Champions Indoor Football

The merger which formed the CIF was announced on August 22, 2014,{{cite web |url=http://www.kake.com/sports/headlines/CPIFL-ann-LSFL-merger-creates-league-called-Champions-Indoor-Football--272348271.html |title=CPIFL and LSFL merger creates league called "Champions Indoor Football" |date=August 22, 2014 |first=Shane |last=Ewing |publisher=KAKE |location=Wichita, KS |access-date=August 26, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140827025808/http://www.kake.com/sports/headlines/CPIFL-ann-LSFL-merger-creates-league-called-Champions-Indoor-Football--272348271.html |archive-date=August 27, 2014 }} after it had been rumored that the CPIFL and LSFL had been in discussions of a possible merger since July 31, 2014.{{cite news |url=http://www.gosanangelo.com/sports/two-indoor-football-leagues-talk-merger_85319551 |title=Two indoor football leagues talk merger |date=July 31, 2014 |publisher=Scripps Media, Inc |newspaper=San Angelo Standard-Times |location=San Angelo, TX |access-date=August 26, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140827001741/http://www.gosanangelo.com/sports/two-indoor-football-leagues-talk-merger_85319551 |archive-date=August 27, 2014 }}

{{main|2015 Champions Indoor Football season}}

The Gary Dawgs, originally announced as a charter member of the CIF, rebranded as the Illiana Eagles (later the Chicago Eagles) after a change in ownership and delayed their entry into the league until 2016.{{cite news |first=Al |last=Hamnik |newspaper=The Times of Northwest Indiana |location=Munster, Indiana |publisher=Lee Enterprises |title=Northwest Indiana's CIFL Dawgs to sit out the 2015 season |url=http://www.nwitimes.com/sports/football/professional/northwest-indiana-s-cifl-dawgs-to-sit-out-the-season/article_5cc2c52a-a9ab-5b8a-91e0-ae7852a577a8.html |date=October 14, 2014 |access-date=November 26, 2014}}{{cite news |first=John |last=Burbridge |newspaper=The Times of Northwest Indiana |location=Munster, IN |publisher=Lee Enterprises |title=Illiana Eagles set indoor football flight plan for the CIF 2016 season |url=http://www.nwitimes.com/sports/recreation/illiana-eagles-set-indoor-football-flight-plan-for-the-cif/article_964c471f-6a03-5961-b1cd-3b7cd677d5ac.html |date=January 23, 2015 |access-date=February 26, 2015}} On February 21, 2015, the new owners of the New Mexico Stars announced that the team would not enter the league as planned after head coach Dominic Bramante resigned two weeks before the scheduled start of training camp.{{cite news |first=Bob |last=Christ |newspaper=Albuquerque Journal |location=Albuquerque, NM |title=NM Stars owners pull plug on season |url=http://www.abqjournal.com/545100/sports/nm-stars-owners-pull-plug-on-season.html |date=February 22, 2015 |access-date=February 26, 2015}} On March 3, the Albuquerque-based Duke City Gladiators announced they were joining the CIF for the 2015 season and would play an abbreviated 11-game schedule as a partial replacement for the New Mexico Stars.

At the end of the regular season, the four teams (ordered by seeding) that made the postseason were the Sioux City Bandits, Texas Revolution, Wichita Force, and Amarillo Venom. On Thursday, June 11, Texas defeated Wichita 39–27. Two days later, Sioux City beat Amarillo 83–52 leading to Texas facing Sioux City in Champions Bowl I on June 20 in Iowa. At halftime the score was tied 35–35, but a rushing touchdown for eventual Champions Bowl MVP Andrew Prohaska of the Sioux City Bandits led to a final score of 76–61.

{{main|2016 Champions Indoor Football season}}

The Mesquite Marshals, Salina Liberty, and Bloomington Edge announced their entrance into the league, bringing the total number of teams to 12. The league meetings were on August 19 in Dodge City, Kansas. Many league changes were announced, including Darlene Jones resigning as commissioner, citing personal health-related reasons. Ricky Bertz was then appointed interim commissioner, with the help of Indoor Football League Hall-of-Famer, Tommy Benizio (who was the IFL's commissioner). Stephanie Tucker also joined Bertz and Benizio. Also announced at that time was the Northern/Southern divisional alignment. Later, on January 11, 2016, Bertz stepped down to focus on his team's sales, and Randy Sanders was named the interim commissioner.{{cite web |url=http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=5088822 |title=Sanders Named Interim CIF Commissioner |date=January 11, 2016 |publisher=OurSports Central |work=www.oursportscentral.com |access-date=January 12, 2016}} The updated alignment had each division with six teams. The top three teams reaching the playoffs and the team with the best record in each division received a bye in the first round. The division leader would then play the winners of the 2 vs. 3 seeds playoff game.

