D1 Elite – The French American Football Championship Kicks Off Next Week!
Get ready, football fans! The much-anticipated D1 Elite season is on the brink of taking off. This championship, featuring twelve teams, will launch its new season on the weekend of January 25-26, 2025, with every squad aiming for that coveted Diamond Helmet by season’s end. Can the reigning champions, the Thonon-les-Bains Black Panthers, defend their title after last year’s nail-biting final in Perpignan? Will the Flash, last season’s runners-up, find their rhythm to reclaim dominance, or could the Blue Stars of Marseille surprise everyone and snag the title?
With so many questions and thrilling matchups on the horizon, let’s break down what promises to be an exhilarating 2025 season of D1 Elite.
Competition Format
This year, twelve teams will battle across France, with the highest concentration in the Paris region. These teams are split into two conferences, North and South, based on geographical boundaries:
North Conference:
- Black Panthers of Thonon-les-Bains (2024 French Champions)
- Cougars of Saint-Ouen-l’Aumône
- Red Devils of Villepinte
- Flash of La Courneuve
- Leopards of Rouen
- Molosses of Asnières-sur-Seine
South Conference:
- Argonauts of Aix-en-Provence
- Blue Stars of Marseille
- Dolphins of Nice
- Catalan Grizzlies of Perpignan
- Iron Mask of Cannes
- Bears of Toulouse
Each team will face off in ten matches, with two games in a home-and-away format against the five other teams in their conference. No cross-conference matchups will occur during the regular season.
Key Dates for the 2025 D1 Elite Season
Here are some essential dates for the 2025 D1 Elite Season:
- January 25-26: First matchday of the regular season
- May 3-4: Tenth and final matchday of the regular season
- May 24-25: Wildcard round
- June 7-8: Championship semifinals
- June 28-29: Diamond Helmet (D1 Elite Final)
How to Follow the 2025 D1 Elite Season?
Great news for both longtime fans and newcomers to D1 Elite! This year, it’s easier than ever to keep up with your favorite league!
The French American Football Federation has announced the launch of FFFA.TV. This new platform, available for free with simple registration, will let you follow all D1 Elite championship matches live or via replay. Partnered with Sportall, this platform promises an exciting experience as the French American football league unfolds this season.
Additionally, you can catch all the D1 Elite action on The Free Agent website and app. Before each game day on Fridays, a full preview will dissect the upcoming matchups, and after the games, highlights will be available. Plus, in collaboration with Spring Football News, which will provide video highlights, a podcast will launch at the end of January to discuss all things D1 Elite.
This is set to be an electrifying 2025 D1 Elite season, and fans are in for a treat!
Photo Credit: FFFA
