IFL 2026 Week 11: What We Learned
- Trey
- 1 day ago
- 9 min read
Back in the blogging saddle and boy oh BOY do we have some things and stuff to catch up on.
We were live on location at the IFL Cup opening Monday games last week, we had the first IFL Cup champion on Sunday evening, we've got MULTIPLE 2027 market announcements and we've got some teams quietly putting together a nice campaign at the halfway point of the 2026 edition of #TheIndoorWar.
But what did we learn from Chapter 11 of the 2026 IFL season?
Jacksonville Sharks@ Iowa Barnstormers
Result: 60-48 Jacksonville
What We Learned: Jacksonville is turning into a #SneakyWagon & Iowa is showing some good signs of life on offense despite another switch up at QB
The Sharks have quietly put together one of the most impressive resumes in indoor football at around the halfway point of the season:
7-1 record
QB James Cahoon with an MVP conversation-worthy campaign (26:2 TD to INT ratio)
Only loss is to the Vegas Knight Hawks
They've taken care of business at every turn and even stymied my picks on numerous occasions this season, which should be a recognized statistic in and of itself (I hope you're happy, Anthony)
This game was no exception, as they went into Iowa as heavy favorites and controlled the game from start to finish. They scored a touchdown every time they touched the ball and did it through air and on the ground. with Cahoon account for 4 passing TD & RB Jimmie Robinson adding 3 TDs on the ground. WRs Marquel Wade & Jaedon Stoshak combining for 5 receiving TDs and this offense was about efficient as you could hope for. The Green Bay Blizzard have been the talk of the town in the East, but the Sharks are neck and neck with them while holding an undefeated conference record over the Blizz's head. Go ahead and circle June 12th & July 26th on the calendars, folks.
For Iowa, this was one of the best games they've played, but unfortunately they just couldn't get any stops on defense to give themselves a fighting chance. QB Clifton McDowell got the start at QB in this one and had some misses early, but got things kicked into gear with 2 TDs through the air and another FOUR on the ground. They were able to distribute the ball to their WRs pretty evenly and were able to march down the field, but they had a B+ game when they need an A+ to knock off the red hot Sharks.
The Barnstormers season is turning out about as expected heading into the season, and their playoff hopes are all but expired at this point. With how the offense has been trending, it feels like they will be able to catch a team or two sleeping in the back half of the season and potentially play spoiler for a rival's playoffs hopes.
But finding those spots on this loaded Eastern conference schedule is going to be tough.
Tulsa Oilers @ San Antonio Gunslingers
Result: 45-30 Tulsa
What We Learned: This is the Tulsa team we expected to see throughout the season so far & San Antonio still can not break through on offense
It's been a tough 2026 season for Tulsa so far, losing 5 games by a TOTAL of 22 points and losing multiple heartbreakers in the final moments of the game. But a game like this one is what I personally expected from this Tulsa team this season and they seem like they are rounding into form.
But at the same time, 2 of their 3 wins have been against this same San Antonio team that has been underperforming in their own way.
For Tulsa's offense, the key to their turnaround and a strong finish in the backhalf of the season is in the backfield with rookie RB Caleb Ramseur. He has stepped up in a BIG way for this offense that badly needed somebody to step up and provide a presence on the ground. They were plugging in WR Mike Carrigan at RB early this season, but Ramseur brings a burst and a more natural RB feel to the offense.
12 carries for 71 yards and some much needed ground support for the TJ Edwards, who was able to get a couple passing TDs and three more on the ground. This Oilers team is much better than their 3-5 record indicates and will be a fun one to watch in the backhalf of the season.
For San Antonio, we're 11 weeks into the season this team still has yet to break the 40 point mark on the scoreboard.
Defensively, they've made the majority of their games low-scoring slugfests and managed to string together some wins against the bottom of the Western conference, but they just continue to struggle against teams that have a pulse and an offensive identity.
They seem to trapped in purgatory at the QB position, where they get just enough out of Fred Payton Jr to stick with him, but not enough to make you go "Hell yeah that's THE GUY". They've switched back and forth between Payton & Joaquin Collazo a couple times this season, but it just further reinforces the adage "if you have two QBs, you have none".
They have a good receiving core that has proven the ability to make plays when they get the ball, but it's just that "get the ball" part that seems to be a struggle for first year coach Jonathan Bane and this offense.
The 4th slot in the Western Conference is very much up for grabs at this point in the season and the Gunslingers probably have the inside track to that spot despite their own shortcomings, but they have to crack 40 soon to get some confidence going to be a threat in the West.
NAZ Wranglers @ San Diego Strike Force
Result: 67-35 San Diego
What We Learned: San Diego is seemingly flying under the radar with a great first half of the season & NAZ is simply outmatched week after week in the West
Much like the Sharks, San Diego has put together one heck of a start to the season and have sneakily positioned themselves in the 2 spot in the Western conference.
The ageless wonder Nate Davis is leading the league in passing TDs and has this offense humming along with nearly 50 PPG. Dallas Daniels was the latest WR to pop off for the Strike Force, hauling in 4 first half TDs en route to the team putting up 51 in the FIRST HALF and piling it on against the Wranglers.
RB Tyrell Green Jr exploded for 100 rushing yards and 2 TDs in this one and gives this offense yet ANOTHER aspect that teams have to account for. You have this aerial attack with a stellar WR room and then you have a RB room that can run it down your throat from the same set.
