ARLINGTON, TX – October 28, 2026 – Utah has long been home to some of college football’s most accomplished programs. In 2028, the state will take another step in its football history when the United Football League arrives, bringing professional spring football to a market rich in tradition and talent.
On September 23, 2026, the UFL announced plans to expand to 10 teams in 2028, adding franchises in Utah and Oklahoma. The historic expansion will introduce professional spring football to two states with deep football roots and passionate fan bases.
Utah’s new franchise is expected to play at America First Field in Sandy, home to Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer and the Utah Royals of the National Women’s Soccer League. The 20,000-plus-seat venue has hosted major sporting events, including the 2009 MLS All-Star Game and international soccer competitions. Its location in the Salt Lake Valley places it roughly 13 to 15 miles from Salt Lake City, the state capital.
The stadium also sits between two of the region’s premier college football programs. The University of Utah is approximately 15 miles north, while Brigham Young University is about 31 miles south. The nearby Utah Jazz add another major professional sports presence to the region.
Football’s roots in Utah stretch back more than a century. The University of Utah played its first football season in 1892, including a matchup against Utah Agricultural College, now Utah State University. BYU began playing football in the 1890s, though its early program was short-lived before returning in 1919 and becoming a university-sanctioned sport in 1922.
Utah football reached new heights under head coach Ike Armstrong, who led the Utes from 1925 through 1949. Armstrong compiled a 141-55-15 record and helped establish the program as a regional powerhouse. In 1939, Utah defeated New Mexico 26-0 in the Sun Bowl, securing a landmark postseason victory.
As the decades passed, Utah and BYU continued to develop talent capable of competing at the highest level of professional football. Utah quarterback Lee Grosscup became a notable early example when the New York Giants selected him 10th overall in the 1959 NFL Draft.
BYU would go on to produce some of the sport’s most recognizable names, including quarterbacks Jim McMahon and Steve Young. Young, who starred at BYU before embarking on a Hall of Fame NFL career, earned induction into both the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
That tradition of excellence continues today. In the October 25 AP Top 25 poll, Utah climbed to No. 6 nationally, while BYU landed at No. 8. Both programs remain in the national championship conversation, underscoring the level of football already present in the state ahead of the UFL’s arrival.
Despite that college football pedigree, Utah has had limited experience with professional football. The Utah Blaze competed in the Arena Football League from 2006 through 2013, while the Salt Lake Stallions played in the Alliance of American Football in 2019 before the league ceased operations.
Neither franchise established a lasting professional football presence in the state. The UFL now has an opportunity to build on Utah’s existing football culture and introduce a new generation of fans to the professional game.
With two nationally ranked college programs, a history of producing NFL talent and a growing sports landscape, Utah offers a compelling setting for the league’s next chapter. When the UFL expands to 10 teams in 2028, the state will gain more than a new franchise, it will become part of the league’s historic expansion.