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.
 
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.
 
Memphis and Penn State top the list with three Classic alums each followed by Cincinnati, Florida and Oklahoma with two each.
 
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
 
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
 
Orlando Storm (2)
Chris Claybrooks, Memphis
KJ Hamler, Penn State
 
St. Louis Battlehawks (4)
Javion Cohen, Alabama
Trey Dean III, Florida
Richard Gouraige, Florida
Sincere Haynesworth, Tulane
 
***Was a redshirt when his team played in the Cotton Bowl Classic 
^Was injured and/or did not play in the Cotton Bowl Classic