The inaugural season for the NORTHERN ELITE FOOTBALL LEAGUE brings teams together from eastern Minnesota & Wisconsin. Eight teams play together split between East / West Divisions.
The Eau Claire Crush & Superior Stampede each go undefeated in league play, setting up what looks like a great Elite Bowl!
After escaping the Predators by 6-points in the Semi Finals, the Superior Stampede take care of the Eau Claire Crush 27-14 to win ELITE BOWL I.
Northern Elite Football League is expanding to 10 teams for its' second season, adding the Fox Valley Force & Northeast Wisconsin Storm. East Metro Phoenix are re-branding to Minnesota Phoenix & Central Wisconsin Panthers to Central Wisconsin Spartans.
The Chippewa Valley Predators & Fox Valley Force each win their respective Divisions, earning a first round bye in the playoffs; as the Predators went through unbeaten.
After comfortable wins in each of their Semi Final games, the Chippewa Valley Predators win their first Elite Bowl, narrowly holding off the Fox Valley Force in a defensive battle 14-7.
Expansion continues for the Northern Elite Football League adding 3 more teams; the St Paul Pioneers, South Metro Dragons, and Rochester Giants. The Northwest Wisconsin Wolverines no longer exist, so the NEFL will have 12 teams. Northeast Wisconsin Storm are re-branding to Kimberly Storm & Superior Stampede to Twin Ports Stampede.
With 3 divisions, the NEFL playoffs moved to a league Seeded playoffs; three teams finished with 7-win seasons, as the Predators look to Repeat as the #1 seed. New members South Metro Dragons (#4) & St Paul Pioneers (#5) each earn a bid in the playoff field.
After dropping two 3-point regular season games, the Pioneers were able to upset the Dragons 17-12 in the first round, followed by knocking off the undefeated champion Chippewa Valley in the Semi Finals 16-14. Setting up Elite Bowl III where the St Paul Pioneers defeated the Fox Valley Force 27-10.
The NEFL remains at 12 teams, but to better balance travel & playoffs, there will be two Conferences & 4 Divisions. Twin Ports Stampede are changing to Lake Superior Rage, while South Metro Dragons are re-branding as Minnesota Dragons.
There is an addition of 2 teams; Menomonie Thunderhawks & River City Rough Riders, taking the place of the Phoenix & Arctic Blast.
Dragons & Force each earn the First Round bye in their Conference. Though the Giants were (3-5), by winning the South Division they get into the playoffs over the (5-3) Rage.
The first round bye had no affect for the Dragons & Force, as they both lose their semi final games; setting up the past two Champions, Pioneers & Predators for the title. St Paul Pioneers win Elite Bowl IV 15-0 over the Predators, becoming the first team to win Back to Back Titles.
The NEFL expands to 13 teams, so decided to go again with 3 divisions. The Minnesota Spartans are added as the 13th team, playing in the Western Division.
Lake Superior Rage went undefeated and won the tie-breaker over undefeated St Paul Pioneers to get the #1 seed. Teams fell in-line from there with MN Spartans claiming the #6 seed.
The St Paul Pioneers go wire-to-wire in dominating fashion in their Three-peat as NEFL Champions.
Northern Elite Football League will play 2013 with 9 teams; losing the Gladiators, Storm, Giants, Dragons, & MN Spartans. North Bank Bulls are a new team, joining the NEFL.
Fox Valley Force earn the #1 seed with only 1-loss; as Pioneers, Predators, & Rage split the Tie-Breaker for 2-4 seeds.
Home Teams prevail in the first round, setting up great matchups the rest of the way. St Paul Pioneers make it 4-in-a-row with a 21-0 shutout over the Lake Superior Rage in Elite Bowl VI.
2014 grows to 10 teams, so will have a Minnesota Division & a Wisconsin Division with the addition of the 2x Champion Minnesota Sting & Twin Cities Titans out of the MPFL.
Central WI Spartans no longer exist.
Minnesota Sting enjoy success their first year in the league, only losing to the Pioneers during regular season play. Chippewa Valley Predators have a losing record, failing to make the playoffs for the first time; ending the longest playoff streak in the NEFL.
Thunderhawks & Bulls pick up their first NEFL playoff wins, with North Bank upsetting the Sting. The St Paul Pioneers would squeak out two 6-point wins to claim their 5th straight Elite Bowl!
Teams remained relatively the same for 2015, with only the loss of the Rage & Crush.
Pioneers went undefeated earning the #1 seed in the West, while the Predators won the tiebreaker over the Rough Riders for the #1 seed & bye in the East. The Thunderhawks made the playoffs over the Force based on tie-breaker as well, with the Bulls & Sting facing-off in a rubber match in the first round.
The season ended the same as the previous 5 years, with the St Paul Pioneers winning Elite Bowl VIII.
NEFL added up-start Minnesota Valley Warriors, along with Mankato Brawlers from the NSFL for the 2016 season.
The Twin Cities Titans did not field a team for 2016.
North Bank Bulls & St Paul Pioneers split the season series, with the Pioneers winning the tiebreaker.
