With 16 teams divided into four divisions, it’ll give us a strong eight-game slate to enjoy.

It all kicks off with six games on Saturday. The first kickoff will be Saturday, April 27th, at 7:30 p.m. ET with the Louisiana Voodoo taking on the Philadelphia Soul. Two games are capping off the weekend on Sunday. (All times Eastern)

It’s Week 1 of a new league, so information is still a little limited, but Week 1 is where we’ll learn the most about each of these teams. We’ve gotten to know the players leading up to the season, but who will put it all together, and which teams will stand out among the crowd? Let’s take a look at the matchups and some key players to keep an eye on.

Orlando Predators at Albany Firebirds - Saturday 8:00 PM

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This one could be the game of the week. These two teams could very well advance deep into the Arena Football playoffs.

A talent-laden Albany Firebirds team will try to defend MVP Arena. They’ll be led by former Arena League MVP and Arenabowl XXX champion wide receiver Darius Prince.

The visiting Predators are led by a veteran. Quarterback Drew Powell has eight years of indoor football experience and has three times won the Indoor Football League MVP award.

Wichita Regulators at Billings Outlaws - Saturday 8:00 PM

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The Billings Outlaws are ready for the challenge of the season. Head Coach Cedric Walker admitted it’ll be a little tough to prepare for the Regulators, not knowing exactly what they’ll be seeing. These are the challenges of a new league. Coach Walker said his team will be ready to go for Saturday’s matchup. “Attention to detail and focus on us,” Walker said about their preparation.

The Regulators will be led by Bryce “Xavier” Holiday. The dual-threat quarterback from Miami, Florida, has a strong pocket presence, quick release, and quick decision-making. His athletic ability helps extend plays. He’ll be a player to watch every snap that Wichita takes.

Minnesota Myth at Nashville Kats - Saturday 8:30 PM

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After 16 seasons away, the Nashville Kats return, and the city is ready to welcome them. Jeff Fisher was heavily involved in bringing the Kats back, and Eli Gold will be on the local radio call. The Kats will be led by quarterback Ramone Atkins, who threw for 37 touchdowns and ran for 692 yards last season and earned Rookie of the Year honors in the Indoor Football League in 2023.

The Myth have a lot of local flavor. Head Coach Rickey Foggie started for the Minnesota Golden Gophers from 1984-87. The Myth’s starting quarterback also played for the Gophers. The Myth will roll with Demry Croft, who started for the Golden Gophers in 2017.

Iowa Rampage at Rapid City Marshals - Saturday 8:30 PM

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Both of these teams are newer to the indoor football game, with Rapid City having two seasons in the Champions Indoor Football League, while the Iowa Rampage are a completely new expansion franchise.

What Iowa lacks in organization existence, they make up for in experience with their coaching staff. Head Coach Tyus Jackson, along with other former players on his staff, has nine years of experience playing indoor football.

The Marshals are a little less experienced, but their biggest advantage may be their home field advantage. They’ve done a great job getting out in the community and building excitement, along with a great social presence. Expect a packed house at the Summit Arena at The Monument.

Both teams are led by quarterbacks with previous indoor football experience—Rakeem Cato for the Rampage, who also spent time in the Canadian Football League. The Marshals will be led by Jack Sheehan who played for the IFL’s Green Bay Blizzard.

Washington Wolfpack at Oregon Blackbears - Saturday 9:30 PM

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The battle of the Northwest will take place at the Oregon State Fairgrounds Pavilion. Both of these teams are brand-new upstarts for the 2024 season, and nobody is quite sure what to expect. The Wolfpack are led by fiery Heach Coach J.R. Wells, who has seven years of professional indoor experience.

The Wolfpack’s biggest advantage may just be the Head Coach himself. Well told the Everett Herald, “We’re going down there to smack them in the face,” Washington head coach JR Wells said. “There ain’t no question about that. We’re going down there to beat the brakes off of them and let them know that they don’t belong on the same field as us.”

The Blackbears are led by Head Coach Chuck Jones. A former Kansas Jayhawks player, Jones spent 11 seasons playing for various indoor football teams. The Blackbears may have struck gold with quarterback Connor Kaegi. The 6-7 quarterback from Ashland, Oregon, has found success in The Spring League and most recently for the Berlin Rebel of the German Football League.

Georgia Force at West Texas Desert Hawks - Sunday 1:00 PM

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The West Texas Desert Hawks are a team that should be able to compete for the championship in 2024. Led by Head Coach Chris Siegfried, this team will be ready to play on Sunday. It’s still yet to be seen which of their three quarterbacks is the starter, but they have three great choices. “Our roster is loaded at every position,” Bane said. “We have a lot of good guys that can play. It’s very competitive. We’re trying to get the small details right and put together a good team that people out here can be proud of.”

The Georgia Force started behind the 8-ball but still boasts some of the best weapons in the league. Demarcus Sweat, out of the University of Kentucky, is lightning fast while also standing 6-3. Joseph Spann and Detetris Davis also bring explosive playmaking to this Force team.

Southwest Kansas Storm at Salina Liberty - Sunday 6:00 PM

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This should be a strong game to end the first week of the AFL's return. Charles McCollum Jr. just signed on with the Liberty to play quarterback. McCullum is the all-time leading passer in IFL history. He’s a two-time champion and three-time MVP. He’ll be a guy to keep an eye on.

The Southwest Kansas Storm is one of those teams with two strong quarterbacks, Caden Walters and Matt Struck. Led by Head Coach Gary Thomas, this team has one advantage most teams don’t have. Thomas was the Head Coach at Dodge City Community College and now will coach this team, which is loaded with players he’s already coached and players who’ve played together.