in two weeks. If they manage to limit the damage and stay disciplined, this could be the kind of matchup that reveals their character. It’s not always about winning these games; sometimes it’s about how long you stand, how hard you compete, and how much you refuse to bend. If they don’t lose too much early and keep their structure intact, they might just show how brave they really are.

The ELF isn’t the only league in Europe suffering from serious changes and disputes. The players weren’t the only ones busy during the offseason. Reviews were conducted here and there, which led to drastic changes in the results of the 2025 season. VIOLATION BY THE SALZBURG DUCKS The Austrian Football League has a very strict policy on import players and what actually counts as an import player. If a player has spent his whole career in Austria , he is considered an ö-class player. But if a player spends even one season in America, he counts as an import player or an A-class athlete. The Salzburg Ducks didn’t pay attention to that rule and claimed that one of their players (the identity of which is undisclosed) was of class ö, instead of class a because of his experience in an American college. This led to the revocation of the only win the Ducks had this season, which is quite embarrassing in my opinion. In the end, the Ducks are at the bottom of the league with zero wins. DRAMA IN THE FINALE Because of a probably similar, yet undisclosed rule breach by the Vienna Vikings , the finale didn’t count. The Vienna Vikings are now second to last on the final power rankings and the Danube Dragons are the national champions.

Did you miss it? We did too! Here is the first power ranking of the D1 Élite 2026’s season! Do not mind your favorite team position this week, it's still kinda hard to figure out who’s really good and who isn't. 1. Flash - La Courneuve 1-0 They faced a solid Leopards squad, but the scoreboard still reflected the gap between the two teams. The Flash relied on a brand-new dual threat in Keegan McCormack-Reamer (former Mercenaries QB in ELF ), who was accurate and consistent while leading the offense. Precise throws and a strong ability to extend plays were matched with an excellent football IQ. Some offensive plays didn’t gain yardage, also due to a few drops from receivers, including the outside receiver No. 1 (no disrespect, he played well, and both still need time to adapt to each other’s rhythm and play style). They’ll meet the Black Panthers next week. It’ll be the opportunity to see who could be  the leader of the North . 2. Black Panthers - Thonon-les-bains 1-0  This matchup was the Game of the Week , with both teams having reached the semifinals last season. A brand-new quarterback, key pieces returning, everything was in place. Up 21–0 early in the third quarter, wide receiver Pierre-Yves Dayres and new quarterback Mateo Renteria connected consistently enough to carry the team. French MVP Adel Bafdile made his impact on special teams and delivered strong tackles on defense (note that he was barely used on offense compared to last season). However, late-game management proved to be an issue, as they conceded a significant number of points in the final quarter alone, highlighted by a Renteria interception in the red zone. Final mark: 28–20. However, those issues need to be addressed as their next opponent is the Flash and they won’t have this much space to operate. 3. Blue Stars - Marseille 1-0  Heavy rain, a muddy field, Marseille , this was raw football at its finest. Players were slipping and struggling to secure the ball, but in these conditions, the Blue Stars were better than the Argonautes . After a difficult season last year with an import quarterback who didn’t become the leader expected, they brought back the well-known Lynda as their field general. He delivered, capitalizing on opponents’ mistakes and managing the game from start to finish. They still looked vulnerable to the Argonautes ’ offense, especially in the running game, but found a way not to concede points. They face Cannes next week. 4. Grizzlys - Perpignan 1-0  The team made several moves this offseason. On offense, they brought in last season’s Diables Rouges quarterback Badis Grami to lead the unit and added young pieces to the offensive line, including Adam Sahib (former Pôle France and Pôle Espoir player) and Nino De Wavrechin (also from Pôle Espoir ). On the other side of the ball, they added Étienne Aram-Orieux from Quebec’s Drummondville school, with all of them starting the game. The offensive line often gave Grami enough time to throw and opened lanes in the running game, though it did collapse on a few downs. Defensively, the performance was less convincing. While they managed the run, they missed several opportunities to assert their dominance through the air, with defensive backs getting beaten multiple times, especially on deep concepts. They face Toulouse next week, which could be a more favorable matchup. 5. Meteores - Fontenay-sous-Bois 1-0 There was anticipation around this team after the arrival of Rémi Bertellin , well known for his key role in the Paris Musketeers ’ offense. However, for personal reasons, he may miss the entire season. Despite that absence, the running game proved highly effective thanks to the offensive line’s work and the duo of running backs Graham Ouro Bodi and Stephanos Sela . Quarterback Matthias Josmar threw two interceptions and struggled with accuracy on deep passes, but remained reliable on short concepts and sold play-action fakes effectively. This team is among those that will not be in the Elite League next season. Expectations are therefore limited, yet a postseason qualification remains possible. They will face the Molosses next, who will be looking for redemption after this week’s loss. 6. Iron Mask - Cannes 1-0 Do not underestimate them like many did last season. A slow start? Yes. Areas to fix? Absolutely. But this is a well-coached team. Give quarterback Connor Miller , brought in this summer from the Schwäbisch Unicorns , and the entire offense time to settle in. Trust Arnaud Vidaller and his coaching staff, and things should come together in the long run. This wasn’t a flashy win, the opponent wasn’t particularly strong on offense nor poor on defense, but it got the job done. The upcoming matchup against the Blue Stars will be a real test. Win it, and the season truly launches. Lose, and matching last season’s standards will become   far more challenging. 7. Molosses - Asnière-sur-Scène 0-1 Currently the first losing team on the standings, but they could climb much higher in the coming weeks. I’ll admit I was personally a bit worried, it was their first game without Brody Hahn , who retired during the offseason. Ah, nostalgia… They lost, yes, but against the reigning champions. And they weren’t blown out. They competed. Nearly nonexistent through the first three quarters, they showed composure and poise in the fourth while attempting a comeback. It fell short, but it was also the first game in France for Marquez McCray , coming over from the Milano Rhinos . Keeping things in perspective, this was a strong performance, and this team clearly has what it takes to win games. 8. Diables Rouges - Villepinte 0-1 They were somewhat unlucky in that loss. The game started well, but momentum shifted when newcomer quarterback Isaiah Green (known for his stint with the Istanbul Rams in the ELF ) fumbled on a tackle, with the ball immediately recovered by the opposition. From there, they struggled to contain the rush, allowing the game to be tied. On the very next drive, Green misread a throw that resulted in a pick-six, giving the Meteores the lead. The remainder of the game was about searching for solutions, ultimately falling just short. Their next matchup against the Leopards will serve as an opportunity for redemption. 9. Centaures - Grenoble 0-1  After conceding 14 points in the first quarter, they started to turn things around. The offense struggled to move the ball, but the defense stepped up and kept them in the game. Centaures ’ quarterback launched a 50-yard bomb on a fade, setting his receiver up for 30+ yards after the catch and a touchdown. A few drives later, a defender forced a turnover on a tackle, and the QB delivered another precise pass to quickly advance the ball. Receiver Abraham Juwan , who caught both passes, converted the second into a touchdown, cutting the lead to just three points. The defense remained composed and intercepted another pass in the end zone. On the following defensive drive, they fought hard but couldn’t hold, allowing the final touchdown of the game. Be ready Aix , Grenoble ’s defense isn’t joking. 10. Ours - Toulouse 0-1 This squad is primarily defense-driven. They limited an ELF quarterback effectively while controlling the running game. Consistency, however, was lacking: some plays were excellent, others disastrous, and that inconsistency defined the game. On offense, they still need to build confidence. Things looked awkward on that side of the ball, but nothing is permanent. They could show a much stronger performance against the Grizzlys as the players continue to gel week by week.  11. Argonautes - Aix-en-Provence 0-1 The Argonautes will leave this game with regrets. Despite the loss, they managed to move the chains and sustain drives at times, showing that the game plan could work in stretches. However, they lacked consistency and, above all, failed to make a real impact in key moments. Kept in the game for a long time, the Aix -based side was unable to capitalize on its opportunities, settling for just three points while the defense did enough to keep them within reach. The blocked extra point returned for two points would prove to be their final highlight of the night. Overpowered and outpaced in the fourth quarter, they eventually broke under Marseille ’s intensity. This defeat still reveals some encouraging foundations, but also a clear lack of efficiency and control over four quarters. The Argonautes now know what must improve to turn promising sequences into genuine offensive threats. Maybe against Centaures ? We’ll see. 12.   Leopards - Rouen 0-1 After a difficult 2025 season, the Rouen Leopards opened their 2026 campaign looking to show a more competitive side. Traveling to face the Flash de La Courneuve , however, represented an immediate and demanding test to measure their progress. The Leopards quickly found themselves under pressure. Overmatched in the opening minutes, they struggled to contain the Francilien offense and went into halftime down by two touchdowns. Despite a few encouraging sequences, Rouen lacked offensive solutions and repeatedly ran into a disciplined defense. In the second half, the Leopards attempted to respond but were unable to shift the momentum. It took a converted fourth down for Mahé Masselot to score their lone touchdown and save some pride. Too little, too late to truly challenge a Flash side that controlled the game from start to finish. Outmatched across all phases, the Leopards leave La Courneuve with a heavy loss but also valuable lessons. There is still significant work to be done, and the learning process continues as they look to become more competitive in the 2026 D1 season. They’ll play Diables Rouges to try to earn their first win.