{{main|2017 Champions Indoor Football season}}

At the end of the 2016 season, the Mesquite Marshals changed their name to the Dallas Marshals. Later, the San Angelo Bandits folded but were immediately replaced by an expansion team called the CenTex Cavalry out of Belton, Texas. The CIF continued to expand for the 2017 season by adding the River City Raiders and West Michigan Ironmen from the recently defunct American Indoor Football and two expansion teams in Kansas City Phantoms and Bismarck Bucks. The CIF announced the league would realign from two to four divisions, with two teams each division making the playoffs.{{cite web |url=http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/champions-indoor-football-2017-schedule/n-5207527 |title=CHAMPIONS INDOOR FOOTBALL 2017 SCHEDULE |publisher=OurSportsCentral |date=October 11, 2016}} In November 2016, the Chicago Eagles announced that they had suspended operations for the 2017 season.{{cite web |url=http://chicagoeagles.us/news-hm/748-chicago-eagles-suspend-operations-for-the-2017-season.html |title=Chicago Eagles suspend operations for the 2017 Season |publisher=Chicago Eagles |date=November 18, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161119054934/http://chicagoeagles.us/news-hm/748-chicago-eagles-suspend-operations-for-the-2017-season.html |archive-date=November 19, 2016 }} Following the Eagles' departure, the River City Raiders left the league, citing the adverse effects on their schedule due to losing a regional opponent, although there had been claims that the Raiders were actually asked to leave due to non-payment of league fees.{{cite web |url=http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/weekly-sports-league--franchise-report/n-5218608 |title=Weekly Sports League & Franchise Report |publisher=OurSports Central |date=November 28, 2016}} With the departure of the two teams, the league realigned back into two conferences of seven teams, with four teams per conference making the playoffs.{{citation needed|date=June 2017}}

During the league winter meetings, Bertz returned to his former position of interim league commissioner. Sonny Clark of the Texas Revolution was named as director of operations.{{cite web |url=http://gocif.net/news-h/844-cif-announces-new-front-office-changes-for-the-2017-cif-season.html |title=CIF Announces New Front Office Changes for the 2017 Season |publisher=CIF |date=January 14, 2017}}

{{main|2018 Champions Indoor Football season}}

On August 16, 2017, the CIF announced the Quad City Steamwheelers as an expansion team for 2018. On August 30, the league announced the addition of the Sioux Falls Storm from the IFL. The Wichita Falls Nighthawks of the IFL also joined on September 12.{{Cite web |url=http://espn991.com/sioux-falls-storm-officially-join-the-champions-indoor-football-league/ |title=Sioux Falls Storm Officially Join the Champions Indoor Football League |website=ESPN 99.1 – Sioux Falls Sports Leader – Sioux Falls Sports |date=August 30, 2017 |language=en-US |access-date=September 2, 2017}} On the same day the Nighthawks joined, the Bloomington Edge and West Michigan Ironmen left the CIF for the IFL. The CIF apparently then attempted to sue the IFL, Edge, and Ironmen for leaving the CIF after the two teams had already signed league affiliation agreements with the CIF for 2018. The IFL then threatened to sue the CIF, Storm, and Nighthawks in return despite neither former IFL team signing an affiliation agreement with the IFL for 2018.{{cite web |url=http://kwsn.com/news/articles/2017/oct/06/tryon-addresses-legal-aspect-of-switching-leagues/ |title=Tryon addresses legal aspect of switching leagues |work=KWSN |date=October 5, 2017 |access-date=October 8, 2017 |archive-date=October 8, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171008080024/http://kwsn.com/news/articles/2017/oct/06/tryon-addresses-legal-aspect-of-switching-leagues/ |url-status=dead }} To avoid disputes, the CIF stated they would not schedule either team.{{cite web |url=http://salinascoop.com/cif-commissioner-issues-state-of-the-league-address/ |title=CIF Commissioner Issues State of the League Address |work=Salina Scoop |date=October 4, 2017 |access-date=October 5, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005204252/http://salinascoop.com/cif-commissioner-issues-state-of-the-league-address/ |archive-date=October 5, 2017 |url-status=dead }} The Storm immediately announced that they would return to the IFL{{cite web |url=http://siouxfallsstorm.com/letter-from-todd-tryon.html |title=LETTER FROM TODD TRYON |publisher=Sioux Falls Storm |date=October 4, 2017 |access-date=October 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005051745/http://siouxfallsstorm.com/letter-from-todd-tryon.html |archive-date=October 5, 2017 |url-status=dead }} and the Nighthawks had to suspend operations.{{cite web |url=http://www.newschannel6now.com/story/36609977/nighthawks-suspend-operations-for-2018#.WeVYsgmYXp0.facebook |title=Nighthawks suspend operations for 2018 |work=KAUZ-TV |date=October 16, 2017}} While the CIF did drop the lawsuit against the IFL, it filed for an injunction against the Edge and Ironmen teams from participating in the IFL for breaking the terms of their signed affiliation agreements. A temporary injunction from participation against the two teams was granted on January 31, 2018.{{cite web |url=http://kscj.com/2018/01/31/temporary-injunction-bars-renegade-teams-leaving-c-p-f-l/ |title=TEMPORARY INJUNCTION BARS RENEGADE TEAMS FROM LEAVING C.P.I.F.L. |work=KSCJ |date=January 31, 2018}}

