
6/3/2026 10:00:00 AM | Football
ARLINGTON, Texas – A total of 15 Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic alumni fill the rosters of the four franchises playing in the 2026 United Football League playoffs.
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The Louisville Kings, the third seed in this season's UFL postseason, lead the way with seven Classic alums. The second-seeded St. Louis Battlehawks boast four Classic alums with the top-seeded Orlando Storm and fourth-seeded DC Defenders with two Classic alums each.
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Memphis and Penn State top the list with three Classic alums each followed by Cincinnati, Florida and Oklahoma with two each.
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The two UFL playoff matchups take place on Sunday, June 7. The Storm host the Defenders at 2 p.m. on ABC at Daytona Stadium in Daytona Beach, Fla. and the Battlehawks host the Kings at 5 p.m. on FOX at The Dome at America's Center in St. Louis. The 2026 United Bowl is Saturday, June 13 on ABC and ESPN+ at Audi Field in Washington, D.C.
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GOODYEAR COTTON BOWL CLASSIC ALUMS IN THE 2026 UFL PLAYOFFS
DC Defenders (2)
Cornell Powell, Clemson***
Brandon Smith, Penn State
Michael Tarquin, Oklahoma
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Louisville Kings (7)
Jaylon Allen, Memphis
Steele Chambers, Ohio State
Keaton Ellis, Penn State
Quindell Johnson, Memphis
LaRon Stokes, Oklahoma
Jaheim Thomas, Cincinnati
James Tunstall, Cincinnati
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Orlando Storm (2)
Chris Claybrooks, Memphis
KJ Hamler, Penn State
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St. Louis Battlehawks (4)
Javion Cohen, Alabama
Trey Dean III, Florida
Richard Gouraige, Florida
Sincere Haynesworth, Tulane
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***Was a redshirt when his team played in the Cotton Bowl ClassicÂ
^Was injured and/or did not play in the Cotton Bowl Classic
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The Louisville Kings, the third seed in this season's UFL postseason, lead the way with seven Classic alums. The second-seeded St. Louis Battlehawks boast four Classic alums with the top-seeded Orlando Storm and fourth-seeded DC Defenders with two Classic alums each.
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Memphis and Penn State top the list with three Classic alums each followed by Cincinnati, Florida and Oklahoma with two each.
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The two UFL playoff matchups take place on Sunday, June 7. The Storm host the Defenders at 2 p.m. on ABC at Daytona Stadium in Daytona Beach, Fla. and the Battlehawks host the Kings at 5 p.m. on FOX at The Dome at America's Center in St. Louis. The 2026 United Bowl is Saturday, June 13 on ABC and ESPN+ at Audi Field in Washington, D.C.
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Follow the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic on X/Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and TikTok.
Â
GOODYEAR COTTON BOWL CLASSIC ALUMS IN THE 2026 UFL PLAYOFFS
DC Defenders (2)
Cornell Powell, Clemson***
Brandon Smith, Penn State
Michael Tarquin, Oklahoma
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Louisville Kings (7)
Jaylon Allen, Memphis
Steele Chambers, Ohio State
Keaton Ellis, Penn State
Quindell Johnson, Memphis
LaRon Stokes, Oklahoma
Jaheim Thomas, Cincinnati
James Tunstall, Cincinnati
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Orlando Storm (2)
Chris Claybrooks, Memphis
KJ Hamler, Penn State
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St. Louis Battlehawks (4)
Javion Cohen, Alabama
Trey Dean III, Florida
Richard Gouraige, Florida
Sincere Haynesworth, Tulane
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***Was a redshirt when his team played in the Cotton Bowl ClassicÂ
^Was injured and/or did not play in the Cotton Bowl Classic
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Thursday, October 29
Friday, October 23
Thursday, October 15
Thursday, October 15



