Orlando Storm Game #1
Visiting Team: Columbus Aviators (0-0)
Home Team: Orlando Storm (0-0)
Game Location: Inter&Co Stadium, Orlando, Florida
Date and Time: Sunday, March 29th, 8 pm EDT
Betting Lines: Columbus Aviators +1.5, Orlando Storm -1.5, O/U 41.5
After a long off-season the third season of the UFL in 2026 is kicking off this weekend. Many things have changed with new brands, new markets, and new rules variations. However, the UFL is becoming the most sustained and successful professional spring football league in modern alternative football history.
Two of the teams that were affected by the UFL rebrand efforts were the San Antonio Brahmas who are now the Orlando Storm, and the Michigan Panthers who are now the Columbus Aviators. While both teams are related to the 2025 edition of both teams the rosters are different and the coaching staff for each team is different. Therefore this is essentially an early matchup between two expansion teams in the UFL.
What has changed is that the Orlando Storm have very few carryovers from the 1-9 San Antonio Brahmas, but the players that they kept are impact players including running back JaShaun Corbin and defensive lineman Isaiah Buggs. Storm head coach is former Saint Louis Battlehawks head coach Anthony Becht, and Becht brought many of his former Battlehawks players to the Orlando roster. Becht has built a reputation for building a Battlehawks franchise that used an efficient pro-style offense, and a solid defense led by defensive coordinator Donnie Abraham.
The Columbus Aviators are the 2026 incarnation of the Michigan Panthers which reached the UFL championship game in 2025. However, while the Aviators made the decision to retain many of the players from the Panthers roster they did make a change at head coach hiring former NFL wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. as their new head coach. In addition to a new head coach, Ginn is expected to implement an offense that is more dependent on the passing attack compared to the Panthers offense the last few seasons.
History starts here ?
Be there for our first-ever game and witness DJ Khaled live at halftime. Get your tickets now!
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?: https://t.co/UexKud6xR6 pic.twitter.com/jlQqtAWt3i— Orlando Storm (@UFLStorm) March 26, 2026
Orlando Storm Key to Victory #1: Establish QB Jack Plummer Early
The biggest change for Anthony Becht's offense in 2026 will be how well his quarterback room adjusts to managing his offensive game plan. During the week, many expected former Cleveland Browns quarterback Dorain Thompson-Robinson to start in Game 1 due to his dual-threat ability. However, all indications are now that quarterback Jack Plummer will get the first start for the Storm, and that means that the Storm will be working to establish their running game and utilize Plummer's passing ability to produce explosive plays using play-action passing schemes.
Orlando Storm Key to Victory #2: Maximize Coaching Experience Advantage
The contrast between Becht's coaching experience compared to Ginn's will be a big factor in who wins this game. Becht has three seasons of experience of installing and implementing an effective offense, defense, and special teams units despite a short training camp. In addition, Becht will have a significant advantage when it comes to making adjustments and key in-game decisions in specific situations that are unique to the UFL including the tiered extra point system and the 4-point field goal.
Orlando Storm Key to Victory #3: Control the Trenches
During the process of making changes to rosters due to the emergence of the new UFL teams and markets, the Storm made the intentional decision to use much of their roster capital to pick up veteran offensive linemen. In addition, Storm offensive line coach Marc Columbo comes to Orlando with direct experience and knowledge Becht's offensive scheme and game planning philosophy. If the Storm can come out and control the line of scrimmage in the run game, and neutralize Aviators pass rushers Kenny Willekes and Patrick Jenkins.
Orlando Storm Key to Victory #4: Shutdown Aviators RB Toa Taua
Due to a lack of organized pre-season games UFL teams tend to struggle with chemistry on the offensive side of the ball early in the season. However, the Michigan Panthers and Becht with the Battlehawks avoided those early-season struggles by leaning hard on their running game. While the Aviators have inherited Panthers running back Toa Taua, they are also expected to implement a more pass-heavy offense led by veteran UFL quarterback Jalen McClendon. If the Storm can shutdown the Aviators running game early, then they could expose the Aviators new offensive philosophy and lack of chemistry as a team.
Orlando Storm Key to Victory #5: Win on Special Teams
The X-factor in this Week 1 matchup could be special teams with Aviators head coach Ted Ginn Jr. having expertise from his playing experience as kick and punt returner during his NFL career. In addition, the UFL has established a reputation for having outstanding kickers with many UFL kickers moving onto the NFL. While a game-breaking special teams play is not guaranteed in this game, a big special teams mistake could determine the outcome of this matchup.
Prediction: Orlando Storm 25, Columbus Aviators 20
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