Football in Nebraska no longer waits for September. The state’s brand-new Arena League expansion team, the Nebraska Siege, opened its inaugural regular-season campaign yesterday and wasted no time reminding everyone that a new era of pro football has arrived in the Cornhusker State.
Coming off a jaw-dropping 78-0 preseason blowout, the Siege entered their home opener against the Memphis Hound Dogs as heavy favorites. But as every coach will tell you, preseason and the regular season are two different animals. Memphis arrived in Grand Island loaded with battle-tested talent from junior college all the way to the NFL, a veteran group that refused to be intimidated.
The first half was a gritty defensive slugfest. Memphis struck first, but the Siege answered immediately by returning the throw-off (Arena League games feature no kickoffs) to tie the game. Both defenses dug in, forcing a tense halftime score of 14-12 in favor of Nebraska.
Then the second half belonged entirely to the Siege. The explosive offense everyone had been waiting for finally showed up. Nebraska ripped off a 38-6 run, showcasing speed, power, and precision on both sides of the ball. From the players on the field to the coaching staff on the sideline, the Siege looked like a complete, overwhelming force.
By the final whistle, they had made a clear statement: this is a team built to contend and dominate right from day one. The win improves the Siege to 1-0 and has early buzz building that they could be the league’s best team by a wide margin. That talk will be tested quickly, however. Nebraska hits the road for its first away game on June 6 against the always-dangerous Monroe Green Heads.
For the full 2026 schedule, ticket information, and everything else Nebraska Siege, visit their official site at Nebraska Siege – The Arena League™ – Pro Arena Football