The 2027 National Arena League schedule is out, and while every week brings its share of high scoring chaos, a handful of dates already jump off the page. Old rivalries, brand new rivalries, a pair of expansion franchises, and a championship rematch: here are the five NAL games you need to circle on your calendar for this upcoming season.

1. Week 2 (March 20): Sioux City Bandits @ Omaha Beef

Few matchups in the arena game carry the history this one does. The Sioux City Bandits and Omaha Beef have one of the oldest active rivalries in arena football, and both enter 2027 looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2026.

The Beef barely squeaked into the playoffs last year, then turned around and bounced the Bandits in the first round—adding a fresh layer of bad blood to a long running feud. Their run ended a week later in the semifinals, where the eventual champion #3 Southwest Kansas Storm handled them by 20 points.

Both franchises are rebuilding this offseason, and that's exactly what makes this early season meeting so intriguing. Week 2 in Omaha will be one of the first real measuring sticks for how far each team has come since last spring. And in a rivalry like this, nobody wants to start the year with a loss to the other guys.

2. Week 3 (March 28): Louisiana Rouxgaroux @ Dallas Apex

If Bandits–Beef is the NAL's elder statesman, this is the league's newest rivalry—and it's already got some built in heat. Just two and a half hours separate these two teams, close enough that the franchises held a joint tryout this offseason. Players who competed side by side for a roster spot will now be lining up across from each other on the turf.

The Rouxgaroux are coming off a rough 2026, winning just one game. But this is a very different-looking organization heading into 2027. Head coach Fred Shaw and general manager Steve Walters are steering the ship, and they've landed a marquee name under center in TAL MVP quarterback Timmy McClain.

The Dallas Apex, meanwhile, are one of two expansion teams joining the NAL in 2027. With no track record to lean on, this early season home date is the perfect chance for the new club to make a statement. Both teams have plenty to prove, and this will be an early opportunity to show what they've got.

3. Week 4 (April 3): Dallas Apex @ #23 Wheeling Miners

One week later, the Apex hit the road for the battle of the 2027 expansion teams.

The #23 Wheeling Miners are the more familiar face of the two. The franchise spent the 2025 season in the NAL and arrives fresh off a championship game appearance in the AAL last year, so it brings both league experience and recent playoff pedigree.

The Apex are brand new, backed by the Wise family, and there is some notable history there. Washington Commanders defensive lineman Deatrich Wise, Jr. was a part owner of the NAL expansion Beaumont Renegades in 2025: a team that won the championship in its very first season. Can lightning strike twice? This head-to-head with the more established Miners will be one of the first real indicators of whether the Apex can chase that same kind of debut year success.

4. Week 5 (April 10): Colorado Spartans @ #20 Pueblo Punishers

This was the NAL's newest rivalries last season, and it didn't take long to catch fire. Every meeting between the Spartans and Punishers turned into must watch TV.

The Punishers reached the semifinals in 2026 by way of a first-round bye before falling to the more established #15 Salina Liberty. Now they're rebuilding after losing NAL MVP quarterback Josh Hollins, and replacing that kind of production is the biggest question hanging over the team.

The Spartans were competitive all season and came agonizingly close to a deeper run, losing to the Liberty in the first round of the playoffs by just two points. Colorado will be looking to get over the hump in 2027, and taking down its in state rival on the road would be a strong place to start.

5. Week 11 (May 22): #3 Southwest Kansas Storm @ #15 Salina Liberty

We saved the best for last: a championship rematch between two teams with deep history.

The Storm and Liberty share one of the most seasoned in state rivalries in arena football, and the stakes have never been higher. The Storm enter 2027 as defending champions, looking to hold onto their title. The Liberty enter looking to dethrone them after their four point loss in the championship a season ago.

This will be the second meeting between the two in 2027, and coming this late in the season, it likely will carry serious playoff-seeding implications. By Week 11, both teams will know exactly what's on the line, and so will everyone watching.

Mark Your Calendars

From long running feuds to rivalries barely a year old, this season’s NAL slate is loaded with storylines. These five games should tell us a lot about who's for real and who's still got work to do on the road to the 2027 National Bowl.