{{main|2019 Champions Indoor Football season}}

During the 2018 season, it was announced that after a change in ownership, the West Michigan Ironmen would return to the CIF after playing a season in the semi-professional Midwest Professional Indoor Football. The league also added an expansion team called the Oklahoma Flying Aces in Enid, Oklahoma. During the offseason, the CIF lost the Bismarck Bucks and Quad City Steamwheelers to the IFL. When the 2019 schedule was released, both the West Michigan Ironmen and the Kansas City Phantoms had been removed as members.{{cite web |url=http://gocif.net/news-h/961-cif-publishes-2019-schedule-featuring-2-conferences.html |title=CIF Publishes 2019 Schedule Featuring 2 Conferences |website=GoCIF.net |date=October 30, 2018}} On May 9, the Texas Revolution folded during the season.{{cite web |url=http://texasrevs.com/6264-2/ |title=May 9 Texas Revolution announcement |date=May 9, 2019 |access-date=May 9, 2019 |website=TexasRevs.com }}{{Dead link|date=July 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} At the end of the season, the Duke City Gladiators won their second consecutive championship and then withdrew from the league, eventually joining the IFL.

The league announced it had partnered with the National Arena League (NAL) to create a new league for the 2020 season under a new identity with two conferences: the CIF and NAL.{{cite web |url=https://www.wtvm.com/2019/09/26/nal-cif-merge-form-new-indoor-football-league/ |title=NAL and CIF merge to form new indoor football league |date=September 26, 2019 |website=WTVM}} However, it was announced on October 10 that the deal had been postponed, with both leagues playing their own individual schedules in 2020.{{Cite web |url=http://gocif.net/news-h/1076-national-arena-league-and-champions-indoor-to-postpone-2020-partnership.html |title=National Arena League and Champions Indoor Football to Postpone 2020 partnership |date=October 10, 2019 |website=GoCIF.net |access-date=October 10, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191010174134/https://gocif.net/news-h/1076-national-arena-league-and-champions-indoor-to-postpone-2020-partnership.html |archive-date=October 10, 2019}}

The league added the West Texas Warbirds in Odessa, Texas, as an expansion team. The 2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic without playing a game.{{cite web |url=https://www.ksn.com/sports/wichita-force-season-canceled-amid-coronavirus-pandemic/|title=Wichita Force season canceled amid coronavirus pandemic|date=June 9, 2020 }}

