The Arizona Rattlers are the 2026 IFL National Champions pic.twitter.com/OJ6pVNg7fB
— Matthew Jacobson (@TheAZSportsGuy) August 17, 2026
The Arizona Rattlers capped their 14-5 season winning their eighth IFL National Championship, defeating the Green Bay Blizzard 62-51 in front of a Rattler-heavy crowd Sunday evening at the Tucson Arena.
The turnout of 4,900 and atmosphere met the approval of Tucson Sugar Skulls co-owner Ali Farhang, who was instrumental in having the IFL bring its title game to this city. Next year will be the last of a three-year arrangement between Tucson and the IFL to stage the championship game at the Tucson Arena.
“Great game and a win for the City of Tucson!” Farhang wrote in a social media post.
To wit: the Sugar Skulls did this year what the Blizzard couldn’t do in Tucson — beat the Rattlers.
Congratulations to the @IndooFL 2026 Champions @ArizonaRattlers … great game and a win for the City of Tucson! pic.twitter.com/YyrLhKwVjG
— Ali Farhang (@alibomaye32) August 17, 2026
Arizona quarterback Max Meylor was named the MVP, completing 12 of 18 passes for 103 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions, while rushing for 90 yards and two touchdowns.
Meylor found Arland Bruce IV on a 6-yard pass, extending the lead to 10 with over five minutes left.
Green Bay scored one more time on a 4-yard run from Trevon Alexander; the two-point attempt to bring Blizzard within two was no good, keeping the Rattlers’ lead at four.
Before time ran out, Meylor scored on a quarterback keeper from two yards.
It was a justifying moment for Meylor, who as the league’s MVP for Green Bay last year, came 1 yard short as time expired in a 64-61 loss to the Vegas Knight Hawks in the IFL National Championship in Tucson.
“A lot of emotions,” Meylor told the Arizona Republic. “I really feel for Green Bay. I had no idea it was going to come to this. You know what, I lost the college national championship. I lost last year in the (IFL) national championship. I finally got the monkey off my back.”
Green Bay, which also finished 14-5, jumped to a two-point lead with a deuce and stopped Arizona’s offense on its opening drive.
— Arizona Rattlers (@ArizonaRattlers) August 17, 2026
Green Bay added to its lead with an unbelievable catch from wide receiver Isaac Ross. The initial pass by quarterback and 2026 IFL MVP Liam Thompson was tipped and deflected off Alexander’s hands and leg, forcing Ross to dive for the grab and putting Green Bay up 9-0.
Arizona responded with a 3-yard outside run by running back Ron Brown Jr., bringing the Rattlers within two, entering the second quarter.
The Blizzard opened up the second quarter with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Alexander, stretching the lead.
The shootout in the second quarter continued with a 2-yard touchdown pass from Meylor to Bruce, cutting the deficit to two.
Arizona tied the game on the kickoff with a deuce from kicker Matt Cook.
With a minute left in the half, Thompson pitched to running back Demilon Brown for another score.
Now it was the Rattlers’ turn for some last-minute magic. Meylor also pitched the ball to running back Kymani Clarke, tying the game up 23 a piece going into halftime.
“Max was kind of made out to be a bad guy coming here through free agency,” Arizona coach Kevin Guy told the Republic. “I hated that for him. He played his ass off for three years for Green Bay. I was so glad and happy for him that it paid off coming to the Rattlers. He was the MVP today.”
The shootout continued into the second half with Cook starting with a deuce.
Alexander put Blizzard back in front, scoring from 10 yards out; kicker Andrew Mevis added on two more points with a deuce.
Midway through the third, Arizona wide receiver Jayden Horace made a one-handed grab, tying the game up once again.
Momentum started swinging into Arizona’s favor after capitalizing on one of the few defensive stops on the night with another 10-yard run from Clarke, who bobbled the initial pitch before finding his way into the end zone. Giving the Rattlers the 39-32 lead to start the fourth quarter.
Thompson showed why he was named the IFL MVP in the first play of the fourth quarter by keeping the ball and running it in from 30 yards, tying the game up once more.
Meylor responded with a touchdown run on his own, scrambling for 11 yards, putting the Rattlers in front, setting up a nail-biting final 12 minutes.
Green Bay looked to tie the game up again with a 19-yard pass from Thompson to running back Demilon Brown. However, a high snap on the extra point led to Arizona taking it all the way for two points, swinging the game even more into the Rattlers’ favor.
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