After getting first round byes & winning the Semi Final games, it's the Pioneers vs Predators for the Elite Bowl. This is back-to-back years - 4th time total. Again the St Paul Pioneers come out on-top winning Elite Bowl IX, the Pioneers 7th in a row, (7-0) in NEFL Championship games.
The Fargo Invaders, coming off an undefeated season in the NSFL - their 2nd League Championship - joined the NEFL for the 2017 season, bringing balanced 5-team East/West divisions.
The Brawlers re-branded from Mankato to Minnesota Brawlers, Minnesota Sting re-branded to Battle Creek Sting, North Bank Bulls move to WI and re-brand as Northland Bulls, & Menomonie Thunderhawks move to Hudson Thunderhawks.
The West was tight all season as the Invaders, Warriors & Pioneers each split their season series. Points Against tiebreaker led to 1. Warriors, 2. Pioneers, 3. Invaders
For the first time since 2010 the Elite Bowl will not include the St Paul Pioneers, as the Minneapolis Warriors knock off St Paul in the West Division Championship. The Northland Bulls won the East Division regular season & Championship to make their first Elite Bowl appearance. Ultimately, the Minneapolis Warriors would defeat the Bulls 29-6 to win Elite Bowl X.
Power-house Sioux City Stampede, reigning MFA Champions, joined the NEFL for the 2018 season, along with the Med City Freeze who moved up from 9-man SPFL. With the late losses of Predators & Sting, the Granite City Renegades & Minnesota Vipers were added as well.
Predators, Sting, & Brawlers all ceased operations prior to the 2018 season. With 11-teams, there was an unbalanced split of teams located far West (ND), far East (WI), & far South (IA) thus the NEFL decided not have divisions and based schedule on previous years' strength, while avoiding the longest trips. This led to one of the most balanced seasons yet, with 7 of the 11 teams finishing (5-3) or better.
With a 6-team playoff, there was a 3-way tie for #2 and for #5 seeds, which lead to an update in Tie-Breaking scenarios after the season. Fox Valley Force were initially the #5 seed, but the bracket had them traveling to #4 Fargo, followed by a trip to Sioux City had they won; so they gave up their spot in the playoffs - which moved Northland to #5 and River City into the playoffs at #6.
#2 Minneapolis Warriors were the defending NEFL Champions, while #1 Sioux City Stampede was coming off a MFA Championship. Both teams received a bye and took care of their Semifinal games, to meet in Elite Bowl XI. The Stampede would end on-top with their first NEFL Championship, second championship overall.
For 2019 four of the top 5 teams remain, making every game up for grabs.
Warriors & Rough Riders opted for CAFL, while the Force moved to a more eastern WI/Chicago league in MSFL, and the Freeze moved back to 9-man. The other 3 did not field teams in 2019.
For the 2019 season, the NEFL had a strong showing in non-league games and there were close battles in each of the league games. The NEFL Championship was up for grabs, as any of the four teams had a shot.
Through league play, there were 2 ties in standings; St Paul Pioneers & Sioux City Stampede were both (4-2), while Northland Bulls & Fargo Invaders were both (2-4).
Sioux City Stampede were the defending Champions, coming in with the #2 seed; however, the 4-seed Fargo Invaders won @ #1 St Paul before knocking off the #2 Stampede in Sioux City to win Elite Bowl XII - their first NEFL Title & 3rd as an organization.
2020 NEFL season was canceled due to COVID-19.
The offseason included the addition of the Tri City Northstars, who were MPFL Championships in 2019, 2018, & 2015. Minneapolis Warriors also came back to the NEFL after one season in the CAFL, where they won the 2019 Championship.
Teams that departed were, Northland Bulls & Sioux City Stampede.
2021 returns all four teams that were set to compete in 2020 & adds two more. Tri City Northstars are rebranding to MinnDak Titans
Twin Cities Sabercats are a familiar team, playing several games against NEFL teams over the years; and now will be joining after previously competing in the CAFL & NSFL. Bismarck Wolves have played all their seasons, since 2014, in the MPFL. With the additions there are 3 North Dakota teams and 3 Twin Cities teams.
The 2021 season didn't have much in regards to 'upsets', as each team won twice to teams below them & lost twice to teams ahead of them. The only matchup that wasn't a sweep was the Titans/Sabercats who split their series - each winning at home. The Sabercats needed to win by 11 pts over the Titans on the last game of the season, and pulled out a last minute 12 pt win to clinch playoff berth.
2022 adds five teams; Minnesota Rise (twin cities), Minnesota Dawgs (central MN, formerly Mud Dawgs), Kansas City Bulldogs, Nebraska Bobkats (Council Bluffs), South Central Iowa Tigers.
Minneapolis Warriors left the league following the All Star game, Twin Cities Sabercats & Bismarck Wolves cease to exist.
By the time the season concluded, the NEFL was at 4 teams; Rise & Dawgs merged preseason, Titans joined the Invaders mid-season, and the Bobkats & Tigers never started the season.
Kansas City Bulldogs earned the #1 seed with their only loss to the Pioneers, while St Paul split with the Bulldogs & Invaders for the #2 seed. #3 Fargo and #4 Rise round-out the playoffs.
