Albany needed one yard. Salina needed one stop. Green Bay had a chance to tie in the fourth quarter before an extra point went the other way. Each team was close enough to see how a championship might have gone differently, and each left the arena with a different problem to solve.

Here’s where five 2026 finalists fell short, what they’ve done this offseason and what still needs to come together before 2027.

#5 Green Bay Blizzard | IFL

Lost 62 to 51 to the #2 Arizona Rattlers

Green Bay scored 51 points and got five total touchdowns from league MVP Liam Thompson. The game turned when the Blizzard had a chance to tie in the fourth quarter. A botched snap on the extra point turned into two points for Arizona, and the Rattlers followed it with a touchdown on their next possession. In two possessions, Green Bay went from lining up for a tie to needing multiple scores.

New head coach and general manager Levi Nelson takes over a team coming off consecutive trips to the IFL title game. Green Bay has added offensive lineman Caleb Williams and brought in backfield options including Michel Dukes Jr. and Jarrod Ware Jr. Those moves give Nelson more ways to build the offense. The championship exposed a separate need. Green Bay has to execute the snap, hold and kick cleanly under pressure, then get off the field when its defense goes right back out. A better fourth quarter starts with making those two parts of the team dependable.

#7 Albany Firebirds | AF1

Lost 59 to 53 to the #1 Nashville Kats

Roderick Perry’s stop of Sam Castranova from the 1 yard line ended the game. The matchup that put Albany in that position was Nashville quarterback Tyler Kulka against the Firebirds’ pass defense. Kulka threw four of his seven touchdown passes in the fourth quarter, including the winning touchdown from 25 yards out to Malik Honeycutt with 55 seconds left. Castranova threw six touchdowns of his own and still needed one more drive.

Albany added receivers Tyrese Chambers and Cameron Alves, giving the offense more options. The bigger question coming out of the Arena Crown is whether the Firebirds can disrupt a quarterback who’s already found his rhythm. A rush that forces Kulka off his first read or a secondary that takes away the deep throw buys Albany something another scoring drive can’t always provide. It can make the other team settle for less when time is running out.

#15 Salina Liberty | NAL

Lost 42 to 38 to the #3 Southwest Kansas Storm

Salina erased a 35 to 23 deficit and took a 38 to 35 lead. The Liberty had a chance to run down the clock on their next drive, but two false starts helped stall it and a missed field goal gave Southwest Kansas the ball back. Trae Self found Mason Pierce for the winning touchdown with two seconds left. The two possessions told the story. Salina had a chance to close the game with the ball, then had to defend the goal line when that chance slipped away.

Salina has secured continuity with head coach Heron O’Neal. The roster question is how the Liberty will handle those same closing situations in 2027. An offense that stays on schedule when the defense expects the run can buy another first down and keep the clock moving. On defense, the title game showed the value of having a coverage group that can defend a quick throw at the goal line. Both will be worth watching when Salina visits the Storm on April 3.

#23 Wheeling Miners | AAL finalist, now in the NAL

Lost 49 to 46 to the #4 Columbus Lions

Wheeling put up 46 points against a Columbus team that finished unbeaten. The margin of three points puts the focus on how often Wheeling can steal an extra possession against a top offense. A defensive stop in a game played in the high 40s can give the offense a chance to turn a game where the teams trade scores into one it controls.

The Miners have added defensive back Arnell Anderson and running back Nigel Sealey, and their 2027 schedule is set for a return to the NAL. Anderson gives them another coverage option as they prepare for a different group of quarterbacks and receivers. The question is how quickly that secondary comes together. Wheeling already showed it could score enough to stay in a championship game. An extra stop is where the Miners can give their offense more room to work.

#12 Arkansas Diamonds | TAL finalist, now in the IFL

Lost 52 to 30 to the #6 St. Joseph Goats

Arkansas scored 59 in its semifinal win over Monroe and 30 against St. Joseph a week later. The Goats reached 52, so the Diamonds needed to keep drives alive just to stay within reach. The final score establishes how wide the gap was. The offseason question is whether Arkansas can build an offense that keeps producing when the matchup gets tougher.

The Diamonds will play at Barton Coliseum in Little Rock as an IFL team in 2027. They’ve brought back linebacker Taylor Hunt, giving the defense a familiar piece through the transition. The offensive front will be one of the first units to watch. If Arkansas can handle IFL pressure without giving away drives to sacks or penalties, it’ll have a better chance to keep games close while the rest of the roster adjusts to a new league.