SANTA CLARA, Calif.  The New England Patriots arrive in Super Bowl LX seeking to cap a remarkable turnaround season with a victory over the Seattle Seahawks . After finishing 4–13 in 2024, the Patriots rebounded to 14–3 in the 2025 regular season and secured the AFC title with a 10–7 victory over the Denver Broncos , a game defined by defense and gritty execution in snow-ridden conditions.  Beyond the team’s collective resurgence, several individual contributors stand out as X-factors who could determine the outcome on Feb. 8 at Levi’s Stadium. Drake Maye, Franchise Quarterback Ready for the Moment Quarterback Drake Maye has emerged as the central figure in the Patriots ’ turnaround. The second-year starter led New England ’s offense in passing yards (4,394) and touchdowns (31) during the regular season, and confirmed during Super Bowl Opening Night that his throwing shoulder is healthy despite recent concerns and a bout of illness.  Maye ’s dual-threat ability was on full display in the AFC Championship Game , where he scored the only offensive touchdown on a 6-yard run and sealed the win with a 7-yard keeper late in the fourth quarter.  For New England to win its seventh Super Bowl ,  and first since 2018,  Maye must continue to blend his poise with timely playmaking against a Seattle defense that ranks among the NFL ’s best. Stefon Diggs , Veteran Target and Offensive Anchor Wide receiver Stefon Diggs has provided consistency and production since joining the Patriots . In addition to leading the team with over 1,000 receiving yards in the regular season, Diggs is on the cusp of franchise postseason history; he ranks near the top of the Patriots ’ all-time list for playoff receptions and receiving yards.  Diggs has been a reliable target for Maye throughout the season and offers a veteran presence capable of altering the Patriots ’ passing attack against Seattle ’s stout secondary. His ability to convert critical third downs will be essential in sustaining drives in what promises to be a tight game. Christian Gonzalez, Defensive Anchor with a Historic Twist CornerBack Christian Gonzalez has quietly become one of the Patriots ’ most impactful defenders and is set to make Super Bowl history as the first player of Colombian heritage to play in the championship game.  Gonzalez ’s defining play of the playoffs came with a pivotal interception against the Broncos , a turnover that helped tilt the AFC title game in New England ’s favor. His ability to limit elite receivers and make decisive plays in coverage will be a key factor against a Seahawks aerial attack led by dynamic pass-catchers. Hunter Henry,  Strategic Offensive Difference Maker Tight-End Hunter Henry has been one of the Patriots ’ most consistent offensive contributors this season and is widely viewed as a potential X-factor in Super Bowl LX . Analysts have noted Seattle ’s relative vulnerability to tight ends during the regular season, suggesting Henry could be a preferred target in intermediate routes and situational plays.  In a game where every yard will matter, Henry ’s execution on third downs and in the red zone could swing momentum in New England ’s favor. K’Lavon Chaisson, Depth in the Pass Rush Edge defender K’Lavon Chaisson may not headline the depth chart, but his ability to generate pressure situationally lends additional urgency to the Patriots ’ pass rush. Chaisson ’s contributions could force turnovers or hurried decisions from the Seahawks ’ quarterback, an element that becomes increasingly valuable in high-stakes games where every possession counts.  Conclusion New England ’s journey to Super Bowl LX is built on a blend of youthful ascendancy and seasoned leadership. Quarterback Maye ’s playmaking, Diggs ’s veteran production, Gonzalez ’s defensive impact, Henry ’s tactical utility and Chaisson ’s disruptive potential form a constellation of players who could tip the championship in the Patriots ’ favor. As the Patriots chase a historic seventh Super Bowl title and the youngest quarterback ever to win one, these X-factors will shape not just the narrative of the game but potentially the outcome itself.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. The Seattle Seahawks return to the Super Bowl for the first time since Super Bowl XLIX, earning a berth in Super Bowl LX  against the New England Patriots on Feb. 8, 2026  after a 14-3 regular-season finish and dominant playoff victories that included a comprehensive win over the San Francisco 49ers and a comeback against the Los Angeles Rams . Seattle ’s balanced roster blends veteran leadership, explosive playmakers and rising defensive talent. Five players in particular have emerged as potential X-factors who could determine the outcome in Santa Clara. Sam Darnold,  Career Resurgence at Quarterback Quarterback Sam Darnold ’s personal journey from NFL journeyman to NFC champion is one of the defining storylines of this season. Once the subject of criticism early in his career, Darnold has revived his reputation with Seattle , orchestrating a high-scoring offense and displaying efficiency and poise at the line of scrimmage. He finished the regular season with more than 4,000 passing yards and 25 touchdowns, anchoring an attack that ranks among the league’s most productive. Darnold ’s ability to protect the football and make timely throws will be critical against a Patriots defense that excels at limiting explosive plays.  Kenneth Walker III,  Physical Play and Offensive Balance Running back Kenneth Walker III remains one of the most consistent offensive weapons in the NFL . Walker eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards during the regular season and provides Seattle with a physical ground game that complements Darnold ’s passing attack. His ability to gain tough yards and sustain drives will be important in a championship game where clock management and field position loom large. Walker ’s presence also forces defensive fronts to remain honest, opening space for play-action and intermediate passing concepts. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, The Deep Threat Wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba has been the focal point of Seattle ’s passing offense, emerging as one of the league’s most dynamic receivers. He led the NFL in receiving yards this season and has been a constantly productive target for Darnold , especially downfield, which made him this year's Offensive Player Of the Year . Smith-Njigba ’s route precision, yards after the catch and ability to stretch the field pose matchup challenges for any secondary, including the Patriots . His performance in the playoffs underscored his status as a game-breaking talent capable of swinging momentum with a single play. Nick Emmanwori, Defensive Versatility and Physicality Safety Nick Emmanwori , a second-round pick in 2025, has quickly become an impactful presence in the Seahawks ’ defense. Emmanwori ’s unique combination of size, speed and versatility allows him to line up in multiple roles,  from deep coverage to box support. During the season, he recorded tackles for loss, an interception and a blocked field goal, showcasing an ability to make disruptive plays. As Seattle ’s defense faces a Patriots offense led by a young quarterback and evolving playmakers, Emmanwori ’s ability to create turnovers and close space in coverage will be a difference-maker. Unfortunately he came up on the injury report today with an ankle sprain, but the Seahawks staff is confident he can be on the field Sunday for the big game. Byron Murphy II,  Interior Defensive Force Defensive tackle Byron Murphy II anchors the Seahawks ’ defensive front with a blend of strength and disruptive pressure. A first-round pick in 2024, Murphy took a significant step forward in 2025, finishing the regular season with a team-leading total of approximately seven sacks and consistently pressuring opposing offensive lines. His interior presence complicates run fits and pass protection schemes, forcing quarterbacks into uncomfortable situations and creating opportunities for the front seven to generate turnovers. In a matchup where trench dominance often dictates success, Murphy ’s impact could be decisive. Conclusion The Seahawks ’ path to a second Super Bowl title lies in maximizing production from both sides of the ball. Sam Darnold ’s leadership and efficient distribution, Kenneth Walker III ’s physical consistency, Jaxon Smith-Njigba ’s vertical threat, Nick Emmanwori ’s defensive versatility and Byron Murphy II ’s interior disruption form a group of complementary X-factors poised to define Super Bowl LX . Seattle ’s combination of offensive balance and defensive depth gives it a credible chance to dethrone the Patriots and secure its first Lombardi Trophy since Super Bowl XLVIII .

LG OLED BLACK DEMONS The reigning champions sit alone atop the West Conference and remain the team everyone has to beat. Built around a strong Spanish core —largely the nucleus of the Madrid Bravos —plus a top-tier trio of running backs, they’re still the benchmark. OSOS RIVAS Paradoxically, this week’s loss to Black Demons has pushed Osos up to No. 2 in the rankings. The encouraging signs from a high-octane second half earn them this spot on merit. TERRASSA REDS Surprise or not, Terrassa took down Badalona Dracs last week. With a cohesive unit featuring players experienced in European leagues, they’re still unbeaten — and having already beaten their conference’s pre-season favorite, they complete the podium on deserved credit. BADALONA DRACS One of the title contenders, with a solid domestic backbone and high-impact additions, their shock loss this week knocks them off the podium. There’s little doubt Badalona will regroup, but early questions have been raised about their ceiling. VALENCIA FIREBATS The East Conference leader on merit, Firebats come in at No. 5 while we wait to see them tested against Reds and Dracs — matchups that should reveal their true level. Don’t be surprised if Valencia climb quickly, but for now they stay in a well-earned mid-table position. ZARAGOZA HURRICANES A misleading record — one win, one loss and a tie — that could just as easily be 3–0 as 1–2. Zaragoza haven’t managed to turn what they’ve shown on the field into points in the standings, but they’re an awkward matchup: physical, stubborn, and capable of beating anyone on the right day. CAMIONEROS COSLADA In a very similar situation to Hurricanes — whom they tied last week — Coslada could easily be sitting on two wins. Fine margins have kept them winless through two rounds, but that trend could flip fast. MALLORCA VOLTORS The islanders are the only team already on three losses, but the eye test tells a very different story than the scorelines. With a quality signings who can change the dynamic, their season could turn around at any moment. GIJÓN MARINERS A solid and young Spanish core still searching for their first win, after two heavy defeats against Black Demons and Zaragoza Hurricanes . Coming off the bye week, they’ve had time to fix the leaks—and the expectation is they’ll get more out of their American QB–WR tandem. L’HOSPITALET PIONERS The historic Catalan club are going through their lowest ebb, and the worrying part is there hasn’t been much to spark optimism. Like Gijón , they’ve had a bye week—and they’ll be hoping it helps them reset and finally turn things around.

