February 13, 2026
By Daniel Cohen
Thanks to an exciting offseason of free agency paired with a fresh crop of interdivisional games on the schedule, narratives are starting to emerge around the league with players facing former teams, interdivisional rivalries becoming solidified, and “Revenge Games” on everyone’s mind. The following are seven matchups with some of the most compelling storylines at both the player and team level heading into 2026.
Will Wettengel and Xavier Payne (IND) vs. Chicago
On May 29, Xavier Payne, Will Wettengel, and the Indianapolis AlleyCats will host the Chicago Union in a highly anticipated Central Division revenge game. Payne and Wettengel played phenomenally for Chicago last season during their one-year hiatus from Indy, each earning 2025 UFA All Defense Team nods. Payne is a prototypical D-line quarterback who showcases plenty of playmaking ability in coverage, while Wettengel throws his body around like few others, giving his 6’6” frame the range to cover an entire field. Both Indy and Chicago should look significantly different this season, and it’ll be worth watching how the matchups shake out with Payne and Wettengel covering their former teammates. They’ll face off a total of three times during the regular season, once in May, once in June, and once in July.
James Pollard (IND) vs. MIN
Another Central Division robbery, Indy went out and got James Pollard this offseason, who played last season for Minnesota following six seasons in Philly. The AlleyCats could very well turn out to be legit playoff contenders this year after the offseason they’ve had, but the Central Division still runs through Minnesota; the Wind Chill have represented the Central Division at Championship Weekend each of the last three seasons, even overcoming Chicago’s undefeated regular season last year with the help of Pollard. Indy’s going to want to take their shot at the champs with this retooled roster, and Pollard is the type of player that can put the team on his back any given game; jump ball battles at the end of quarters, game-breaking hucks, downfield dominance as both a receiver and defender, he can have an impact all over the field and could be deployed in a variety of ways when these two teams meet in Indianapolis on May 15.
Nate De Morgan (MIN) vs. Salt Lake
Minnesota vs. Salt Lake is starting to feel like an interdivisional rivalry given the championship-caliber nature of these teams. After their overtime thriller in the semifinals of 2023 Championship Weekend, the two franchises clashed for the second time this past July, where the Shred (in typical Shred fashion) rode the energy and momentum of the home crowd to a 22-18 win. Earlier this offseason, Minnesota announced the signing of young star Nate De Morgan, who won a college championship with Carleton and played his rookie season with Salt Lake in 2025. The signing adds some fuel to the fire of this emerging rivalry; De Morgan showed loads of potential on the pro stage last year, including against Minnesota when he had three assists, two goals, and over 350 yards of offense in Salt Lake’s win. An athletic, D-line energy guy that can launch counterattack hucks, De Morgan should fit nicely within Minnesota’s system and could have a big impact against his former team when the Shred come to Minnesota on June 19.
Thomas Edmonds (BOS) vs. DC
After three years with the DC Breeze, Thomas Edmonds will be suiting up for reigning champion Boston Glory in 2026. Edmonds’ versatility has shined throughout his career; he averaged over 50 scores (goals plus assists) per season from 2019 to 2022 with Pittsburgh, and consistently contributed as a two-way playmaker for DC, tallying 251 O-points and 301 D-points in three regular seasons. Whether Boston features Edmonds on offense or defense remains to be seen, but the East Division Championship rematch in Week 1 is going to be worth watching regardless. While New York has fallen from the top, Boston has seized the East despite constant pressure and franchise momentum from DC. Adding another versatile star like Edmonds—and taking him away from the competition—paints an even larger target on the backs of the reigning champs, setting the East Division up for more must-watch action in 2026.
Alex Atkins (NY) vs. COL
One of the earlier blockbuster signings of the offseason, former Colorado star and First Team All-UFA selection Alex Atkins is taking his talents to New York for 2026. The timing works out nicely with the second ever Colorado vs. New York interdivisional matchup set for May 16; the two teams last met in 2023, when the Empire came away with a 19-15 victory in Colorado. The amount of talk going back-and-forth throughout that first game—particulary from Atkins and now-teammate Ben Jagt—sets up a highly anticipated rematch between two teams that have fallen from the limelight in their respective divisions. Still possessing plenty of star power, New York will look to build some early-season momentum with their new rotations, while the newly re-branded Colorado Apex will be searching for an identity following the losses of guys like Atkins and Tobias Brooks (now back with Carolina). Atkins is sure to put on a show in this one, and I could see him trading blows with podcast co-host Quinn Finer still holding down the fort for Colorado.
New York Empire vs. Chicago Union (2022 Championship rematch)
Less of a player-specific revenge game—for now at least, still lots of offseason to go—and more of a team one; New York and Chicago will face off on July 10 for the first time since the 2022 Championship Game. Even though both teams should feature very different rosters in 2026, there will certainly be some players on both sides that remember that game, particularly how back-and-forth it felt before the Empire pulled away in the fourth. Depending on how the rosters come together in the coming weeks and how their lineups develop throughout the season, this game could feature two teams with Championship Weekend aspirations and have massive playoff implications two weeks before the start of the postseason.
Boston Glory vs. Minnesota Wind Chill (2025 Championship rematch)
Last year’s championship was a great one, so why not do it again? Boston took home their first UFA trophy after defeating the 2024 champs 17-15 in Madison this past August, with MVP Tobe Decraene leading the way alongside four-time UFA champion Jeff Babbitt. Now, both teams have retooled with big offseason additions. In addition to Nate De Morgan, Minnesota has brought in 2024 Defensive Player of the Year Lukas Ambrose and 2025 All Defense selection Noah Coolman to an already dominant D-line rotation, while Boston’s signing of Thomas Edmonds gives them a queen piece to deploy however they see fit. On July 11, the two contenders will rematch in Minnesota, where the Sea Foam Stadium fans could be the difference makers in this heavyweight battle. Expect one of the grittier games we’ll see all season—both teams excel at limiting their opponents to under 20 points—and it could very well be a preview of another Championship Weekend meeting in August.