For the 2021 season, the league added the Wyoming Mustangs in Gillette, Wyoming, as an expansion team. In August 2020, the CIF announced a schedule, keeping a four-team playoff format but with a 10-game regular season starting March 12, 2021,{{cite web |url=https://www.salina.com/sports/20200825/cif-announces-2021-schedule|title=CIF announces 2021 schedule |website=The Salina Journal |date=August 25, 2020}} and that all games in 2021 would be streamed live on YouTube, officially ending the league's four-year relationship with Pluto TV.{{cite web |url=https://www.arenafootballtalk.com/blog/cif-announces-2021-schedule-move-to-youtube|title=CIF Announces 2021 Schedule, Move to YouTube |website=Arena Football Talk |date=August 25, 2020}} However, by February 2021, the effects of the pandemic caused the Amarillo Venom and West Texas Warbirds to back out of the season due to a conflicting schedule at their home arena and play an independent regional schedule instead.{{Cite web |url=https://www.mrt.com/sports/article/West-Texas-Warbirds-to-play-independent-football-15941323.php |title=West Texas Warbirds to play independent football schedule |website=Midland Reporter-Telegram |date=February 10, 2021}} On April 1, one week prior to their first game of the season, the Oklahoma Flying Aces withdrew from the season citing drastically increased workers' compensation insurance and were replaced by a reactivated Dodge City Law. On April 5, director of operations Todd Walkenhorst was named the new league commissioner, replacing founder Bertz who had been in the position since 2017.{{cite web |url=https://gocif.net/news-h/1096-cif-announces-league-office-changes.html |title=CIF Announces League Office Changes |website=CIF |date=April 5, 2021 |access-date=April 6, 2021}}

In August 2021, Walkenhorst was replaced as commissioner by Tommy Benizio, the former commissioner of the Indoor Football League.{{cite web |url=https://gocif.net/news-h/1131-tommy-benizio-named-commissioner-of-the-cif.html |title=Tommy Benizio named Commissioner of the CIF |website=CIF |date=August 23, 2021}} The league announced expansion teams in the Billings Outlaws,{{cite web |url=https://gocif.net/news-h/1111-professional-indoor-football-to-return-to-billing-for-the-2022-season.html |title=Professional Indoor Football to Return to Billings for the 2022 season |website=CIF |date=April 30, 2021}}{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=119957453579242&id=109441711297483 |title=The Name the Fans chose for the new Billings Professional football team is..... Billings Outlaws!! |website=Billings Outlaws Indoor Football Team Facebook |date=May 27, 2021}} Rapid City Marshals,{{cite web |url=https://gocif.net/news-h/1132-professional-indoor-football-to-return-to-rapid-city-for-the-2022-season.html |title=Professional Indoor Football to Return to Rapid City for the 2022 season |website=CIF |date=September 3, 2021}} and the Topeka Tropics.{{cite web |url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/champions-indoor-football-adds-topeka-kansas-for-the-upcoming-2022-season/n-5731391 |title=Champions Indoor Football adds Topeka, Kansas for the upcoming 2022 season |website=OurSports Central |date=August 9, 2021}} The league also announced a team in Denver,{{Cite web |url=https://gocif.net/news-h/1130-get-ready-denver-indoor-football-is-coming.html |title=GET READY DENVER…INDOOR FOOTBALL IS COMING! |website=CIF |date=August 12, 2021}} but it did not make the schedule announced on September 30, 2021, along with the Amarillo Venom, Oklahoma Flying Aces, and West Texas Warbirds.{{Cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/CIFFootball/photos/a.638116099626897/3981771268594680/ |title=PRESS RELEASE: 2022 Schedule |website=CIF Facebook |date=September 30, 2021}} On October 1, the Dodge City Law, which had been a temporary replacement for the Oklahoma Flying Aces, was replaced by an expansion team in Dodge City called the Southwest Kansas Storm.{{Cite web |url=https://www.dodgeglobe.com/story/news/2021/10/01/southwest-storm-arena-football-team-introduced-dodge-city/5933090001/ |title=Southwest Storm arena football team introduced in Dodge City |website=Dodge City Daily Globe |date=October 1, 2021}} Amarillo and West Texas officially left the league and turned their Lone Star Series from the previous season into the Arena Football Association (AFA) in November 2021.{{Cite web |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sponsors-and-investors-see-ground-floor-opportunities-with-the-expansion-of-arena-football-association-301416552.html |title=Sponsors And Investors See Ground-Floor Opportunities With The Expansion Of Arena Football Association |website=PR Newswire |date=November 4, 2021}} By the end of 2021, J. R. Bond, the new owner of the Sioux City Bandits and Topeka Tropics, had been named the commissioner of the league.{{cite web |url=https://gocif.net/news-h/1136-cif-announces-its-revised-16-week-48-game-regular-season-schedule-for-2022.html |title=CIF announces its revised 16-week, 48-game regular-season schedule for 2022 |website=CIF |date=January 17, 2022}} The Wichita Force were removed from the league in January 2022.

The same eight teams returned for the 2023 season, with the Omaha Beef winning the championship after beating Salina Liberty 50–30 in the Champions Bowl.