After a disastrous start to his career, Sam Darnold was widely seen as unfit for the NFL . But over the past two seasons, he has reinvented himself, first in Minneapolis , then in Seattle . As he prepares to play in his first Super Bowl , the entire league has changed its perspective on him. Sam Darnold imposed himself as one of the great quarterbacks this season. © Seahawks Drafted by the New York Jets with the third overall pick in 2018, Sam Darnold endured a difficult start to his career in the league. Quickly labeled a “bust,” he struggled to embody the hope of a long-awaited revival that Jets fans had been craving for years. But over the past two seasons, a very different player seems to have taken the field in the National Football League . The Jets, a historically mediocre franchise His time with the Jets ? Largely forgettable in terms of success, yet memorable in how perfectly it reflected the mediocrity of the New York franchise. At first glance, Darnold appeared to be part of the problem: an interception-prone quarterback, careless with the ball when taking hits, and guilty of questionable reads in the passing game. But these flaws were already present in college, the Jets knew exactly what they were signing up for. The real question lies with the franchise itself: Why was Sam Darnold never able to prove himself in New York ? To begin with, the Jets have long been viewed as an average, if not outright poor, organization. In 2025, the NFL Players Association ( NFLPA ) even ranked the Jets as the fourth-worst franchise to work for. Ownership has been reluctant to invest in facilities, players feel a lack of support, and the owner has reportedly vetoed certain trades based on players’ ratings in the American football video game Madden . This environment is hardly conducive to player development. And Darnold is far from the only one to have paid the price: Zach Wilson and Geno Smith also failed to live up to expectations within the organization. Same outcome in Charlotte In an attempt to salvage something from a “failed” quarterback, the Jets sent Darnold to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for low-value draft picks. In Charlotte , the verdict is the same. He has to battle a redemption-seeking Baker Mayfield for the starting job and never truly gets the chance to relaunch his career. Still, the first signs of change begin to appear. Upon his arrival, fans and analysts view him as a low-risk option, potentially an answer for a Panthers offense struggling to find efficiency and consistency. Overall, Sam Darnold ’s stint in Carolina is far from flawless. His inconsistency seems chronic, but he already looks better than he did in New York , despite a fairly similar context. In hindsight, the media would later agree that this was the first step toward something much bigger. Less pressure, a clearly defined role The experience is short-lived, barely two seasons. Awkwardly oscillating between spot starter and high-end backup, Darnold is not re-signed by the Panthers . He becomes an unrestricted free agent and, in March 2023, signs with the San Francisco 49ers , who are gearing up for a Super Bowl run. Since the 49ers give up nothing to acquire him, the pressure is minimal and the role is clear: he will serve as Brock Purdy ’s backup should his elbow once again become an issue. “You know, we weren’t sure about Brock’s elbow at the time. I thought I might come in and start two or three games, depending on Brock’s situation.” Sam Darnold , then backup quarterback for the 49ers Sam Darnold is about to play is first Super Bowl © Jed Jacobsohn pour Associated Press (all rights reserved) That season, he sees the field only a handful of times, mostly in meaningless situations: two touchdowns, fewer than 50 pass attempts, and very limited playing time. And yet, this stop in San Francisco reshapes Sam Darnold ’s career in many ways. In a more patient environment, surrounded by elite teammates and freed from the pressure to succeed immediately, he grows. Quietly, he learns from Brock Purdy and under Kyle Shanahan ’s guidance as well. Being a backup on a franchise expected to contend for a Super Bowl is a far more comfortable position than being tasked with embodying the future of a floundering organization incapable of building a team around its quarterback. In Minnesota, the stars finally align San Francisco fall short in the Super Bowl , and Sam Darnold was never meant to be a long-term solution there. He heads to Minneapolis with the Vikings , determined to re-establish himself in the NFL as a reliable starter. To do so, he is set to compete with J.J. McCarthy , freshly drafted by the Vikings . But in Minnesota , everything falls into place for Sam . McCarthy is injured during the preseason, and Darnold suddenly knows he will be the starting quarterback for the upcoming season. All he ever needed was a real opportunity. For the first time in his career, Sam Darnold takes control of an offense built to succeed. His offensive line gives him time in the pocket and allows the running game to be established consistently. As a result, the offense scores more, is better balanced, and far less predictable. Darnold leads his unit into the Top 10 offenses of the season and guides the Vikings to a playoff berth. Despite a Wild Card loss to the Rams , the Vikings ’ season is remembered above all for Sam Darnold ’s level of play. He delivers the best campaign of his career, posts more than respectable statistics, and earns a Pro Bowl selection. He finally puts himself on the league’s radar, but questions remain: was this merely a one-hit wonder , a single flash of success without lasting confirmation?ù In Minnesota, Darnold proved he was NFL-caliber. © Janaye Johnson for the Vikings Who is behind this small miracle in Minnesota ? The answer may well lie with the Vikings ’ coaching staff. Head coach Kevin O’Connell has built a reputation as a quarterback whisperer. Before arriving in Minneapolis , he was already behind several success stories at the position. Kirk Cousins , whom he later reunited with in Minnesota , first worked under O’Connell in Washington , where he earned his stripes as a full-time starter. O’Connell also played a key role in Jared Goff ’s strong season with the Rams before his trade to Detroit in 2020, after what had been a painful 2019 campaign. One can also point to the transitional period in Minnesota , when the Vikings had to rotate multiple quarterbacks following Cousins ’ injury: none became stars, but all found a functional role within O’Connell ’s system. Sam Darnold must prove himself In Seattle , everything changes. When Sam Darnold is announced as a signing in the summer of 2025, while Geno Smith is sent to Las Vegas , doubts still linger. He arrives in Seattle amid a transition period that fans are still struggling to fully understand. Two years earlier, Russell Wilson , the quarterback who delivered a Super Bowl to the Seahawks , was traded away, and Pete Carroll was dismissed as head coach. The man taking over is Mike Macdonald . And Macdonald works wonders with Geno Smith at the helm. He improves the Seahawks ’ record from 9–8 over the previous two seasons to 10–7. That ten-win mark may be symbolic, but it matters. Smith ’s statistics are similar, yet the improvement shows that the new system and coaching staff managed to extract the maximum from the roster at hand. Hope blossoms from that season. A slow rebuild was expected, but Mike Macdonald is not the patient type. Without rushing the process, he drafts young players at positions of need, trades away those who don’t fit his plans, and steadily solidifies his vision for the Seahawks . Sam Darnold , then, must prove himself, both to win over the city and to secure a long-term place on the roster. The Seahawks ’ front office has no desire to overpay a mediocre quarterback in the long run, so they offer him a clear-cut contract: three years, $100 million, with built-in protections for the team. 2025  is fully guaranteed: $37.5 million. This includes his signing bonus and base salary, paid regardless (as long as he remains healthy). 2026  is partially guaranteed: $27.5 million, with $17.5 million guaranteed for injury and at signing. The remainder becomes guaranteed after Super Bowl LX (played at the end of the 2025 season) if he is still on the roster. In all likelihood, he will earn it—since he is set to lead the Seahawks into San Francisco on February 8th . 2027  carries no guarantees. If Seattle releases him before that final year, they owe him nothing. Seattle has smartly protected itself in case the Darnold experiment turns into another New York -style nightmare. The franchise avoids long-term commitment without certainty that Darnold can become the face of the team, while still rewarding him for what he proved in Minneapolis with meaningful guarantees and security. But most important of all is the confidence shown by the head coach from the very beginning: “I think we’re going to be really proud of our quarterback here… he’s a tremendous human being, a great leader… rock-solid, in my opinion.” Mike Macdonald , preseason, on Sam Darnold And later, during tougher moments: “He’s the ultimate competitor… he’s going to be angry, that’s what we love about him, but he’ll prepare and keep coming back at it… I’m not surprised. That’s who Sam is. He’s an excellent quarterback. He’s our quarterback and we love him.[…]Keep giving it everything you’ve got, man. We love you and we’re here for you.” Mike Macdonald , after a game in which Darnold threw multiple interceptions in a 21–19 loss to the Rams Shielded by his head coach in the media, embraced by his teammates, and surrounded by the best conditions he has ever known, Sam Darnold strings together strong performances. For a time, he even enters the MVP conversation , but beyond that, he appears to be in the midst of a full redemption arc. Only one step remains for the Seahawks to climb, and Darnold could then write his name, and those of his teammates, into the franchise’s pantheon as the second quarterback to bring a Super Bowl to Seattle . Even in defeat, the city shows him that it sees more than a failure. After years of being labeled a bust, Sam Darnold has found a refuge here, a field where mistakes become lessons and resilience fuels success. His journey is a reminder of how premature exposure to the spotlight can derail young quarterbacks before their careers truly begin. In Seattle , the franchise seems to have learned from those mistakes: surround talent with patience, trust, and a clearly defined role, so growth can take root and potential can flourish. As the future approaches, the question arises: how to prepare for life after Darnold ? Perhaps by offering Jalen Milroe the same protective cocoon, a gradual ascent away from the glare of the spotlight, where he can grow, learn, fail, and rise again, before becoming the face of a team ready to dream big.

Built in the Trenches: Week 1 Proves the League Is Faster, Tougher and Here to Compete Week 1 rarely tells the whole story, but it always reveals tendencies : who is prepared, who is still experimenting and who already looks like they’ve been playing meaningful football for months. The opening weekend of the Portuguese American Football League didn’t feel like a cautious start to a season. It felt sharp, physical and tactically mature — three games decided less by big plays and more by structure, discipline and depth. Across the board, one truth emerged: This league is getting tougher. Fast. Devils 34 vs 0 Mutts Depth matters — but resilience does too Sometimes games are decided by scheme, sometimes by talent and sometimes simply by numbers. Via Lisboa Devils Maia entered the opener with a reduced roster, and over four quarters that reality inevitably showed. Rotations shortened, fatigue accumulated, and every defensive series became heavier against a deep, physical Devils squad that kept sending fresh bodies onto the field. Lisboa understood the advantage and played accordingly, patient, methodical, leaning on the run game and controlling tempo rather than forcing big plays. It was slow, cumulative pressure. The kind that wears opponents down snap after snap. By the second half, it became a battle of attrition. Still, the scoreline doesn’t tell the whole story. Despite the limited roster, the Mutts competed hard in the details, particularly on special teams. Blocking extra points and disrupting kicking situations showed preparation, discipline and effort — the kind of traits that don’t appear in total yardage stats but speak volumes about coaching and mentality. Even in a tough matchup, those moments matter. They show a team that hasn’t checked out. Defensively, however, the constant field position battle and the Devils ’ depth eventually proved overwhelming. Lisboa controlled the line of scrimmage, dictated possessions and never allowed Maia to establish rhythm offensively. The shutout wasn’t about one explosive quarter. It was accumulation, depth and control and for the Devils , it felt like an early statement. For the Mutts , it felt more like a reminder: the competitiveness is there — the numbers just need to catch up. Crusaders 28 vs 10 Renegades Efficiency over explosiveness This one started with a surprise. Salgueiros struck first with a defensive safety, briefly flipping momentum and forcing Cascais to chase the game early. Via Cascais Crusaders But after that initial punch, the Renegades ’ offense struggled to evolve. The identity remains heavily run-oriented, physical between the tackles, but still lacking the offensive dynamism needed to stretch defenses vertically. Sustained drives were there. Finishing power wasn’t. Inside the red zone, opportunities stalled and against well organised teams, that’s fatal. Cascais , on the other hand, looked composed and balanced. Nothing flashy, nothing rushed — just steady execution and smart situational football. They absorbed the early setback, adjusted, and slowly took control through field position and defensive pressure. Another concern for Salgueiros was the defensive front. Compared to preseason form, the unit didn’t impose itself with the same authority, allowing Cascais to stay comfortable offensively for long stretches. By the fourth quarter, the game had a familiar feel: one team chasing, the other managing. Cascais didn’t need big plays. They simply made fewer mistakes and finished the drives that mattered. Professional football, the quiet kind. Navigators 18 vs 17 Warriors A game of inches If the other match-ups were defined by control, this one was defined by tension. In this one every possession mattered, every decision felt magnified. Both teams leaned heavily on the run game, and notably, every touchdown came on the ground. It was old-school football — physical fronts, clock management, and patience. Via Lisboa Navigators Braga showed depth and quality, competing toe-to-toe for four quarters and often dictating the pace with their rushing attack. They never looked outmatched. If anything, they looked structurally solid and well-coached. But close games often hinge on small, uncomfortable details. A late controversial officiating moment influenced the final stretch and ultimately helped shape the result, the kind of decision that swings tight contests and leaves both sidelines talking long after the whistle. Lisboa escaped with the win, but there are clear lessons moving forward. At times, the aggression felt unnecessary, and against stronger opponents that risk profile can backfire quickly. Winning is good, controlling risk is better. If the Navigators want to position themselves as true title contenders, refinement (not intensity), might be the next step. Still, surviving games like this is part of building a season. And one-point wins in January often look exactly like this in September. The bigger picture Step back from the scores and a few league-wide trends become obvious: Depth is becoming decisive:  Teams with longer rotations maintained intensity for four quarters. Short benches faded. The run game is back at the center:  Power football, time of possession and field control dominated every match-up. Situational execution separates contenders:  Red zone efficiency, special teams and late-game discipline decided outcomes more than explosive plays. In other words: structure beats chaos, every time. Final word If this weekend proved anything, it’s that Portuguese football has matured. Games are more tactical. Defenses are faster. Coaching adjustments are sharper. Cascais look organized and efficient, Navigators look competitive but still polishing details, Devils look deep, physical and already dangerous. And the Lisboa Bulldogs ? Watching from their bye week — and probably taking notes. Week 1 doesn’t crown champions, but it absolutely sends messages. Some teams opened their season. Others made a statement.

