The United Football League (UFL) is set to bring former Ohio State Buckeyes to Columbus, Ohio, with a unique plan to ensure their professional football careers continue in the city where they once excelled. The UFL, ranked as the second-best professional football league in America, has announced a significant expansion by relocating one of its teams, the Columbus Aviators, to the capital city for the 2026 season. This move is a strategic step to attract and showcase former Buckeyes, providing them with a platform to continue their football careers.
Mike Repole, a key figure in the league's business operations and a co-owner of the UFL, has made a bold statement: "Every player that comes out of that Ohio State program, if they want to continue playing football (in the UFL), they'll be playing here." This statement highlights the UFL's commitment to giving former Buckeyes a chance to shine in their home city.
The UFL's approach is twofold. Firstly, they will prioritize the Columbus Aviators in selecting Ohio State players who are interested in joining the league. This ensures that former Buckeyes have a direct opportunity to play for their hometown team. Secondly, the league's draft and free agency system will allow each of its eight teams to have the first pick of players from colleges within a 100-mile radius of their home cities. This strategy gives the UFL control over player allocation, despite each team having its own general manager.
The UFL's efforts to bring former Buckeyes to Columbus have already borne fruit. Four Ohio State players participated in the UFL's previous season: Damon Arnette, Steele Chambers, Antwuan Jackson, and Rashod Berry. Arnette's success with the Houston Roughnecks, who were recently renamed the Houston Gamblers, led to his promotion to the NFL's Houston Texans, marking his first regular-season game since 2021. The UFL's leaders believe that such success stories demonstrate the league's value and potential.
Repole emphasizes the importance of player development, stating, "Sometimes there's a player that gets drafted and goes to the NFL for a year or two, and for some reason just misses out and has to come back. The development of players is crucial to me because many of these kids play football from eight to 21, 22, and then they just miss it by that much." He aims to create a supportive environment for players, with the current 50 players in the NFL being a testament to the UFL's success. Repole's vision is to expand this number to 500, indicating a significant growth potential.
The UFL's expansion into Columbus also involves collaboration with Ohio State University. Ohio State's athletic director, Ross Bjork, attended the press conference, and UFL CEO Russ Brandon expressed a desire to learn from the university's football success. Brandon stated, "I'm good friends with Ross, and we've had some talks. Ohio State football is king. It's one of the greatest universities on the planet, and it's great football. Coach Day has done an amazing job, Coach (Jim Tressel) before that, just some incredible people have come through here." This partnership is expected to strengthen the UFL's presence in Columbus.
The Columbus Aviators have already recruited one former Ohio State player, Cardale Jones, as their team ambassador. Jones, who played in the XFL, one of the leagues that merged to form the UFL, is excited about the opportunity. He commented, "I think you see the product they've put on the field the last couple of years, having 45-plus guys on the NFL active rosters right now, you can tell it's a product that's continuing to be enhanced. It's a product that's working. It's a product that continues to expand as well."
Repole has ambitious fan engagement goals for the Columbus Aviators. He aims to attract at least 10,000 fans per game in 2026, with expectations of 15,000 fans in 2027 and 20,000 fans per game in the third year. Given the strong football culture in Columbus and Ohio, Repole is confident that the Aviators will find a dedicated fan base.
Despite the skepticism surrounding the market for non-NFL professional football in Columbus, Repole remains confident in the UFL's success. He draws inspiration from his experience as the founder of BodyArmor Sports Drink, which he sold to Coca-Cola for $5.6 billion in 2021. Repole believes that the UFL's unique approach and willingness to adapt will overcome the challenges of past spring football leagues, creating a lasting impact in the city.