After the season ended, founding CIF members Beef and Sioux City Bandits, as well as the Topeka Tropics (who ultimately folded instead after ownership abandoned the team{{Cite web |last=Self |first=Matthew |date=2024-02-22 |title=Topeka Tropics put out 'heartfelt call' for investors after owner backs out |url=https://news.yahoo.com/topeka-tropics-put-heartfelt-call-224450322.html |access-date=2024-02-23 |website=KSNT via Yahoo! News |language=en-US}}), all announced they were leaving the CIF for a new league, later revealed to be the National Arena League.{{Cite web |url=https://www.ktiv.com/2023/07/26/sioux-city-bandits-leaving-champions-indoor-football-league/ |title=Sioux City Bandits leaving the Champions Indoor Football League |website=KTIV |date=July 26, 2023}} The CIF then named Mike McCoy as league commissioner.{{Cite web |url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/mike-mccoy-named-cif-commissioner/n-5997579 |title=Mike McCoy Named CIF Commissioner |website=OurSports Central |date=August 3, 2023}} On August 28, 2023, the league added the ICT Regulators based out of Park City, Kansas, in the Wichita area.{{Cite web |url=https://rapidcityjournal.com/sports/professional/cif-expands-to-add-park-city-team/article_22d29bac-45f6-11ee-a8a5-43f34ce8c3f9.html |title=CIF announces addition of Park City, Kansas expansion team |website=Rapid City Journal |date=August 28, 2023}} On August 29, 2023, the Billings Outlaws left the league and was announced as the first official member of the relaunched Arena Football League.{{Cite web |url=https://www.outlawsfootball.com/news/outlaws-join-afl-for-2024-season |title=OUTLAWS JOIN AFL FOR 2024 SEASON |website=BillingsOutlaws.com |date=August 29, 2023}}

On September 25, 2023, the Gillette Mustangs suspended operations, stating that the remaining CIF members were being absorbed into the AFL and that their arena could not accommodate the additional rebound nets necessary to compete in that league, nor would the league allow any franchise owner to control multiple teams.{{cite web |url=https://county17.com/2023/09/25/mustangs-football-will-not-play-in-gillette-in-2024/ |title=Mustangs football will not play in Gillette in 2024 |website=county17.com |date=September 25, 2023}} The three remaining CIF teams held a press conference on October 5, in which they confirmed they would be joining the AFL.{{Cite news|url=https://salinapost.com/posts/d8e82692-7ef5-4c51-a849-6b9d1c272b06|date=October 5, 2023|author=Henry, Tyler|title=Arena Football League Announced CIF Merger|newspaper=Salina Post}} McCoy was named the AFL Deputy Commissioner on October 26.[https://twitter.com/OfficialAFL/status/1717612122925146195 Arena Football League Taps Mike McCoy to Serve as League's Deputy Commisioner]

Several of the former CIF teams who joined the AFL indicated that commissioner Lee Hutton had made promises to cover increased travel and salary expenses for playing in the new league, but failed to deliver on them. The Iowa Rampage, a team that had originally planned to join CIF before it merged into the AFL for the 2024 season, folded after one game when the promised compensation never arrived;{{Cite web |last=Parsons |first=McKenzy |date=2024-05-02 |title=Iowa's AFL team discontinues operations at start of their first season |url=https://www.ketv.com/article/iowas-afl-team-discontinues-operations/60674349 |access-date=2024-05-02 |website=KETV |language=en}} the Rapid City Marshals, Salina Liberty and Billings Outlaws confirmed that the Rampage's complaints were legitimate but were committed to playing out the season, with the Outlaws hinting at seeking to oust Hutton from the commissioner's post.{{Cite web |last=Letasky |first=John |date=2024-05-01 |title=Billings Outlaws' opponent and location for Week 2 game changed; owner comments on status of AFL |url=https://406mtsports.com/extra/billings-outlaws-afl-oregon-blackbears-indoor-football-steven-titus/article_94d33384-0837-11ef-8494-1fa9bd1959b5.html |access-date=2024-05-02 |website=406 MT SPORTS |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2024-05-02 |title=News: League Troubles & Stability of the Marshals - Rapid City Marshals |url=http://www.marshalsfootball.com/news/league-troubles-stability-of-the-marshals |access-date=2024-05-02 |website=www.marshalsfootball.com}} Hutton was successfully ousted May 14, with Jeff Fisher named his successor.{{Cite web |last=Organ |first=Mike |title=Former Tennessee Titans coach Jeff Fisher named Arena Football League interim commissioner |url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/nhl/2024/05/14/jeff-fisher-arena-football-league-commisioner-nashville-kats-tennessee-titans-coach/73687328007/ |access-date=2024-05-14 |website=The Tennessean |language=en-US}}