A changing landscape ahead of the new season As the next FFFA Division 1 season approaches, French American football is entering a period of transition. Between relegations, promotions and roster changes, the league will not look the same as it did last year. Several familiar faces are gone, while new projects are stepping into the spotlight. New teams in, old heads out The 2025 season highlighted a clear competitive gap at the bottom of the standings. The Cougars de Saint-Ouen-l’Aumône and the Dauphins de Nice  both endured winless campaigns, each struggling to remain competitive within their respective conferences. Saint-Ouen finished the season without a victory in the North Conference , unable to reverse a long-running decline that had already seen the club battling relegation in previous years. Nice followed a similar path in the South , ending the season 0–10 and conceding heavily on a weekly basis. Their relegation to D2 was confirmed early, underlining the growing difficulty for clubs lacking depth and continuity to survive at the elite level. Their departure marks the end of an era for two teams that, despite their struggles, had been regular fixtures in D1 over the past decade. Promoted clubs looking to establish themselves Replacing them are the Météores de Fontenay-sous-Bois  and the Centaures de Grenoble , both promoted after strong D2 campaigns. via FFFA D1 Fontenay will experience D1 football for the first time in its history. The Météores have built their promotion on organizational stability and defensive consistency, but the jump to the elite division represents a significant challenge. Their priority will be survival, as newly promoted teams traditionally face steep learning curves. Grenoble , meanwhile, return to D1 with a different profile. The Centaures are a known name in French American football and have previously competed at the highest level. Their objective will likely go beyond simple maintenance, aiming instead to re-establish themselves as a competitive mid-table team. The end of an era in Asnières Beyond team movements, the offseason has also been marked by the departure of one of the most recognizable figures in French D1 . Brody Hahn , longtime quarterback and face of the Molosses d’Asnières , will not return for the upcoming season. Over the past years, Hahn had become one of the league’s central figures, not only because of his production on the field, but also due to his longevity and influence. Arriving in Asnières at a time when the club was seeking stability, the American quarterback played a key role in the Molosses ’ return to relevance, helping them re-establish themselves as a consistent playoff contender. His impact went beyond statistics. Hahn was a reference point for opponents, a leader within the locker room, and one of the most identifiable players in the league, regularly featured in league communications and media coverage. In many ways, he embodied the recent identity of D1 football: experienced, physical, and built around import quarterbacks capable of elevating entire programs. His departure leaves a significant void in Asnières . The Molosses now face a pivotal transition, both tactically and symbolically. Replacing a quarterback of Hahn ’s stature is never straightforward, and the club’s next choice under center will say much about its short- and long-term ambitions. More broadly, Hahn ’s exit reflects a wider shift currently taking place in the league. As several long-standing imports move on and clubs reshape their projects, D1 is gradually turning the page on a generation that helped define its modern era. Roster movement and new imports As is often the case in D1 , the offseason has been marked by significant player movement. Several teams have announced the arrival of new American imports , particularly at key positions such as quarterback, defensive back and wide receiver. These additions are expected to play a major role in shaping the competitive balance of the league. At the same time, some established players have retired or moved abroad, contributing to a broader generational shift across rosters. Clubs with strong youth development programs may benefit from this transition, while others will rely heavily on imports to remain competitive. Stability at the top While changes are visible at the bottom of the league, the traditional contenders remain largely intact. Flash de La Courneuve , Black Panthers de Thonon-les-Bains , Blue Stars de Marseille and Iron Mask de Cannes  continue to set the standard, both in terms of results and organizational structure. Their continuity contrasts sharply with the instability seen among relegated teams, reinforcing the idea that long-term planning remains essential to success in D1 . A season of adjustment With two new teams , multiple roster overhauls and evolving ambitions across the league, the upcoming D1 season is expected to be one of adjustment. For some clubs, it will be about confirming their status at the top; for others, simply staying afloat. One thing is certain: the balance of power within French American football continues to evolve, and the margins for error at the elite level are becoming increasingly thin. What about the 2026/2027 season? via FFFA D1 Ultimately, this season also carries an undercurrent of uncertainty. The announcement of the Ligue Élite 2027 introduces the concept of a closed league, a significant break from the traditional open pyramid that has long defined French American football , and French sports by the way. Under this model, access to the top division will no longer be determined solely by sporting results, but by compliance with strict financial, structural and organizational criteria. Promotion and relegation, cornerstones of the current D1 / D2 system, will be reduced or disappear altogether, replaced by long-term licenses granted to a limited number of clubs. While the project aims to stabilize the elite level and improve visibility, it also raises legitimate questions. A closed league risks widening the gap between “included” and “excluded” clubs, potentially slowing sporting mobility and discouraging ambitious programs outside the chosen core. For the teams competing this season, performances on the field may matter less than their ability to meet off-field requirements, budget size, staffing, media exposure and infrastructure, shifting the definition of success away from purely sporting merit. As a result, the upcoming D1 season may feel less like a race for titles or survival, and more like an audition for a future that remains, for many, uncertain and unevenly accessible. That said, there is also a measure of respect due to the Federation’s attempt to bring structure, visibility and long-term viability to the sport: expectations are high, debates are inevitable, and the reality remains that building and running a sustainable national league is an extraordinarily complex challenge, especially in a developing football market like France .

Last weekend kicked off the 32nd LNFA season , and it's a very special one after the first NFL regular season game in Spanish history:  FEFA's post on Instagram For those who don't know, Spain is the first league to kickoff the European calendar each year. And while we don't have the National Football League ( NFL ), we do have its Spanish counterpart: the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Americano ( LNFA ). This is a very special season after the first NFL regular season game in the history of the country, while we are seeing a bump in football interest. Although American football arrived here in the 1950 s with the arrival of American military bases, the Spanish league as we know it today was born on January 14th , 1995 . 31 seasons later, Spanish football has seen its ups and downs, but the important thing is that it's still here.  Thus, this past Saturday 17th the top-level competition started after the LNFA2 got underway last week. On the debut day of this year's competition, the Spanish characteristic sun was nowhere near to be seen, and let's say the games were… watery. It seems a format has finally been more or less established, because sometimes the FEFA ( Spanish Federation of American Football ) does whatever it wants, and this time, 10 teams will once again compete at the highest national level. Who makes up the league? The Western Conference  features the three-time defending champions and current national leaders, Las Rozas Black Demons . Joining them in the conference are several long-standing teams, including Osos de Rivas , Camioneros de Coslada , Gijón Mariners , and Zaragoza Hurricanes , who have moved from the East to the West this year.  The Eastern Conference  boasts the most successful team in league history, Badalona Dracs , last year's runners-up and 11-time champions. The other teams in the division are Mallorca Voltors , Terrassa Reds (last season's surprise package), L'Hospitalet Pioners , and the newly promoted Valencia Firebats , who won the LNFA2 (second division).  I personally played against the Firebats in last year’s LNFA2 final and I can say without a shadow of a doubt that they are a force to be reckoned with. They will definitely make a lot of heads turn this season. The regular season consists of ten matchdays, running until the end of March. The top two teams from each conference advance directly to the semifinals, which will be played as single-elimination games. The grand final, our Super Bowl , (you guessed it) the Spanish Bowl , is scheduled for the weekend of May 9th and 10th. This sets the stage for the subsequent start of the ELF ( EFA , AFLE or whatever it ends up being this year) with the Madrid Bravos . A rainy Week 1 The 4 games of Week 1 were played yesterday and we can already see the contenders, upsets, and a couple of teams that are going to make a lot of heads turn. These are the scores of the first weekend of the LNFA 2026 : I want to start with the best game of the day; Osos de Rivas facing the Zaragoza Hurricanes at home. The score ended 14-7 in favor of the locals in a match that was definitely a thriller marked by two names: Micaiah Quick , Osos WR, and Juan Baro , Hurricanes young QB. photo from @vizenzo Rivas has entered the season with a lot of question marks as they are in a state of transition after a lot of key pieces of the team have either retired, or moved to rivals like their neighbours Camioneros de Coslada . But it seems they have found a gem in former Oklahoma Sooner WR Micaiah Quick , who had an amazing debut in Spain hauling the game-winning 52 yd TD in the 3rd quarter, as this was a low scoring encounter.  The QB for Rivas and former Michigan Wolverine Anthony Arnou , had a good game throwing for 2 TDs, but had what could have been a costly interception inside the ‘ Canes redzone as he is still adapting to European Ball . Still, he showcased an absolute cannon of an arm. One of the best, if not the best, deep ball in Spain this year. On the other side, the Zaragoza Hurricanes ended last year on a pretty high note after a rocky season. They actually beat the Osos , and came to Madrid looking for that again. They are the team that has invested the most in Mexican talent this year as they have signed a couple of ONEFA veterans for the OL. And it made a huge impact on the field, protecting and creating holes for Juan Baro , the youngest QB in the league and a Spanish rising star that just came back from playing for the Gyor Sharks in Hungary . He was the heart of the offense, as it seemed they could not stop his scrambles and QB runs. Although in the end, they couldn’t score more than one time, but it is a promising start for the team that is hungry to do more than last year. photo from @felipesm_foto Next we have a strong performance from the back to back to back champions in Spain , the Las Rozas Black Demons . There is not much to be said about the game, but one of the storylines of the season is that Las Rozas is playing with the absence of imports. Instead of Canadian QB Theo Landers , the core of the offense this past couple of years, they are playing with former long-time Mallorca Voltors and now Madrid Bravos QB Diego Lliteras , very well known in the Spanish football landscape. Will the Demons be able to come out on top again with an almost full roster of Spaniards? About the Mariners I do want to highlight something. That is QB Justin Agner (former Dresden Monarchs ) and WR James Payton (first-timer in Europe). Their import connection showed some great flashes and the Mariners offense was able to move the chains constantly in very bad situations. Their only TD came from a fourth and very long from Agner to Spanish RB Iraola . This game showed that the American duo can cause some serious damage in the league.  photo from @nico200d This was, by far, the rainiest game of the week, and of the “worst” conditions I have seen for a football game in a long time. Also, we have the first upset of the season, as the Pioners , with a great import class, were expected to beat the newly-promoted Firebats . In terms of football… there wasn’t much of that. Short passes, a lot of runs, a few medium connections and turnovers. Still an entertaining game in a muddy…very very muddy field that came down to the wire. At the end, the visitors, who ended last season unbeaten in the LNFA2 , have come to play with the big boys with the same core of players they had before, something not very common these days. photo from @fotoaetestudi To conclude, we have another game with pouring rain, but this one is much more one-sided. The Badalona Dracs hosted the Mallorca Voltors to open the season and they don’t want to make the same mistakes as in the past. Last year we had one of the upsets of the century in Spain when Mallorca beat Badalona for the first time in history (24-22) as this was the Dracs ’ only loss of the regular season (7-1). Now they have demonstrated that they are contenders and that they want to be crowned Spanish champions for the 12th time. Their only obstacle? They are the same as in the last 2 finals; the Demons . As for Mallorca , last season had its ups and downs with a 3-5 record. They have lost their starting QB Lliteras to Las Rozas , but to make up for it they have signed one of the most interesting import classes in the league with Americans Austin Brock , on of the best WR prospects in Europe that just played for the Unicorns in Germany , and Malik Brown , a savvy QB veteran in Europe with with very dangerous athleticism. Every week a game will be streamed I know, it should be a lot more, but at least one game per week, a game will be streamed by the professional production team of Live Vuvuzela , with whom the FEFA has been working for some years now. Every team can (and probably will, as always) stream their games on their respective channels if they want. The ones streamed by FEFA will be on their YouTube . This is thanks to the support of the Spanish National Sports Council ( CSD ). Other events of Flag Football and some important games of the LNFA2 will also be streamed.  This week, the production team traveled to Gijón, to Las Mestas Stadium, the new house of the Gijón Mariners. Weeks 2 streamed game still has to be announced by Vuvuzela.

