When the Fishers Freight opened their 2025 inaugural Indoor Football League season with two straight wins, they quickly became the talk of the league.

Behind the early success, however, there were signs of concern within the coaching staff.

Head Coach Dixie Wooten sensed his players might be buying into the hype a bit too much. Whether that played a role or not, the Freight soon hit a rough stretch, dropping nine consecutive games.

To their credit, Wooten and his staff stayed the course. They made key roster adjustments and steadily regrouped. The payoff came late in the season, as the Freight closed with five straight victories—offering a glimpse of the team’s potential.

That late-season surge is now carrying over into 2026.

Wooten has retained 15 players from last year’s strong finish, providing continuity and experience. Additions along the offensive line and in the receiving corps have further strengthened the roster, and the Freight are once again drawing attention across the league.

That attention is now reflected in the latest Indoor Football League coaches poll.

The Green Bay Blizzard claimed the top spot—no surprise after avenging last year’s championship game loss to Las Vegas. But the biggest development in the rankings came just behind them.

The Fishers Freight checked in at No. 2.

The ranking suggests league coaches—who regularly study game film and evaluate talent across the IFL—are taking notice of the progress Wooten and his staff have made in reshaping the team.

The Freight will have an immediate opportunity to validate that respect. They travel to Wisconsin on Saturday night to face the top-ranked Blizzard. The winner could very well claim the No. 1 position in the next coaches poll.

Still, if last season proved anything, it’s that success in the IFL is a marathon, not a sprint.

For the Freight, the challenge now is simple: keep the momentum going.