2016 Arena Football League Season Preview

(photo credit: stripehype.com)

There will be eight teams competing in the 29th season of the Arena Football League. Since there is only eight teams in the league, each team will compete in the playoffs, regardless of record. There will also be a new Arena Bowl champion in August, as the defending champion San Jose Sabercats folded shortly after the 2015 season ended.

Just about each team seems to be in contention for Arena Bowl XXIX, based on their performances last season, The Philadelphia Soul won 15 games in 2015, the most in franchise history. The Jacksonville Sharks overcame the inevitable and went all the way to Arena Bowl XXVIII after starting the season 1-5. The Arizona Rattlers, who had won the last three Arena Bowls, fell one game short from going to their fifth straight Arena Bowl in 2015.

Then there are teams who have yet to show that they are serious contenders. The LA KISS are going into their third season in the AFL. They have a combined record of 7-29 in their first two seasons. The Cleveland Gladiators finished 8-10 in 2015 after reaching Arena Bowl XXVII in 2014.

With each team automatically in the postseason, anything can happen. We could see an upset in the Arena Bowl as big as the LA KISS' upset win over the San Jose Sabercats in the 2015 regular season. The season kicks off tomorrow, with Arena Bowl scheduled to be played in the beginning of August.