Preseason football is rarely about answers. It is about clues. Across Portugal, the LPFA ’s preseason games offered something far more valuable than results: a glimpse into how teams are thinking, building, and positioning themselves for a season that promises little margin for error. With a limited preseason schedule and every snap used as an evaluation tool, preparation may decide championships long before kickoff weekend. From controlled defensive battles to flashes of offensive ambition, this preseason painted the picture of a league that is more balanced, more intentional, and more self-aware than ever. What emerged was not a hierarchy set in stone, but a league revealing its intentions. Consistency as a Weapon: Braga Warriors Set the Tone If preseason football is about minimizing chaos, the Braga Warriors  executed the brief almost perfectly. Two wins, including a shutout against the Renegades , told a story of continuity and control. The Warriors did not look like a team experimenting wildly; they looked like a group refining details. That is no coincidence. Retaining a strong core while selectively integrating rookies has allowed Braga to raise practice intensity without sacrificing identity. Defensively, they appeared composed and disciplined, particularly in the trenches, an area many teams continue to struggle with in Portuguese football. Offensively, there was no need to show everything. The message was clear: this is a roster built to last, not peak early. Braga leave the preseason exactly where contenders want to be: respected, steady, and quietly confident. Cascais Crusaders: Quietly Ruthless, Relentlessly Prepared No team made a louder statement with fewer words than the Cascais Crusaders . A low-scoring win over the reigning champions followed by a controlled victory against the Bulldogs highlighted a team that knows exactly who it is. The Crusaders did not chase points; they dictated tempo. Their defense, in particular, looked game-ready, comfortable forcing opponents to earn every yard. There is a maturity to Cascais ’ football that stands out. Years of internal development — from flag to tackle, are now paying dividends. The preseason confirmed what many suspected: the Crusaders are not rebuilding; they are refining. And that makes them dangerous. Champions in Control: Lisboa Devils Expand the Process The Lisboa Devils  approached the preseason less as a stage for dominance and more as a laboratory for calibration and experimentation. A narrow loss to Cascais and a high-scoring win against the Navigators showed a team comfortable operating outside its comfort zone. One of the clearest variables was under center. Without Bernardo Solipa  on the field, the Devils inevitably looked different, particularly in terms of offensive rhythm and command. That absence was noticeable, but not alarming. Instead, preseason became a testing ground. New quarterbacks were given meaningful reps, and while the offense did not always operate with its usual sharpness, there were flashes that suggest viable alternatives may be developing for the future. Timing was inconsistent at times, but the structure remained intact, a sign of a system that does not collapse when personnel changes. Depth, familiarity, and institutional knowledge continue to define the reigning champions. The Devils know who they are, but they also know when to explore what they could become. Preseason was not about proving supremacy; it was about expanding options. They may not have looked invincible, but champions rarely need to. Lisboa Navigators: Relearning the Game, Rebuilding Identity The Lisboa Navigators  delivered two very different performances across preseason, yet both told the same underlying story. A comfortable win against the Bulldogs contrasted sharply with a loss to the Devils , but the common thread was production: 27 points scored in both outings. That alone signals offensive potential. The focus, however, goes deeper. Navigators spent the offseason returning to fundamentals, teaching concepts, language, and situational football. Quarterback development sits at the center of that process, and while inconsistency remains, so does upside. This is not a finished product. But it is a team that understands its flaws and is actively working through them, a dangerous combination once momentum begins to build. Salgueiros Renegades: A Conscious Year of Transition For the Salgueiros Renegades , preseason was never about the scoreboard. Significant changes to the coaching staff, coupled with a new quarterback situation and a large intake of rookies, framed this period as a developmental phase. A narrow win against the Mutts and a heavy loss to the Warriors highlighted a team still searching for offensive rhythm, but defensively competitive and tactically intentional. The Renegades used preseason as it should be used: testing systems, educating players, and building foundations rather than chasing immediate validation. Maia Mutts: Competitive, Not Yet Complete Despite leaving the preseason without a win, the Maia Mutts  showed they remain a difficult matchup. Two narrow defeats pointed to a team that competes snap-to-snap but struggles to convert key moments into points. Physicality and aggression are still part of their identity, but the most decisive factor has little to do with scheme or intent. Roster depth (or the lack of it) remains the Mutts ’ biggest challenge. A limited number of available players inevitably affects rotation, endurance, and execution late in games, particularly on offense. When fatigue sets in, margins disappear. If Maia can stabilize numbers and manage workload more effectively, the competitiveness shown in preseason could finally translate into results once the season begins. Bulldogs: Turning the Build Into Belief The Bulldogs  have been in a building phase for several seasons now, and this preseason felt less like another reset and more like a moment of transition. Facing teams further along their development curve once again exposed limitations, particularly on offense, but it also highlighted a growing level of resilience, especially on the defensive side of the ball. These games were not about immediate readiness; they were about reference points, understanding pace, physicality, and execution at the level the LPFA now demands. What changes this year is context. The foundation has been laid over time, and there is a sense that this season could be about cementing that work rather than starting over. Development is rarely linear, but the Bulldogs now appear closer to turning long-term construction into competitive identity. A Season Ready to Be Earned Preseason did not hand us clear answers, and that may be its greatest success. What it offered instead was intent. Some teams refined, others rebuilt, and a few tested the limits of what they already know. Across the league, there was a shared understanding that progress is no longer accidental; it is planned, deliberate, and increasingly demanding. Low-scoring games and controlled tempos suggested that defenses are ahead of offenses, a familiar pattern in amateur football, but one that could define the early weeks of the season. In a campaign where margins will be thin and opportunities scarce, preparation will not guarantee success, but the lack of it will almost certainly punish ambition. This article would not have been possible without the openness and insight of the teams who contributed through preseason interviews. Their willingness to reflect, explain, and engage goes beyond results and plays a vital role in the continued growth of American football in Portugal . The clues are on the table. What comes next is no longer theory, it is football.

American Football continues to make news with our friends across the pond, and there is a lot to cover this offseason. Shortly after the end of the 2025 European League of Football ( ELF ) season, there was an outcry from ownership for better transparency and a more democratic style of league management. Team owners became frustrated with ELF CEO Zeljko Karajica at the helm. Money was not coming in, sponsors were not paying up, and the entire league reeked of a potential collapse, all while Zeljko strangled teams financially by the necks of their contracts–contracts he could not pay out, mind you. The “Almost” Divorce Eleven clubs banded together to build the European Football Alliance ( EFA ), an alternative to the ELF with the end goal of financial transparency and managerial freedom. On the Fourth Down Fiasco podcast, we were very honest in our take that the EFA was primarily a leverage play, and that the league itself would likely never come to fruition due to lack of time and sponsors. I’ll toot our horn here and say: we were right. It wasn’t long before the EFA forced Zeljko ’s hand by cancelling their contracts. This set up the EFA and the ELF coming to terms, allowing for a board of governors, forcing Zeljko to step down as CEO , and requiring him to sell most of his shares, bringing his ownership status down to less than 15%—per sources. That stake also comes with provisions he must follow, or his shares will be depleted to under 10%. Not to mention, the old split was 75% of revenue going to the league and 25% to the teams, but that has now flipped, ensuring teams are getting the majority of revenue moving forward. A massive win for the EFA , which is now the governing body of the ELF . Additionally, with the new board of governors the EFA has established, they will collectively approve or deny new programs based on talent, region, and other KPI s to judge whether they are a competitive fit for the EFA . In theory, this should mitigate non-competitive teams like the Enthroners and the Centurions . The new expansion teams are currently going through this process to become established in the league, and less-competitive teams like the Mercenaries are also going through the process in an attempt to prove they can create a viable product on the field. Overall, the approach should lead to more nuance in the standings and more parity in the league as a whole. All of these processes are good and keep the vision and integrity of the league at the forefront of operations. All good things. So, everything is fine, right? RIGHT..? No… It can never be that easy. In a world where it seems like the EFA won and the future of the ELF seemed as strong as ever, it is only appropriate that we throw a wrench in the machine and fuck everything up. Queue the Undertaker’s Theme Song Just when it looked like the European League of Football had survived its own civil war and settled into a new world order under the EFA , a fresh challenger slides out from under the apron: The American Football League of Europe ( AFLE ). This league, spearheaded by Vikings owner, Robin Lumsden , has reportedly brought in an investor willing to drop $10 million into this new league. Sounds massive, right? The catch: the setup looks eerily similar to the old ELF model, where the real power sits with one central figure instead of with the teams. The offer on the table, per sources: $300K upfront payout for each team 5% of revenue 12% gross interest On paper, that sounds like easy money. But here’s the twist: the only way for the teams to buy the league out from the investors is to pay back three times the initial amount. In other words, you’d need $30 million to take control. Now, you’re probably thinking, “There is no way they’re pulling $30 million in gross revenue in three years.” And you’d be right. After paying coaches, players, staff, media teams, stadium costs, taxes, and everyone else in between, the odds of having $30 million just lying around are slim to none. So why would anyone sign up for a deal that looks like ELF 2.0 in terms of ownership and control? In our view, there are two realistic explanations: This is a high-leverage play to force Zeljko completely out of the picture. This is a cash grab for team owners who have been bleeding money for years. The Cash Grab Option We can start with the more nefarious option because this is fun, and there is nothing we love more than drama. To begin, let’s be brutally honest about the state of some of the teams circling the AFLE right now: Berlin is bankrupt. Stuttgart is in solvency. Rhein has financial problems. Munich could be staring down legal issues, given they’re minority owners in the ELF , but reportedly plan to play in the AFLE . That is the majority of the established teams–as we still don’t know enough about Paris 2.0 , London , Monaco , etc.