Orlando Storm opens inaugural UFL season with 23–16 win over Ted Ginn Jr.’s Columbus Aviators
Orlando begins UFL play with primetime victory at Inter&Co Stadium
The Orlando Storm opened their inaugural United Football League season with a 23–16 win over the expansion Columbus Aviators on Sunday night, March 29, 2026, at Inter&Co Stadium. The matchup served as a first regular-season game for both franchises and was played in a nationally televised primetime window.
The result put Orlando at 1–0 to start the 2026 campaign, while Columbus began 0–1 in the first head-coaching game for Ted Ginn Jr., the former Ohio State standout and longtime NFL wide receiver. Orlando is led by head coach Anthony Becht, a former NFL tight end and veteran of spring football coaching staffs.
Game context: new teams, new markets, early measuring stick
The Week 1 pairing carried broader significance for the league beyond the standings. Both clubs are part of the UFL’s 2026 expansion footprint, with Orlando playing home games at Inter&Co Stadium and Columbus set to play in Ohio at Historic Crew Stadium. With a short spring season and limited time to build cohesion, opening-week performances can shape roster decisions and identity quickly.
What the final score says—and what it does not
Orlando’s seven-point margin reflected a game in which the Storm generated enough offense to control the evening while limiting Columbus’s ability to fully capitalize on opportunities. For the Aviators, the opener offered an early look at how a first-year staff and newly assembled roster translate to game speed under regular-season rules and officiating.
Attendance for the opener was reported at 11,127 at Inter&Co Stadium, a figure that establishes an early baseline for Orlando’s first season in the market and for how quickly a new franchise can convert curiosity into repeat turnout.
Key takeaways for Orlando and Columbus going into Week 2
Orlando leaves Week 1 with a win and immediate momentum in the club’s first season, while also gaining live-game evidence of what worked in its first regular-season action.
Columbus departs with a narrow loss but also with a clear set of correctable issues typical of new-team debuts, including execution under pressure and finishing drives.
For both teams, the opener is only a starting point in a compressed season where weekly adjustments can swing results quickly.
Final: Orlando Storm 23, Columbus Aviators 16 — the first regular-season win in Storm franchise history and the first UFL regular-season game for the Aviators.
The UFL’s 2026 season continues next week, with both teams moving into the next phase of early-season evaluation: refining game plans, sorting depth roles, and testing whether Week 1 performance trends hold once opponents have film and time to adjust.