What Is 2018 Indoor Football League season

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2018 Indoor Football League (IFL) season ran from March 10 to July 14, featuring 12 teams. The Arizona Rattlers defeated the Iowa Barnstormers 48–42 in the United Bowl to claim their first IFL championship.

Key Facts

The 2018 IFL season began on March 10 and concluded with United Bowl X on July 14.
Twelve teams competed in the 2018 IFL season across two conferences: United and Intense.
Arizona Rattlers won their first IFL title by defeating Iowa Barnstormers 48–42 in United Bowl X.
Quarterback Drew Powell of the Arizona Rattlers was named United Bowl MVP.
The regular season consisted of a 14-game schedule for each team.

Overview

The 2018 Indoor Football League season marked the ninth year of the modern IFL and featured a competitive 12-team lineup. The season began on March 10 and concluded with United Bowl X on July 14, where the Arizona Rattlers captured their first IFL championship by defeating the Iowa Barnstormers 48–42.

The league operated under a two-conference structure—United and Intense—each contributing six teams. The postseason format included divisional playoffs leading to a final championship game, showcasing high-scoring action and regional rivalries across the central and western United States.

March 10, 2018 marked the official start of the regular season, with multiple games kicking off the campaign across different time zones.
The league featured 12 teams, evenly split between the United Conference and the Intense Conference for balanced scheduling and playoff seeding.
Each team played a 14-game regular season schedule, with games held weekly from March through June to determine playoff eligibility.
The Arizona Rattlers finished the regular season with a 10–4 record, earning them the top seed in the United Conference.
United Bowl X, held on July 14, 2018, drew significant attendance and online viewership, highlighting the growing popularity of indoor football.

How It Works

The IFL operates under a structured season format combining regular-season competition with a single-elimination playoff system culminating in the United Bowl. Each team plays a fixed number of games, with standings determining postseason qualification and seeding.

Regular Season: Each team played 14 games from March to June, facing conference opponents and select inter-conference matchups to balance competition.
Playoff Qualification: The top three teams from each conference advanced to the postseason, ensuring only the most consistent teams reached the playoffs.
Divisional Playoffs: The postseason began with conference semifinals, followed by conference championships to determine United Bowl participants.
United Bowl: The league championship, known as United Bowl X in 2018, featured the winners of each conference in a winner-take-all final.
Game Rules: IFL games follow indoor football rules—eight players per side, 50-yard field, and 20-minute quarters with a 30-second play clock.
MVP Recognition: Arizona’s quarterback Drew Powell earned United Bowl MVP after throwing for 147 yards and four touchdowns in the championship game.

Comparison at a Glance

Below is a comparison of key 2018 IFL teams based on regular-season performance and playoff outcomes:

Team	Record	Conference	Playoff Result	Head Coach
Arizona Rattlers	10–4	United	United Bowl Champions	Kevin Guy
Iowa Barnstormers	11–3	Intense	United Bowl Runner-Up	Vic Hebert
Nebraska Danger	9–5	Intense	Conference Finalist	Jeremiah Rice
Massachusetts Pirates	10–4	Intense	Conference Finalist	Slade Nagle
Arizona Bandits	5–9	United	Did not qualify	Adam Glick

The table highlights how regular-season consistency translated into playoff success. Despite finishing with the best record, Iowa fell short in the final, while Arizona’s balanced offense and defense proved decisive in the championship game.

Why It Matters

The 2018 IFL season was pivotal for the league’s growth, showcasing increased competitiveness and national exposure through streaming partnerships and regional fan engagement. The season helped solidify the IFL as a premier developmental league for indoor and arena football talent.

The Arizona Rattlers’ championship win marked a successful transition from the Arena Football League to the IFL, validating their competitive depth.
Drew Powell’s MVP performance reinforced the importance of dual-threat quarterbacks in indoor football’s fast-paced system.
The league’s attendance averages increased by 8% over 2017, indicating growing regional support for IFL franchises.
Streaming deals with ESPN3 and YouTube expanded the league’s reach beyond local markets, boosting digital viewership.
The season demonstrated the viability of smaller-market teams like Nebraska and Massachusetts in sustaining professional football operations.
United Bowl X served as a marketing milestone, drawing over 10,000 fans and generating national media coverage.

Overall, the 2018 season strengthened the IFL’s reputation as a stable, competitive alternative to larger indoor leagues, setting the stage for future expansion and player development.