–currently geared up to play for the AFLE . On top of team financial constraints, the AFLE is dangling serious money to get teams on board. There’s talk of a $600K offer to the Prague Black Panthers , and we’ve heard of this investor reaching out directly to players, trying to poach them from ELF rosters with undisclosed sums— Galaxy players in particular have been mentioned. For struggling clubs and underpaid players, that kind of money is hard to walk away from. It’s a quick injection of cash into organizations that have been operating on fumes. Does it fix long-term sustainability? Not really. But if you’re an owner staring down debt, or a player who’s been promised the world and paid in peanuts, this looks like a lifeline. Viable, tangible cash. I’m not saying owners would grab the bag and disappear overnight—but business is business. Taking the money might be the smartest move for them, even if it’s not the best for the league’s long-term health. The agreement they currently have is a non-compete agreement, so if the team owners sell high, it’s up to someone else to clean up the mess. Again, I am not claiming that all the owners sell as soon as the 2026 season is over, but business is like poker, and sometimes you need to know when to walk away. Cashing out $600K, is the correct time to walk away… The Leverage Option This is the option we’ve been leaning toward the most on the Fourth Down Fiasco podcast. The idea here isn’t to burn the whole European American Football landscape to the ground; it’s to finish what the EFA started and completely remove Zeljko from any position of real power. The EFA move forced him to step down as CEO , sell most of his shares, and accept a new system where teams finally see the majority of revenue. But, to quote the great Kobe Bryant : “Job’s not finished.” If the endgame for certain teams has always been getting Zeljko out, then we’re only halfway there. Teams and their governors have more control than any single investor now, but there is still power in Zeljko ’s voice. So, if some team governors are dead set on a Zeljko -less league, why not push again, similar to what the EFA did? In this scenario, the AFLE is just another pressure point. There’s a world where the AFLE puts so much strain on the ELF that it triggers a hostile takeover, or the ELF simply collapses under the weight of all this drama, leaving EFA -aligned teams looking for a new home—and finding it in the AFLE . Either way, the desired outcome for that camp is simple: Zeljko out, team owners in. The Third Option: The AFLE is Legit Okay, fine… I’ll entertain the idea that the AFLE is a legitimate league with legitimate investors. I don’t want to go down this path, but I’m sure I’ll get a few nasty messages from high-ranking personnel if I don’t. Let’s say it all works out for the AFLE . Let’s say they get the money, the expansion teams pull it together in time for the 2026 season, and boom—they have a league. On paper, that sounds exciting. In reality, two opposing leagues of this magnitude would be TERRIBLE for European American Football . You’d have: Split deals Split allegiances Split viewership And ultimately, not enough fans—at least right now—to sustain both. Both leagues would have their powerhouse names and flagship brands. Fans—the ones actually bringing in the money—are not likely to carve out time, money, and emotional investment for two separate leagues. They’ll keep rooting for their hometown teams like they always have. That loyalty doesn’t automatically double just because there’s another logo on the market. Now add in the highest number of expansion teams we’ve ever seen in a single offseason. Such a task should take years to properly complete (hence why the ELF ’s London team is set for 2027). It just seems like too much of a rush, with too many moving parts, involving too many fan bases that would need to be built from scratch, in a very short window. That’s not a recipe for stability. It’s a recipe for both leagues stretching themselves thin and flirting with financial collapse. How is that for examining the third option? The Real Problem at Hand Here’s the most maddening part of all this: This entire situation is foggier than London in December. This article, to be fully transparent, is built on information shared with us by team owners, players, and various inside sources. It is, by nature, speculative. What we were told could be wrong. The numbers might be off. Different people are seeing different pieces of the puzzle, and nobody seems to have the full picture. Some examples of what we’ve been hearing: An anonymous A-import called the ELF “a damn shell of a corporation” and claimed many ELF employees have already jumped ship to the AFLE while ELF owners are posing as though the ELF is currently firing on all cylinders. An unnamed Surge player said it’s unlikely the Surge even play football in 2026, despite whatever is being hinted at in AFLE communications. Multiple UK-based ELF insiders insist there will not be a London team in 2026, no matter what the AFLE is suggesting. Yet some players told us a London team has already reached out to them. The Alpine Rams who were once going through the ELF vetting process have since switched to the AFLE . A long-time friend of one of the AFLE owner’s said that Prince Albert II will be the one funding the Monaco team. There hasn’t been a claim against, but I personally doubt this. Owners on both sides are pointing fingers at each other, each claiming the other is the problem. So much for “transparency.” One homegrown player who plans to stay with their current team told us the AFLE is working toward more openness—but as fans, we haven’t seen much of that yet. The EFA was founded in the name of transparency. The AFLE is being sold under the same banner. And still, here we all are, sitting in a pitch-black room with no real information, just rumors and power plays. No matter how the ELF vs. AFLE heavyweight bout ends—whether it’s a merger, a hostile takeover, or mutual destruction, the ones taking the punches right now are the fans and the players. People who have such a love for the game of football that they would participate—in whatever capacity—with a European league that doesn’t have the same backing or funding as the NFL . People who simply love football. And those people are caught in the crossfire of a handful of rich guys who can’t seem to play nice in the sandbox. And sadly, that might be the most consistent trend in European American Football .

So, as we reach the halfway point of the British University American Football season as Week 8 has come to a close, what better time to look back on the first seven weeks of BUCS American and highlight the teams that have surprised us and those whose first half of the season has left us bewildered.  National Premiership: When comparing the 25/26 and 24/25 seasons in the National Premiership , there are some striking similarities. Leeds Beckett struggles to maintain the grip of the highest level of Uniball, the Nottingham Gold defeating the reigning champion UWE Bullets by a single point, and the Durham Saints make a real push to be a team that deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as the phrase “National Champions.” Though there seems to be a real shift in the zeitgeist of Uniball, with the four-time consecutive national championship-winning UWE Bullets not looking like UWE Bullets of the last four seasons, an air of uncharacteristic struggle clouds the UWE Bullets . But their 28-17 victory over the Durham Saints helps filter out some of the doubts.  When we enter 2026, the Bullets will have a massive two-week stretch, away at Durham on the 7th of February and welcoming the Gold to Hillside Gardens for a Valentine’s Day clash with no love lost. The Nottingham Gold vs the Durham Saints game to cap off the first half of the season did not disappoint. With the Saints shaking up the Uniball-verse defeating the Nottingham Gold 38-13. We once again find ourselves in basically the exact same situation as last year. Nottingham beat UWE by one point and then Durham defeated the Gold at home. The only difference is the scoreline, instead of just five points like last year, a massive 25-point victory for the Saints makes the Prem National the place to be and all eyes to turn.  As it tends to be for these National Premiership sides, the new year does not only bring another slate of games but players joining University in January which could end up completely changing the dynamic of the National Premiership . But for right now, the Bullets once again find themselves at the top of my power rankings thanks to Durham tackling the Gold .  Premiership: North Warwick & NTU On the week six episode of “The Uniball”, my co-host SJ , and I prognosticated whether or not we are a season of Uniball prosperity or depression, and found ourselves siding with the former, citing the Premiership North as the best example that we live in a prime space for British University American Football.  The champions of the division last year, the Warwick Wolves , seemed to be off to a start that would have seen them reclaim their throne. Defeating NTU and Northumbria the start the season. But as of week 6 the Wolves have had a duo of shocking results.  First, losing to the team that the Wolves have one of the longest-standing Uniball rivalries with, the NTU Renegades . Given that the Wolves defeated NTU by a margin of 4 in their Week 2 fixture and NTU managed to defeat Warwick by 7, positioning the NTU Renegades at the top of the Prem North at the halfway point of the season.  But it went from bad to worse for the Wolves , losing to the at the time 1-2 Newcastle Raiders by a single point in Week 7, taking the reigning champions from a 2-0 start to a 2-2 finish with NTU holding the head to head over them. Though Warwick managed to claw back a win, although only 8-0 over the struggling Leeds Gryphons still keep red flags above the Warwick camp.  Newcastle & Northumbria: Whilst in the middle of the Prem North , two teams from the banks of the River Tyne are doing much better than expected. Newcastle , being in the relegation zone the last two years, would set the tone for them to do the same this year, but a Week 1 victory over the Leeds Gryphons and a Week 6 victory over the Wolves may ultimately save the Raiders even though they sit at 2-2 now, after losing 25-0 to NTU in Week 8.  The Newcastle Raiders ' single loss comes from their varsity rivals in the Northumbria Mustangs , the team I had picked to be relegated this year. But once again they have blasted that prediction out of the water, picking up wins over Newcastle and Leeds , although falling to the Wolves and Renegades .  Leeds: A perennial contender for promotion and regarded by the pundits over at DepthChartSports as a safe bet for playoffs proves why Uniball is the best sport on earth as the Gryphons find themselves winless at the halfway point of the season. Shock and surprise for Leeds losing to Newcastle and Northumbria early in the season, but not even a break could aid the Gryphons , having four weeks off before facing the NTU Renegades , which took Leeds to 0-3 in a 35-6 loss. Although a Week 8 loss to the Wolves once again damaged Leeds , holding the reigning Prem North Champions to just 8-0 lends itself for optimism in the Gryphons camp, but they are still in the relegation position.  Leeds are going to have to focus on that second game with Northumbria and hope the Mustangs don’t win another game if they want to stay in the Northern Premiership . Premiership South: After 8 years stuck in Division One , making the playoffs every single year within that time frame, the Brunel Burners have made their presence felt in the Prem South , going an undefeated 5-0 going into the halfway point of the season.  Defeating such teams as Portsmouth , Exeter and SGS , all teams that at some point over the last 8 seasons have eliminated the Burners from the playoffs but their biggest competition comes from a team that has finally found form after years of floundering around the relegation drain.  The Cardiff Cobras only lost to Brunel in Week 7 in the final minutes of the game, 20-15 but with the Cobras taking wins off of Exeter and Portsmouth and running it close with the SGS Pride , it finally seems as though the Cobras have established themselves as a true premiership contender.  The Portsmouth Destroyers started the season in an uncharacteristically bad fashion, losing their first three, 39-8 to Brunel , then 46-14 to Cardiff , and then 19-0 to SGS in weeks 1-3. Then, on the Exeter side of things, the Demons started their season in Week 6, putting in a good performance against the Burners , giving the Demons some hope that they’ll be safe from relegation as they faced off with the 0-3 Destroyers .  A Portsmouth win 20-6 firmly placed the Demons in the relegation position, with February 8th now being key for both squads as it is the rematch and likely will give us the result for who will be playing Division 1 football next year.  