They are winning the games that need to and are putting themselves in a great position for some absolute bangers to close out the season against Vegas, Jacksonville & Arizona. Makes a certain someone's preseason prediction look pretty good right about now..
For NAZ, they had about as bad of a first half as you can imagine and gift wrapped this game to the Strike Force that certainly didn't need any assistance.
Four first half turnovers against a team as talented as San Diego is a recipe for disaster and resulted in a 37-point first half deficit. QB Anthony Garrett had a slow start and a rough go in this one, as it seemed like he was under pressure every other snap against the San Diego d-line that is oh so good at getting to the QB.
NAZ had some signs of life with a quick TD and then a Pick Six in the first half to cut the deficit to 23, but they were just too far in the deep end to be saved by that point. Fortunately for NAZ, the fourth spot in the West is still within grasp for them thanks to the other teams not really looking great either, so they still have plenty to play for.. but they gotta get it in gear ASAP and need to get Garrett rolling early to take advantage of his skillset on offense.
New Mexico Chupacabras vs Orlando Pirates (IFL Cup Consolation game)
Result: 41-11 Orlando
What We Learned: Despite the 5-3 record, Orlando might be on #FraudWatch & New Mexico needs help everywhere
Orlando got absolutely crushed by Vegas in the first round due to some personnel challenges and onset injuries during the game that enabled the Knight Hawks to just lean on them the entire second half, so this was a big bounce back game for the Pirates against a team they already defeated (rather closely, mind you) to start the season.
This was a prime example of one roster simply overmatching the other that we've seen a handful of times with this first year Chupacabras team, and the Pirates didn't play their best game in this one but ultimately didn't need it.
WR Nyqwan Murray hauled in 7 catches for 103 & 2 TDs, including a scamper on a broken play where QB Paxton DeLaurent turned a disaster into a touchdown due to some quick thinking and a good connection with his wideout room.
But when looking at Orlando at their halfway point, they are sitting at 5-3 on the season, which is solid, but when you dive into their record there is some cause for concern:
In their 5 wins, their opponents have a combined record of 13-29.
In their 3 losses, their opponents have a combined record of 22-3.
They have narrowly won some of those games in the dying moments and the only game they truly controlled from start to finish was the past weekend against an outmatched New Mexico squad.
I'm still not 100% sold on this Pirates team and will need to see more from them to consider them a viable threat in the Eastern Conference.
For New Mexico, this was a tough one to watch. There is clearly some type of disconnect with what they are hoping to achieve and the actual results on the field.
On offense, in their last four games this Chupacabras team has scored:
11, 15, 32, 12
Those numbers would be bad for outdoor football standards, let alone indoor football where the action is much quicker and you see teams scoring those points COMBINED in a single game this season (multiple times).
This New Mexico team is bad-bad and there are rumblings of some internal turmoil that is resulting in players leaving the team or just not being activated for games. There's isn't a lot to hang your hat on (especially with the departure of Ja'Rome Johnson a few weeks back), but at least they are sassy on socials!
Arizona Rattlers @ Vegas Knight Hawks (IFL Cup Championship game)
Result: 48-44 Vegas
What We Learned: Arizona choked away a very winnable game & Vegas flexed their depth and is the team to beat in the IFL
The game we have all been waiting for! The showdown of "Iron" Mike Davis & the Vegas Knight Hawks vs Kevin "Kevin Guy" Guy & the Arizona Rattlers! The Rattlers pounced on a Vegas team that had a slow start and some uncharacteristic mistakes early on in the game, and were out to a 12 point lead heading into halftime with a chance to add more to the tally with a 4th & Goal with less than 5 seconds in the 2nd quarter.
But the Rattlers whiffed with a mistimed snap and got nothing out of the drive, and from that point on the pendulum swung in Vegas' direction and the Knight Hawks didn't look back. The Rattlers got some stops early and even caught Vegas sleeping on a Pick Six by DL Carson Taylor, but a couple of bad Drew Powell INTs in the 3rd quarter swung the door open for Vegas to take back the lead with a 21-0 run.
QB Max Meylor eventually got in the game due to those turnovers and they had a fighting chance to get back into it, but their self inflicted wounds and an injury to the O-line that forced a D-linemen into double duty was too much to overcome. This felt like THE opportunity for Arizona to steal one from Vegas, but they just couldn't get it done in the second half. They have a very favorable schedule the rest of the season that should see them locking in a playoff spot, and it will just be a matter of can they snag a Top 2 seed to get a home playoff game.
For the Knight Hawks, they had some of their own self inflicted wounds (see the above) in the first half, but came out guns-a-blazin' in the second half to go on a 21-0 run to recapture control of the game in the 3rd quarter and never looked back.
This team has a ton of moxy and swagger when things are going their way and have the depth and talent to have a shift the game in their favor in an instant. DB Joe Foucha has been a big time addition to this Vegas secondary and came away with a interception as a part of the big 3rd quarter swing.
QB Jayden De Laura had a shaky first half and did not start the second half, but came in after sitting out a drive looking a little more composed and led the team to 5 straight scoring drives to end the game.
This Vegas team is stacked and seems to continue to get better. They won this IFL Cup with some of their pieces on the shelf (former DROY Bryce Hampton, All-IFL caliber OL Moses Mallory), so that makes what this team has accomplished so far this season even scarier.
They are playing like the best team in the IFL right now and haven't even hit their ceiling yet.
What did YOU think of IFL Week 11? What were your takeaways?
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