ST. LOUIS, Mo. (Matrix Midwest) - Today, the United Football League announced the schedule for the upcoming 2026 UFL Draft, as well as player and team allocation dates.
The 2026 UFL season, which kicks off on March 27, 2026, will feature eight teams.
Among those teams, the Columbus Aviators, Louisville Kings, and Orlando Storm are making their league debuts.
“As we work toward fulfilling our bold vision for the United Football League that includes new markets, new teams, and new stadiums, presenting a dynamic product on the field remains the cornerstone of this league,” said UFL President & CEO Russ Brandon. “In order to stock our teams with talent – especially our three new teams – and to ensure competitive balance throughout the league, we have laid out an innovative selection process that will lead to an exciting brand of football this spring.”
Before the season starts, the UFL will hold several player allocation events.
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The first will be the Quarterback Draft on January 9. This will be the first phase of the player selection process.
Head Coaches will evaluate all available quarterbacks, and the draft will be held remotely, with all selections being announced on Monday, January 12.
Next, the College Allocation selection will be held on January 10. Head coaches will be permitted to choose up to three players from their allocated colleges.
This will be held virtually, with the selections being announced on Monday, January 12.
Finally, the 2026 UFL Draft will be held from January 13 to 14 at the UFL Headquarters in Arlington, Texas.
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The Players Draft, which will include all players who finished the 2025 UFL season on active rosters and injured reserve, will be held on the 13th.
It will be split up into six positional groups: Offensive Linemen, Running Backs/Tight Ends, Wide Receivers, Defensive Front Seven (Linebackers, Defensive Ends, Defensive Tackles), Defensive Backs and Specialists.
Each team is allowed to include a maximum of 12 players from their 2025 rosters on a reserve list, making them exempt from the draft.
The following day will be the Free Agents Draft.
This will include all players who are not under contract in another league, such as 2025 NFL draft-eligible players, training camp players, UFL showcase attendees, and more.
The Free Agents Draft will be split into positional groups, similarly to the Players Draft; however, it will include an extra pick that can be used on any player regardless of position.
The UFL says the order of the draft will be determined via a virtual lottery, and all rounds will be conducted using a “snake style.”
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