So, here’s the thing about spring football. It’s a mess. Historically, anyway. But right now, everyone is asking about the United Football League no of teams because things just got weird. Like, "we're moving the whole furniture around" weird.
If you just want the quick answer: there are eight teams in the UFL for the 2026 season.
But wait. That’s the same number as last year, right? Technically, yeah. But if you haven't checked the standings lately, you're going to be staring at your TV this March wondering where half the league went. The UFL didn't expand—not yet, anyway—but they basically performed a transplant on the league's entire nervous system.
The Great 2026 Shuffle: Who Is Actually Playing?
Honestly, I was surprised. Mike Repole, the billionaire behind Vitaminwater who joined the ownership group (alongside The Rock and Dany Garcia) in July 2025, basically took a look at the attendance numbers and decided to flip the table. He wanted out of the massive, cavernous NFL stadiums and into "intimate" soccer venues.
Because of that, three teams just... vanished.
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The Michigan Panthers, San Antonio Brahmas, and Memphis Showboats are gone. Poof. It’s wild because San Antonio actually had decent attendance, but the league is pivoting hard toward a specific vision. In their place, we've got three new names (or old names in new places) that are taking over the roster spots.
Here is the current lineup for the 2026 season:
- Birmingham Stallions: The kings stay the kings. They’re still at Protective Stadium.
- St. Louis Battlehawks: The league's golden goose. They’re keeping the Dome because, frankly, St. Louis is the only city that treats spring football like a religion.
- DC Defenders: Still rocking the beer snakes at Audi Field.
- Columbus Aviators: A "new" team playing at Historic Crew Stadium.
- Louisville Kings: Brand new franchise at Lynn Family Stadium.
- Orlando Storm: Taking over Inter&Co Stadium.
- Dallas Renegades: They moved from Arlington to Frisco (Toyota Stadium) and changed the name to reflect the whole metroplex.
- Houston Gamblers: This is a rebrand. The "Roughnecks" are out, and the "Gamblers" (a classic USFL name) are in. They’re moving to Shell Energy Stadium.
Why Stay at Eight Teams?
You’d think a league trying to prove it's "the" spring alternative would be adding teams like crazy. There were rumors for months about jumping to 10 or 12. Even the coaching staffs were talking about it.
But Repole paused it.
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The strategy right now is basically "survive and stabilize." If you grow too fast, you end up like the original USFL in the 80s—bankrupt and legendary for all the wrong reasons. The United Football League no of teams is staying at eight because they want to prove these new markets (Columbus, Louisville, Orlando) can actually support a team before they try to manage 16 rosters.
Speaking of rosters, they did something kind of heartless this off-season. They liquidated everyone. Every single player was thrown back into a giant draft pool in January 2026. If you were a fan of a specific duo on the Battlehawks, sorry. They might be playing against each other in Orlando now.
No More Conferences?
This is another huge change for the 2026 season. For the first two years, the league was split: the USFL Conference and the XFL Conference. It was a nice nod to the merger, but it felt a little clunky.
Starting now, that’s dead.
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It’s just one "united" eight-team league. They’re playing a 10-week schedule, and the top four teams go to the playoffs. No more "best of the XFL" vs. "best of the USFL." It’s a straight-up race to the finish.
The Expansion Map (The Long Game)
If you're bummed that your city doesn't have a team yet, don't give up. The internal roadmap—the one Repole and the board are actually looking at—has some big numbers.
They’ve publicly stated they want to hit 10 teams by 2028. The ultimate goal? A 16-team league by 2035. They’re looking at cities like Boise, Idaho, and maybe returning to markets they just left if the stadium situations improve.
What This Means for You
If you're a bettor or just a die-hard fan, the 2026 season is going to feel like a completely different league. New coaches (like Ted Ginn Jr. taking over in Columbus—yeah, that Ted Ginn Jr.), new jerseys, and basically a league-wide reboot of the talent.
The fact that the United Football League no of teams hasn't changed doesn't mean the league is stagnant. It means it’s refining. They’re betting that 15,000 fans in a soccer stadium looks and feels better on TV than 15,000 fans lost in a 70,000-seat NFL stadium.
Actionable Next Steps
- Check the Draft Results: Since the rosters were liquidated in January, go look at where your favorite players landed. Most of the 2025 stars stayed in the league but changed zip codes.
- Update Your Calendar: The season kicks off Friday, March 27, 2026.
- Buy Local: If you’re in Columbus, Louisville, or Orlando, season ticket deposits are already live. These "intimate" stadiums sell out a lot faster than the old venues.
- Watch the Branding: Keep an eye out for the new uniform reveals. With the rebrands in Houston and Dallas, plus three new teams, more than half the league is getting a fresh look this spring.