The preseason poll in Arena Football One places the Albany Firebirds atop the early pecking order, followed by the Nashville Kats and the newly arrived Minnesota Monsters as the league prepares for its 2026 season.
The Firebirds, who finished the 2025 campaign as playoff champions, drew the No. 1 ranking in the annual 50YardFootball.com preseason poll. Albany’s return to the top of the standings reflects continuity and competitive success in the league’s first year of play.
Second in the poll are the Kats, the 2025 playoff runner-ups. Nashville has been among AF1’s consistent performers, blending veteran leadership with roster depth that carried the club deep into the postseason.
The Minnesota Monsters are third in the rankings as they transition into Arena Football One after back-to-back championships in The Arena League.
Minnesota’s move to AF1 includes adapting to the league’s eight-player format with kicking, a change from the Monsters’ previous indoor competition that did not use traditional kicking phases. The adjustment to kickoff and field-goal elements will be among the aspects monitored once the regular season begins in April.
Behind the top three, the preseason power spots include six other clubs that will make up AF1’s nine-team field in 2026, showing the league’s expanding footprint into new markets.
The No. 4 Beaumont Renegades are newcomers from the National Arena League, bringing recent championship experience to AF1.
The No. 5 Kentucky Barrels and No. 6 Michigan Arsenal are expansion franchises debuting this season, both adding new regional brands to the league’s map.
The No. 7 Oceanside Bombers also debut in 2026, giving AF1 its first presence on the West Coast. No. 8 Oregon Lightning and No. 9 Washington Wolfpack return from the previous season’s roster of clubs.
AF1’s schedule officially kicks off the weekend of April 11, highlighting the broad geographical mix and competitive balance across the country as the league enters its second season.
