ALT Football: UFL Kings Crowned, CFL Air Raid & More
All Access Football examines the 'Alternate Football' Landscape.
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UFL: KINGS CROWNED UNITED BOWL CHAMPIONS
The Louisville Kings, a first-year franchise led by head coach Chris Redman, won the United Bowl, defeating the DC Defenders 27-20 at Audi Field in Washington, D.C. The back-and-forth affair featured numerous lead changes, as the Kings stormed back to score 14 points in the final quarter.
Louisville running back Ian Wheeler earned game MVP honors, rushing 10 times, for 81 yards, including a momentum-changing 44-yard touchdown scamper. Kings safety Keaton Ellis recorded six tackles, a sack and caused a critical fumble with his ‘peanut punch’ on Defenders running back Xazavian Valladay (111 rushing yards).
The UFL has done a tremendous job placing special teams standouts into the NFL over the past several seasons and the championship game showcased two kickers likely to be playing on Sundays. UFL Special Teams Player of the Year Tanner Brown connected on both of his field goal attempts, including a 57-yarder, while Defenders kicker Matt McCrane nailed a 60-yard field goal.
The United Bowl sold out, drawing 20,000 attendees, while ABC registered 985,000 television viewers—a slight uptick from the 983,000 who tuned in for the 2025 championship. In 2024, the UFL saw 1.596 million viewers for its final game.
Before the United Bowl, it was announced that Orlando Storm quarterback Jack Plummer was named UFL MVP for the 2026 season. As of today’s post, 23 UFL players have signed with NFL teams.
CFL: PASSING ATTACK PLACES QUARTERBACKS IN RARE AIR
Looking to quench your football thirst this weekend? The CFL enters Week 3 with a triple-header on Saturday. At 1:00pm eastern time, the Ottawa Redblacks (0-1) will host the Toronto Argonauts (0-1), followed by the Montreal Alouettes (2-0) visiting the Edmonton Elks (1-0) at 4:00pm eastern time and the Saskatchewan Roughriders (1-0) at the Calgary Stampeders conclude the action with a 7:00pm eastern time kickoff.
On Friday night, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2-1) defeated the BC Lions (0-2) by a score of 41-27 at Hamilton Stadium. Ticats quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell completed 15-of-18 passes, for 285 yards and five touchdowns (tied career-high). Top target Kenny Lawler hauled in four passes for 81 yards and a score, while running back Larry Rountree III added 62 rushing yards on 18 carries.
BC fell in a hole early and provided too little too late, as Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke threw a costly interception during their comeback attempt. Rourke completed 24-of-35 passes, for 291 yards and one touchdown. One bright spot was rookie wideout Nick Cenacle out of Hawaii, who hauled in nine balls, for 120 yards and a pair of touchdowns. BC will host Calgary in Week 4, while Hamilton will be on bye.
Last week in CFL action, four quarterbacks surpassed the 400-yard passing mark, the first time that has occurred in the CFL since Week 6 of the 1995 season; Chad Kelly, Argonauts (445), Davis Alexander, Alouettes (441), Zach Collaros, Blue Bombers (421) and Trevor Harris, Roughriders (417). All CFL games can be watched for free on CFL+.
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CoFL: OHIO VALLEY IRONMEN CEASE OPERATIONS
In a bit of unfortunate news, the Continental Football League announced that the Ohio Valley Ironmen will cease operations effective immediately. CoFL commissioner Mike Kelly released the following statement:
“It is with a heavy heart that the Continental Football League announces that the Ohio Valley Ironmen will cease operations effective immediately. The decision follows the inability of a major team sponsor to fulfill its financial commitment to the club. League and team leadership exhausted every reasonable avenue to preserve the franchise in its current form, and despite a determined effort, those options ultimately came up short.”
On Saturday, the Texas Syndicate (1-1) take on the San Antonio Toros at Wheatley Heights Sports Complex, 7:00pm ET. You can watch all CoFL games free on United Football Media YouTube Channel.