Scottish 1: The Edinburgh Napier Knights were the runners-up to promotion last season, and they have continued their dominance of the Scottish 1 with eyes to be the Scottish representative in the Premiership . Defeating, arguably, the second-place team in Scotland, the Stirling Clansmen by 35-0 in Week 2 and then smashing the Heriot-Watt Wolverines before allowing their first points of the season in a 42-6 victory over Edinburgh .  A Week 8 victory over Stirling , this time 39-14 all but guarantees Napier the top spot in Scotland, a rematch with Edinburgh in February looks as though it will be Napier ’s but they only opponent they haven't faced yet is the Glasgow Uni Tigers but with Glasgow sitting on a 3-1-1 record, my money is on Napier to crown themselves champions once again and I doubt I’d get good odds them doing so. Northern 1: In very much the same vein as the Scottish 1 , the Lancashire Rams are looking to dominate again on route to the playoffs, especially now they are the biggest dog in the Northern 1 . Undefeated and with not a single point against them, the Rams are running the table at 5-0. Questions turn to the post-season already as the Rams ’ form in the playoffs over the last two years has been poor, losing very early on and not reaching their full potential, though this year, if the final is Lancashire vs Napier , I’d be surprised.  On the other side of the coin, both the Edge Hill Vikings and Liverpool Raptors are in the relegation zone, brought around by the double relegation that affects both the Midlands & Northern 1 as the worst-performing fourth-place team will also find themselves playing D2 next year.  Edge Hill getting up to the D1 Level is a massive accomplishment, but finding themselves in one of the toughest divisions hasn’t been ideal for the Vikings as they sit at 0-3 with a loss to the other Liverpool-based side, who are also in trouble.  The Liverpool Raptors got pulled up to the Premiership last season after finally making their way up to D1 after back-to-back D2 Northern Championships . Winning just a single game in the Prem last season over the Newcastle Raiders sent the Raptors back down, and now Liverpool find themselves at 1-4 and with the Derby Braves in the Midlands 1 having a better points against than the Raptors , it could be a return back down the division that made the Raptors champions.  Midlands 1: The division that you could argue has been short-changed in the predictions for who will be promoted up from D1 North into the Premiership in the wake of the Lancashire Rams & Edinburgh Napier Knights but with the tear the Nottingham Green has been on, injecting their name into the promotion picture is something that must be recognised.  Undefeated going into the halfway point of the season, the Green with their biggest win coming 24-16 against the Sheffield Hallam Warriors , who themselves are a playoff-contending side and will be looking to get that win back late on in the season. But the Green are looking hot going into the Christmas break. But the 25th of January will most likely decide who will be claiming the Midlands 1 . Now the relegation zone for the Midlands 1 is sadly pretty cut and dry at this point, the Leicester Longhorns have the unfortunate distinction of being the only 0-6 team in Division 1 so far, with their only hope being to defeat the Braves by 11 and then pick up a win over Sheffield Hallam or Nottingham but given the past results it doesn’t look likely.  The battle for the dreaded double relegation place brought about by the Scottish 1 not relegating a team looked to be between the Derby Braves and Liverpool Raptors, and it was looking shaky for the Braves after their 31-21 loss to the Sheffield Sabres earlier in the season. But the Braves managed to find a light in the darkness, a 6-6 draw to Sheffield in Week 8, where that single BUCS point looks like it could be a life preserver for Derby’s D1 hopes.  South West 1: One of the strangest divisions in all of football. The Bournemouth Uni Bobcats are undefeated but sit in second place after a -3.5 game penalty levied against them by BUCS before the start of the season. Although it is do or die for the Bobcats , the pressure is on them, but they have risen to it. Defeating both the Bath Killer Bees and Bristol Barracuda twice in the first half of the season, leaving only the Stags and Blitz who reside in the bottom half of the table left for them come the regular season.  The Bobcats can’t win the division, but they are on the right path to make the playoffs, as I can’t see them losing a game, although with the KCL vs Kent Draw in the South East , there is a reality we live in where the Bobcats will go undefeated and not see the post-season and what is worse for Bournemouth is that their destiny is not in their own hands.  The Bristol Barracuda , a heavily defensive side enters the Christmas break at the top of the South West 1 after a 12-7 victory in a classic Friday Night Lights event over the Bath Killer Bees . With only Plymouth and a pivotal, division-deciding rematch with the Killers Bees left on their regular season schedule, it’s looking up for Bristol but that rematch with Bath is going to be must watch football. South East 1: A hotly competitive division, with shutouts and draws between the top three squads, whilst there is a race that will be settled for who will be relegated this weekend between the bottom two. Coming into the season, the Kent Falcons were the favourites to win this division by most, with the consensus of the Brighton Panthers ' move to the South East 1 saving them from relegation paints a picture of two teams on opposite sides of the table. However, a 12-0 victory over the Falcons by the Panthers was a cause for surprise, but a return fixture saw the Falcons shutout the Panthers 24-0, once again throwing any predictions out the window.  The KCL Regents reared their head into the title picture, though a draw with the Kent Falcons makes this division a hard one to pick when looking at the top of the table.  Relegation-wise it is looking like it’ll be between two squads, the UCL Emperors and the Kingston Cougars . But as we finished Week 8 we know who the team in the danger zone is. These two squads have the odd circumstance of playing each other back-to-back, with UCL taking the win 21-16 in Week 7.  The Kingston Cougars managed to rally and win 12-0 thus taking the head-to-head over UCL and dropping the Emperors into the relegation battle and given UCL ’s schedule sees rematches with Kent , KCL & Brighton , so the D1 future of UCL doesn’t look massively bright.  Southern 1: Although the Hertfordshire Hurricanes have a blemish on their record, they are still looking real good after their 35-0 shutout victory over the Birmingham Lions , the team that handed them their loss after a QB Kneel went horrifically wrong for the Hurricanes , allowing the Lions to kick a field goal and win their first game.  Oxford Brookes were also on an undefeated role and sit at 3-1 after running into the Hurricanes , whilst Brookes seem as though they are going to make the playoffs, the Hurricanes look like prime candidates for promotion out of D1.  Both UEA and Oxford have traded wins, with Oxford taking the first fixture 28-6 over the Pirates , and it was looking pretty grim for UEA . But in Week 7, UEA took home their first win of the season 26-18 but the score difference is not enough to save the UEA Pirates for now; they’ll need another win and hope for another Oxford loss if they want to stay up. But right now, the Lancers are still going to be playing D1 Football next year.  North East 2: It only took until the final week of the season for a team in this division to win a game.  Two draws for York , one a piece for Hull and Sunderland , made this division a strange place for 90% of the first half of the season.  But in the first game of the season for YSJ Jaguars in Week 8 of the season the Sunderland Spartans took away a 44-0 victory, placing them atop the division.  Though with so many games left to play in this division, including rematches with York , the North East 2 is still up for grabs and is still the hardest division to pick. North West 2:  I will say the North West 2 is in only a slightly better position than the North East 2 . There is a frontrunner in this division, and it’s the Lancaster Bombers , dispatching both the Staffordshire Stallions and the upstart Salford Storm .  The LJMU Fury , who were relegated from D1 last season, much like YSJ played their first game of the season against the Keele Crusaders in Week 8 and came away with a 27-0 victory. Thus making the LJMU vs Lancaster game on the first of February likely to be for who will be playing D1 Football next year.  Midlands 2:  Before this season started, if you had said that Cambridgeshire would have the eyes on the Midlands 2 upon it I don’t know if I would have believed you. Still, as it stands, the ARU Siege sit upon the top of the Midlands 2 with their rivals in the Coldham’s Cup rivalry game, the Cambridge Pythons being the ones nipping at their heels, although a misstep from the Siege in Week 7 may come back to haunt them.  The Siege ’s journey to the top has been one of close wins and a single loss, defeating Lincoln & Cambridge by a point, with only their first meeting with the DMU Lions showing the Siege can bring the pressure, as they walked away with a 35-6 victory. With that large a victory margin, the second meeting going the way of the Siege was expected, but ARU reverted to their short-scoreline form, losing by a single point, 18-19, and giving DMU their first win of the season. Cambridge Pythons need to maintain their momentum in 2026 as they’ll have a tough battle as they have to take on the Lincoln Colonials and Coventry Uni Jets in successive weeks, ahead of what is likely to be an all-time classic “win and up” as the Coldham’s Cup 2026 between ARU and Cambridge could be for more than just Cambridgeshire-based bragging rights.  South East 2: Much like the Midlands 2 not having a favourite going into the halfway point of the season, it’s basically the same for the SE2 . Two teams meeting early on in the season, with one taking a single point victory, setting up a “win and up” game in the last week of the regular season.  Two formerly D1 sides looking to climb back up to the promised land, the Imperial Immortals and QMBL Vipers , met in Week 2 of the season,  and the Immortals took the victory by a single point, ending the game with a memeable 6-7. Both teams have gone on to win the rest of the games they have played so far, with Imperial beating Essex and QMBL beating both Essex and Greenwich .  South West 2: We’ve got a two-horse race in the South West , which is a nice change of pace compared to last year, where Plymouth ’s victory over the UWE 2 s early in the season last year basically spelt promotion in the first three weeks. It seemed as though this season was the UWE 2 ’s season to lose, being in the conversation for promotion in the last two seasons and with the Swasnea Titans once again being relegated back down into division two after scoring 2 points in the entire 24/25 season back up at the D1 level it seemed as though the Titans would be in a rebuild.  However, both seem to be on level pegging. The UWE 2 s started their season off hot with a massive scoreline against the Gloucestershire Gladiators , defeating them 38-6. Whilst the Titans in their second game put a beating on the Bath Spa Bulldogs 54-0.  Neither team put up massive scorelines against the Worcester Royals , with UWE defeating them 7-12 and Swansea defeating them 18-2. Both teams are trending towards a showdown on February 8th in Swansea for a battle that will probably decide who goes up to a difficult South West 1 . Southern 1: After two seasons of going down to the wire and losing their final game of the season, knocking them out of the promotion spot, it seemed as though the season of the Sussex Saxons was going to be this one. Enter The Surrey Stingers . Surrey were a team that had high hopes after their relegation a couple of seasons ago, with many thinking that a bounce back was likely for them, though this year they grabbed the bull by its horns and put the Saxons behind the promotion 8-ball with a week six 16-8 victory, although there is another team in this equation.  The Reading Knights find themselves back down in D2 with dreams of heading straight back up, and with a perfect record winning their first 2 games of the season, a showdown with the Surrey Stingers seems like the likely choice to dictate who goes up. Though with Reading only playing the Solent Redhawks , Royal Holloway Bears and Chichester Spitfires as it stands right now, the Surrey Stingers are edging them out to be the favourites.

