The first week of the Arena Football One (AF1) 2026 season is in the books, and the AF1 Fan Zone Weekly Power Rankings show a league in immediate flux. While the top remains frozen, the middle of the pack has been completely reshuffled following a weekend of defensive battles and statement wins.
The Top Tier: Holding Steady
#1 Albany Firebirds: The defending champs proved they are still the “standard” with a commanding 50-23 win over Minnesota. Despite losing MVP QB Sam Castronova, Joshua Kulka’s 5-TD performance kept Albany firmly at the top.
#2 Nashville Kats: Nashville holds the #2 spot despite a Week 1 bye. They remain the primary threat to Albany’s throne as they prepare for their season debut.
#3 Kentucky Barrels: The Barrels validated their preseason hype with a gritty win over Michigan. Their defense, led by Jalen Wilson (11 tackles), looks like the real deal.
Rank
Team
Previous
Change
1
Albany Firebirds
1
No Change
2
Nashville Kats
2
No Change
3
Kentucky Barrels
3
No Change
4
Michigan Arsenal
8
+2
4
Oregon Lightning
6
+4
6
Oceanside Bombers
9
+3
7
Minnesota Monsters
5
-2
8
Beaumont Renegades
7
-1
9
Washington Wolfpack
4
-5
The Biggest Risers
Oregon Lightning (#8 -> #4): The biggest story of the week. Oregon surged four spots after a dominant defensive showing against Washington. Forced turnovers and a goal-line stand helped them secure a 33-16 road win and a share of the #4 spot.
Oceanside Bombers (#9 -> #6): Previously the basement dwellers, the Bombers climbed three spots after taking down Beaumont. They’ve moved from “unknown expansion” to a legitimate middle-tier threat.
The Biggest Fallers
Washington Wolfpack (#4 -> #9): It was a rough homecoming for the Wolfpack. After entering the season with top-tier aspirations, offensive struggles and five turnovers in their loss to Oregon sent them tumbling all the way to the bottom of the rankings.
Minnesota Monsters (#5 -> #7): Facing Albany in Week 1 is a tall order for any team. While they showed flashes, the 27-point loss caused a slight dip in their standing.
AF1 Fan Zone 