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{{clear}}

• Amarillo Venom (Amarillo, Texas) — Joined from the Lone Star Football League (LSFL) in 2015 and were members of the CIF from 2015 to 2020. Played the 2021 pandemic-affected season in the Texas-based Lone Star Series before forming the Arena Football Association (AFA) for the 2022 season.
• Billings Outlaws (Billings, Montana) — Named after the original team that played from 2000 to 2010. Played in the CIF in the 2022 and 2023 seasons but joined the relaunched Arena Football League for the 2024 season.
• Bismarck Bucks (Bismarck, North Dakota) — Played in the CIF in 2017 and 2018 but joined the Indoor Football League for the 2019 season.
• Bloomington Edge (Bloomington, Illinois) — Played in the CIF in 2016 and 2017. Rejoined the Indoor Football League for the 2018 season.{{cite web |url=http://goifl.com/sports/fball/2016-17/releases/20170912rbu19k |title=IFL Announces Addition of Bloomington & West Michigan |publisher=IFL |date=September 12, 2017}}
• CenTex Cavalry (Belton, Texas) — Played in the CIF in 2017 but suspended operations after one season. Hoped to return for the 2019 season but did not.
• Chicago Eagles (Chicago, Illinois) — Played in the CIF in 2016 but suspended operations after one season with hopes to return for the 2018 season, but did not.
• Dallas Marshals (Dallas/Mesquite, Texas) — Played in the CIF from 2016 until mid-season of 2018, known as the Mesquite Marshals in 2016.{{cite web |url=http://gocif.net/news-h/944-dallas-marshals-indoor-football-team-suspends-2018-season.html |title=Dallas Marshals Suspends 2018 season |work=CIF |date=April 27, 2018 |access-date=April 27, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180428093532/http://gocif.net/news-h/944-dallas-marshals-indoor-football-team-suspends-2018-season.html |archive-date=April 28, 2018 |url-status=dead }}
• Dodge City Law (Dodge City, Kansas) – Joined from the CPIFL. After receiving a league penalty towards the end of the 2017 season, the team lost home field advantage in the playoffs. With the team under scrutiny for the penalty and not promptly refunding tickets to the lost home game,{{cite web |url=http://www.kwch.com/content/sports/CIF-concerned-fans-may-be-owed-money-by-Dodge-City-franchise-433334293.html |title=CIF concerned fans may be owed money by Dodge City franchise |publisher=KWCH |date=July 8, 2017}} the Law left the CIF.{{cite web |url=http://www.kwch.com/content/sports/The-Dodge-City-Law-fold-433710423.html |title=The Dodge City Law leave CIF League |publisher=KWCH |date=July 10, 2017}} Returned for 2021 season under new ownership and the transferred roster of the Oklahoma Flying Aces. The Law were replaced by the expansion Southwest Kansas Storm in 2022.
• Duke City Gladiators (Albuquerque, New Mexico) – Late addition to the CIF in 2015; left for the IFL after winning its second consecutive championship in 2019.{{Cite web |url=https://lastwordonsports.com/2019/07/25/duke-city-moves-to-the-indoor-football-league/ |title=Duke City moves to the Indoor Football League |last=Norling |first=Ashle |date=2019-07-25 |website=Last Word on Sports |language=en-US |access-date=2019-07-28}}
• Gillette Mustangs - suspended operations after the 2023 season, stating that the remaining CIF members were being absorbed into the AFL and that their arena could not accommodate the additional rebound nets necessary to compete in that league, nor would the league allow any franchise owner to control multiple teams.{{cite web |url=https://county17.com/2023/09/25/mustangs-football-will-not-play-in-gillette-in-2024/ |title=Mustangs football will not play in Gillette in 2024 |website=county17.com |date=September 25, 2023}}
• Kansas City Phantoms (Independence, Missouri) – Played in the CIF for the 2017 and 2018 season. Removed from team list prior to the 2019 season.
• New Mexico Stars (Rio Rancho, New Mexico) — Joined from the LSFL but left the league prior to the start of the 2015 season following the resignation of the team's head coach. The team was most recently a member of the now defunct AIF.
• Oklahoma Flying Aces (Enid, Oklahoma) – Played in CIF beginning in 2019 but suspended operations prior to 2021 season. Team assets were subsequently sold in 2022.
