The Indoor Football League (IFL) is a professional indoor American football league in the United States and the longest active professional level indoor football league in North America. It was formed in 2008 out of a merger between the Intense Football League (IFL) and United Indoor Football (UIF). Initially, the IFL adopted the two leagues' names and divided teams between the Intense Conference and the United Conference with the top teams from both conferences playing in a playoff format for a chance to qualify for the United Bowl, which's name was also adopted from the UIF's championship game. In 2018, the IFL removed the conferences so the league's top teams would qualify for the playoffs. In 2022, the IFL changed the name of the United Bowl to the IFL National Championship and divided teams between the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference.
Since its creation, the IFL has had a different number of teams after multiple efforts to expand the league with some teams either leaving or folding in the process. Each IFL season since 2024 has started with an 18-week regular season which runs from March to July, with each team playing 16 games and having three bye weeks. Following the conclusion of the regular season, four teams from each conference advance to the playoffs, a single-elimination tournament that culminates in the IFL National Championship, which is contested in August and is played between the Eastern and Western conference champions.
United Bowl era (2009–2021)
edit- ^ Despite having the same record as the El Paso Generals, the Billings Outlaws clinched the 2009 Intense Conference top seed.
- ^ Despite having the same record as the Nebraska Danger, the Colorado Ice clinched the 2014 Intense Conference top seed by virtue of having a better head-to-head regular season record.
- ^ a b c d e f g h After 2017, teams were not separated into conferences. Instead, the top teams qualified for the playoffs.
- ^ a b In 2018, the top four teams made the playoffs.
- ^ a b c d In 2019 and 2021, the top eight teams made the playoffs.
- ^ a b c d Due to the social distancing measures closing venues during the COVID-19 pandemic the 2020 season was cancelled. Two games were played before the cancellation.
IFL National Championship era (2022–present)
edit| Season | No. of teams |
Regular season | Playoffs | IFL National Championship | Ref. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. of games |
Eastern Conference top seed |
Western Conference top seed |
Postseason | Eastern Conference champion |
Western Conference champion |
Game | Champion | |||
| 2022 | 14 | 16 | Frisco Fighters | Arizona Rattlers | 2022 | Quad City Steamwheelers | NAZ Wranglers | 2022 | NAZ Wranglers | [1] |
| 2023 | 14 | 15 | Frisco Fighters | Arizona Rattlers | 2023 | Sioux Falls Storm | Bay Area Panthers | 2023 | Bay Area Panthers | [2][3] |
| 2024 | 16 | 16 | Green Bay Blizzard[a] | Bay Area Panthers | 2024 | Massachusetts Pirates | Arizona Rattlers | 2024 | Arizona Rattlers | [4][5] |
- ^ Despite having the same record as the Frisco Fighters, the Green Bay Blizzard clinched the 2024 Eastern Conference top seed by virtue of having a better in-conference record.
References
edit- ^ "NORTHERN ARIZONA WRANGLERS WIN 2022 IFL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP". goifl.com. 15 August 2022. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
- ^ Howe, Tyler (21 July 2023). "IFL ROUND ONE PLAYOFFS PREVIEW". goifl.com. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
- ^ "BAY AREA DEFEATS SIOUX FALLS TO WIN IFL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP". goifl.com. 6 August 2023. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
- ^ Zientek, Dakota (21 July 2024). "2024 IFL PLAYOFFS". goifl.com. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
- ^ Zientek, Dakota; Van Beek, Eric (19 August 2024). "2024 IFL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RECAP". goifl.com. Retrieved 31 October 2024.