This fifth issue of our monthly magazine dedicated to Italian football has a lot on the table, from the National Tackle team's final match of the calendar year to the presentation of the new Italian Football League . There's a lot of news to report, especially regarding the IFL sidelines, with both confirmed players and new arrivals. Italy loses against Canada in Milan, losing the first Gridiron Nations Championship On November 9th, Italy and Canada took to the field at the Vigorelli Velodrome in Milan for the second game of the Gridiron Nations Championship . After the Azzurri 's triumph in Krefeld in the third-place match of the European Championship against Germany , a game also counting towards this tournament, the Azzurri needed a victory to mathematically secure their title in the tournament. However, that didn't arrive, as the Canadians prevailed 20-17 in a tight game. The home team took the lead with a 25-year-old field goal by William Testa , kicker for Bergamo Lions , which was immediately tied by a 42-yard kick by Canadian Adam Preocanin early in the second quarter. The North Americans took the lead with a running touchdown by Jamel Lyles before halftime, but in the second half, Ryan Minniti , who also recorded a one-handed interception, tied the score. After another Lyles touchdown, Andrea Volonnino scored early in the fourth quarter on a pass from Luke Zahradka , tying the score once again. Midway through the final quarter, the Canadians regained the lead with another field goal from Adam Preocanin . Testa attempted to tie the score at the end, but his 42-yard field goal missed the post, sealing Canada 's triumph in Milan . Despite a better roster than the one they lost in Cagliari , the Azzurri were held to a draw in a tight and evenly matched game until the very end. It's worth noting that Canada 's roster featured James Fleurissaint , the only opposing player to have played for an Italian team after last year's experience in Savona with the Pirates . Three more players have decided to retire from the Blue Team after this game: Simone Perego , who has also decided to retire from American Football, Skorpions ’ Davide Vuolo and Marines ’ Giacomo Insom , who will continue their career. The following week, the Canadian team won in Bochum against Germany 25-10, winning the first edition of the tournament. No team will be promoted from IFL2 this year At the beginning of November , FIDAF released the results of the registration process for teams wishing to advance to the next season. Among the teams that applied, only Doves Bologna were granted their application, moving up from the Nine Football League to IFL2 in 2026. As we will see later in the article, no teams have applied to play in the Italian Football League next year, with the situation remaining largely unchanged. All, or almost all, of the teams that played in the top flight last year have been confirmed for next season, with further details to be released soon. FIDAF confirms the teams for the 2026 IFL and IFL2 The FIDAF and the Italian Football League have announced the teams that will compete in the first two divisions next year. Unlike the previous season, the number of teams will be reduced from twelve to ten, with Lions Bergamo and Pirates Albisola not returning to the IFL and opting for a relegation to IFL2 . Elephants Catania , reigning IFL2 champions, will not advance to the next step and will once again play in the Second Division. Another new feature will be the single round robin, with all teams playing each other only once during the Regular Season. The playoff format is still unclear, but it could be the same as last year, with the top two teams advancing directly to the semifinals and the teams ranked third to sixth competing in the Wild Card Round . In IFL2 three teams ( TFU Pisa , Grizzlies Roma and Chiefs Ravenna ) will not come back, while Castelfranco Cavaliers , Nine Football League defending champions, have decided to not play in Second Division next year, unlike Doves Bologna , the only team that will make the jump from Third to Second tier. FIDAF presents the new IFL and the future of the Blue Team The new IFL season was presented in Rome on November 28th, along with the format and the date of the final, the 2026 Italian Bowl . As previously announced, the format will include ten teams and a single group, with all teams playing each other only once. The championship will begin the weekend of February 28th - March 1st, with the weekend of April 4th - 5th being a collective bye week for the Easter holidays. The Regular Season will conclude on May 31st, while the Wild Card Round will take place on June 13th - 14th, with the third- to sixth-place teams competing to see who will advance to the semifinals against the top two teams a week later. The Italian Bowl will be played in Ferrara , at the Paolo Mazza Stadium , on July 4th as part of the Italian Bowl Weekend, a three-day event that will also feature the IFL2 (July 3rd) and Nine Football League (July 5th) finals. The press conference also discussed the future of the Italian national team ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics . Starting next year, athletes called up to the Flag Football Blue Team will not be eligible to play for the national tackle team, so they can prepare for the first major pre-Olympic event, the World Cup in Dusseldorf next year, where both the men's and women's national teams will compete. According to the new national team project, there will be two training camps per month to best prepare the athletes for the events leading up to the next Summer Olympics . IFL Draft 2025 A few hours after the presentation of the new Italian Football League , the second edition of the IFL Draft took place, again conducted in collaboration with the Rome City Institute . Seventeen players, some of whom were already present last year, will have the opportunity to play for Italian Football League teams and study in our country, as is done in American college football. The first overall pick in this year's draft was DL Grant Daniels , from Vicksburg High School in Michigan . Four players will return to the Italian league after being selected again by IFL teams: Logan Hansen , who played in Liguria last year with the Albisola Pirates and will play for the Ferrara Aquile this year; Parker Richardson , who returns to the Ancona Dolphins ; Isaiah Dunn , who played in Rome last year with the Marines and was also selected by the Ferrara Aquile ; and Will Reed, who will return to the Legnano Frogs . Here is the official list of players selected, who will once again be treated as Homegrown Players by the league and the federation this year: IFL Draft 2025 – Round 1 #1/ Warriors Bologna – Grant Daniels (DL, Vicksburg High School, Michigan) #2/ Lazio Marines – Garrett Wilson (WR, Grinnell College, Iowa, NCAA Div.III) #3/ Aquile Ferrara – Logan Hansen (OL/DL, Pirates Albisola, IFL 2025) #4/ Rhinos Milano – Andrew Priore (DB, Union College, New York, NCAA Div.III) #5/ Giaguari Torino – Gavin Thomas (DL, St.Francis University, Pennsylvania, NCAA Div.I FCS) #6/ Skorpions Varese – Tarrin Haws (OL/DL, Evanston High School, Wyoming) #7/ Panthers Parma – Samuel Thornhill (LB/RB, Rock Springs High School, Wyoming) #8/ Frogs Legnano – Mikey Hunt Jr. (DB, IMG Academy, Florida) #9/ Dolphins Ancona – Parker Richardson (DB/LB, Dolphins Ancona, IFL 2025) #10/ Guelfi Firenze – Terry Davis (LB, Lakeland High School, Idaho) IFL Draft 2025 – Round 2 #1/ Warriors Bologna – Caleb Berry (RB/WR, California Lutheran University, California, NCAA Div.III) #2/ Lazio Marines – Patrick Ohanesyan (DL, Sioux Falls Lincoln High School, South Dakota) #3/ Aquile Ferrara – Isaiah Dunn (WR, Lazio Marines, IFL 2025) #4/ Giaguari Torino – Austin Hosier (K/WR, Arkansas Tech, Arkansas, NCAA Div.II) #5/ Skorpions Varese – George Perry III (LB, North Penn High School, Pennsylvania) #6/ Frogs Legnano – Will Redd (LB, Frogs Legnano, IFL 2025) #7/ Dolphins Ancona – Jadiel Perez (RB, Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School, New Jersey) Italy gets a new franchise in European Football Before the waters have calmed down in European football, EFA have announced a couple of new teams for the 2026 season, one of these is being located in Milan . After two years of absence, European Football comes back to Italy with a fresh identity and a new name, as Seamen can’t be used because it was used in the European League of Football in 2023 and 2024. There have been rumors for months about an Italian franchise returning to European football, and those voices have finally been confirmed. Furthermore, the Seamen 's promise to return to the field after a year's hiatus has been honored, although the navy blue team will remain outside the project, while still supporting this new initiative. Since ELF and EFA have reached an agreement announced on November 26th, it is sure that the new italian franchise will play in the European League of Football next year Habakkuk Baldonado makes history in Canada winning the 2025 Grey Cup Former Lazio Marines player Habakkuk Baldonado won the 112th edition of the Grey Cup , the Championship Game of the Canadian Football League , with his team, the Saskatchewan Roughriders . His team has won the game 25-17 against the Montreal Alouettes , conquering the fifth title in franchise history, the first one in twelve years. Baldonado finished the game with just two Solo Tackles , but he gave his great contribute during the season, forming part of a solid team. After his Lazio Marines starting days in American Football, he traveled to the United States , playing first at Clearwater Academy International in Florida and then at Pitt University . Undrafted at the 2023 NFL Draft , he played the NFL Preseason with the New York Giants , before getting cut from the team before the start of the 2023 season. Picked in the second round of the 2023 CFL Global Draft from the Roughriders , he then spent his pro career there. He is the sixth italian born player, after Gino Berretta , Wally Buono , Peter Dalla Riva , Emilio Fraietta and Angelo Raffin to win the big prize in Canadian Football, and the first with experience in Italian football. Legnano Frogs change HC, QB for the 2026 season Frogs Legnano have decided to move on from both Luke Zahradka and Davide Donnini , QB and HC of the Lombardia team in 2025. Donnini leaves the team after three years and a huge improvement last year, as the Frogs went on to lose in the playoffs semifinals against future champions Guelfi Firenze , while Zahradka leaves the team one season after coming back to Italy and Italian Football. The team has already announced their replacements, as Cody Kent , former Straubing Spiders coach, will be the new Head Coach, and former Kuopio Steelers and Schwabisch Hall Unicorns QB Josh Taylor will join the team for the 2026 season. Zahradka will join the new project presented by FIDAF as the QB1 of the new Flag Football National Team trying to compete to the L.A. Olympics in 2028. IFAF reveals draw results for 2026 Flag Football World Championship IFAF has published the results of the draws for the 2026 Flag Football World Cup in Dusseldorf , Germany , part of the race for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles where just six teams will participate. Italy will take part to both the men’s and the women’s tournament thanks to their results in this year’s european championship, as the men’s team won the tournament and the female Blue Team finished in seventh place. In the men’s tournament Italy will share Group D with France , United Kingdom and Panama , while, in the women’s tournament, the Azzurre will play in Group A with Mexico , Germany and Slovenia . Players and Coach Movements Joe Tricario leaves Lazio Marines, joins 9FL team Crusaders Cagliari Joseph Tricario , former Lazio Marines HC, will be the Head Coach of 9FL sardinian team Crusaders Cagliari . Last year has replaced Sergio Scoppetta as the chief in command on the sideline for the team in Rome , but the season ended on a 3-7 record, out of the Playoffs. The Crusaders are hungry for revenge after finishing the Regular Season immaculately (6-0) in Group C , only to be eliminated in the semi-finals of the Conference South against Legionari Roma . As of now, Lazio Marines have not revealed the name of their new Head Coach for the 2026 season. Former CEFL and AFL Champion Anthony Gardner joins Aquile Ferrara Aquile Ferrara have announced Anthony Gardner as their new Offensive Coordinator for the 2026 season. Gardner has a huge background in european football, playing in Slovenia , France and Austria as a QB during his playing career, winning the CEFL in 2013 with Ljubljana Silverhawks . The Italian Football League is not a new challenge for him, as he played for Lazio Marines in 2013 and 2017. Giaguari Torino confirm both HC and DC for next season Giaguari Torino have decided to confirm Kurt Ramler and Juha Hakala , their Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator, for the 2026 season. The black and yellow side has made the playoffs for the first time since returning to the IFL last year, losing in the wild card round against Legnano Frogs , but the huge effort made during the regular season convinced the management of the Piemontese team to confirm them for next year as well. Skorpions Varese have a new Head Coach Skorpions Varese have changed their HC, as per the Europlayers website. Scott Savoie , a former High School coach, will be the new Head Coach for the red and white side in 2026, even if the team has not confirmed the news on their social media pages. He will replace former NFL QB Billy Volek in his first experience overseas. Varese did qualify for the Playoffs last year, losing in the Wild Card Round against Panthers Parma .