• Omaha Beef (Ralston, Nebraska) — Founding CIF member announced they were leaving league after the 2023 season and joined the National Arena League.{{cite web |url=https://www.nationalarenaleague.com/news/cif-champion-omaha-beef-joins-the-nal |title=CIF CHAMPION OMAHA BEEF JOINS THE NAL |website=National Arena League |date=August 9, 2023}}
• Quad City Steamwheelers (Moline, Illinois) — Played in the CIF in 2018 but joined the Indoor Football League for the 2019 season.
• Rapid City Marshals (Rapid City, South Dakota) — Joined the CIF in 2022 and played until 2023. They left to join the revived Arena Football League.
• River City Raiders (St. Charles, Missouri) — Joined from American Indoor Football after the 2016 season. Left the CIF prior to their first season apparently due to non-payment of league fees. However, the Raiders claimed the departure of the Chicago Eagles caused too many adverse effects on their schedule.
• Salina Bombers (Salina, Kansas) — Joined from the CPIFL. Suspended by the league on May 28, 2015, for failing to meet league obligations with two games left to play. The organization folded later the same day. The two remaining games, one home and one away, were both cancelled.
• San Angelo Bandits (San Angelo, Texas) — Played in the CIF in 2015 and 2016 after joining from the LSFL. Folded and replaced by the CenTex Cavalry for 2017.
• Sioux City Bandits (Sioux City, Iowa) — Founding CIF member left the league after the 2023 season and joined the National Arena League.{{cite web |url=https://www.nationalarenaleague.com/news/national-arena-league-announces-expansion-in-iowa |title=NAL ANNOUNCES SIOUX CITY BANDITS AS EXPANSION FRANCHISE |website=National Arena League |date=August 8, 2023}}
• Sioux Falls Storm (Sioux Falls, South Dakota) – Joined from the IFL during the 2017 off-season but they could not join the CIF because of a league dispute. Returned to the IFL.
• Texas Revolution (Frisco, Texas) — Joined from the IFL as an inaugural CIF member. Folded during 2019 season.
• Topeka Tropics (Topeka, Kansas) – Joined as an expansion team in 2022; announced they were leaving league after the 2023 season and joined the National Arena League.{{cite web |url=https://www.nationalarenaleague.com/news/national-arena-league-expansion-continues-in-kansa |title=NATIONAL ARENA LEAGUE EXPANSION CONTINUES IN KANSAS |website=NAL |date=September 14, 2023}}
• West Michigan Ironmen (Muskegon, Michigan) — Played in the CIF for the 2017 season after joining from American Indoor Football. Joined the Indoor Football League for the 2018 season, the CIF then filed an injunction to keep them from playing in the IFL for 2018. After a change in ownership, the Ironmen were announced to return to the CIF in 2019,{{cite web |url=http://gocif.net/news-h/943-cif-announces-first-expansion-team-for-2019.html |title=CIF Announced First Expansion Team for 2019 |work=CIF |date=April 23, 2018 |access-date=April 24, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180425031847/http://gocif.net/news-h/943-cif-announces-first-expansion-team-for-2019.html |archive-date=April 25, 2018 |url-status=dead }} however, they were not listed as members when the 2019 schedule was released.
• West Texas Warbirds{{Cite web |url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/professional-indoor-football-coming-to-west-texas-in-2020/n-5558203 |title=Professional Indoor Football Coming to West Texas in 2020 |website=OurSports Central |date=October 2, 2019}} (Odessa, Texas) — Joined the CIF for the 2020 season, which was then cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Played the 2021 pandemic-affected season in the Texas-based Lone Star Series before forming the Arena Football Association (AFA) for the 2022 season.
• Wichita Falls Nighthawks (Wichita Falls, Texas) — Joined from the IFL during the 2017 offseason, but they could not join the CIF because of a league dispute.
• Wichita Force (Wichita, Kansas) – Joined as an expansion team for the inaugural season of the CIF in 2015. The Force were removed from the league prior to the 2022 season for not meeting league requirements and would join West Texas and Amarillo (who wouldn't end up playing in 2022) in the AFA{{cite web |url=https://gocif.net/news-h/1135-the-wichita-force-have-been-removed-from-the-cif.html |title=The Wichita Force have been removed from the CIF |website=CIF |date=January 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220114174612/https://gocif.net/news-h/1135-the-wichita-force-have-been-removed-from-the-cif.html |archive-date=January 14, 2022}}

DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy

ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:20

Period = from:01/01/2015 till:12/31/2024

TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal

PlotArea = right:10 left:5 bottom:50 top:5

Colors =

id:line value:black

id:Now value:rgb(0.7,0.7,0.9) # current member

id:Past value:rgb(0.9,0.7,0.7) # former member

id:Hiatus value:rgb(0.8,0.8,0.8) # suspended member

id:Future value:rgb(0.7,0.9,0.7) # future member

PlotData=

width:15 textcolor:black shift:(5,-5) anchor:from fontsize:s

bar:1 color:Past from:01/01/2015 till:12/31/2020 text: Amarillo Venom (2015–2020)

bar:2 color:Past from:01/01/2015 till:07/10/2017 text: Dodge City Law (2015–2017; 2021)

bar:2 color:Past from:01/01/2021 till:12/31/2021 text:

bar:3 color:Past from:01/01/2015 till:07/26/2023 text: Omaha Beef (2015–2023)

bar:4 color:Past from:01/01/2015 till:05/28/2015 text: Salina Bombers (2015)

bar:5 color:Past from:01/01/2015 till:09/06/2016 text: San Angelo Bandits (2015–2016)

bar:6 color:Past from:01/01/2015 till:07/26/2023 text: Sioux City Bandits (2015–2023)

bar:7 color:Past from:01/01/2015 till:05/09/2019 text: Texas Revolution (2015–2019)

bar:8 color:Past from:01/01/2015 till:12/31/2021 text: Wichita Force (2015–2021)

bar:9 color:Past from:03/03/2015 till:07/25/2019 text: Duke City Gladiators (2015–2019)

bar:10 color:Past from:01/01/2016 till:09/12/2017 text: Bloomington Edge (2016–2017)

bar:11 color:Past from:01/01/2016 till:11/18/2016 text: Chicago Eagles (2016)

bar:12 color:Past from:01/01/2016 till:04/27/2018 text: Mesquite Marshals/Dallas Marshals (2016–2018)

bar:13 color:Past from:01/01/2016 till:end text: Salina Liberty (2016–present)

bar:14 color:Past from:01/01/2017 till:12/31/2018 text: Bismarck Bucks (2017–2018)

bar:15 color:Past from:01/01/2017 till:08/16/2017 text: CenTex Cavalry (2017)

bar:16 color:Past from:01/01/2017 till:12/31/2018 text: Kansas City Phantoms (2017–2018)

bar:17 color:Past from:01/01/2017 till:09/12/2017 text: West Michigan Ironmen (2017)

bar:18 color:Past from:01/01/2018 till:12/31/2018 shift:0 text:Quad City Steamwheelers (2018)

bar:19 color:Past from:01/01/2019 till:12/31/2020 shift:0 text:Oklahoma Flying Aces (2019–2021)

bar:20 color:Past from:01/01/2020 till:12/31/2020 shift:0 text:West Texas Warbirds (2020)

bar:21 color:Past from:01/01/2021 till:12/31/2023 shift:0 text:Wyoming/Gillette Mustangs (2021–2023)

bar:22 color:Past from:01/01/2022 till:12/31/2023 shift:0 text:Billings Outlaws (2022–2023)

bar:23 color:Past from:01/01/2022 till:12/31/2023 shift:0 text:Rapid City Marshals (2022–2023)

bar:24 color:Past from:01/01/2022 till:end shift:0 text:Southwest Kansas Storm (2022–present)

bar:25 color:Past from:01/01/2022 till:12/31/2023 shift:0 text:Topeka Tropics (2022–2023)

bar:26 color:Past from:01/01/2024 till:end shift:-50 text:ICT Regulators (2024–present)

ScaleMajor = gridcolor:line unit:year increment:1 start:2016

When the CPIFL started in 2013, the championship game was known as the "Champions Bowl", so the CIF used the same name for their title game.

{{reflist|30em}}

• [http://gocif.net Official website]

{{CIF}}

{{American football in the United States}}

{{Profootball}}

Category:Defunct indoor American football leagues in the United States

Category:Sports leagues established in 2014

Category:Sports leagues disestablished in 2023

Category:2014 establishments in the United States

Category:2023 disestablishments in the United States

Category:Professional sports leagues in the United States