The Omaha Beef joined the new IFL from the old UIF. The Beef schedule opened up brutally, with three of the first five games being against Billings and Sioux Falls. As it stood, James McNear led the team to a 3-2 record. McNear on the year passed for 41 scores to just 7 picks., with his favorite targets being Allen Burrell and O.J. Simpson. McNear also rushed for sixteen scores, while fullback R.J. Rollins scored another sixteen. The Beef had 12 scores on defense and special teams and outscored opponents 156-106 in the first quarter, making for many fast starts. The team won ten of its final eleven games, with two wins over Billings and six wins over playoff teams. Due to Sioux Falls' forced forfeiture of five wins during the season, the Beef would be division champions and received a first round bye in the postseason. The Beef would meet the red-hot Wichita Wild in the second round, the only team that they had lost to in their final eleven games. Wichita proved that the win was not a fluke and overcame two interceptions thrown by Dixie Wooten, as well as nine penalties, to follow up a 39-37 victory six weeks earlier with another, this time 39-34. The Beef returned in 2010, going 9-5, finishing behind Wichita and Sioux Falls in the division. The Beef outscored opponents 51-40. Quarterback Ben Sankey threw 65 touchdowns to just 15 picks. Luke McArdle caught 31 scores. R.J. Rollins led the ground game with 15 touchdowns. The team won seven of its last eight to get to the 9-5 record, losing in overtime to Sioux Falls and beating them once. The postseaons was seeded by region, which meant Omaha was going back to Sioux Falls. The Beef trailed 7-6 at half but Sioux Falls broke the game open early in the third quarter and ran away with a 42-23 victory. The Beef returned with James McNear at quarterback for 2011. With Wooten gone to Grand Island, McNear threw for 2,129 yards, 37 touchdowns and 17 picks. He ran for 502 yards and scored 14 times. Maurice Avery led the receiving corps with 18 touchdowns and 809 yards. OJ Simpson and Allen Burrell combined for 954 yards and eight touchdowns each. Travonti Johnson picked 12 passes and returned two for scores. Devonte Peterson led the team in sacks with 5.5. The team went 4-3 in games decided by ten points or less and secured a homeplayoff berth with a last-second missed field goal return for touchdown at home against Sioux Falls. The score as time expired gave the Beef a 41-37 victory and ended the Sioux Falls bid for a perfect regular season. The Beef earned a first round home playoff game and faced the Bloomington Extreme. A furious Bloomington second half comeback fell short and the Beef advanced 39-34 to face Sioux Falls for the second time in three weeks. This time, though, Omaha was unable to hang with the Storm and lost 52-39. The team returned in 2012, quarterbacked again by James McNear. His output this year was 2,152 yards, 42 touchdowns and 13 picks. Leroy Banks led the team in receiving with 515 yards and 12 touchdowns. McNear led the team in rushing with over 400 yards. The team went 6-8. During the year, the owner of the Beef was arrested for cocaine possession. The team qualified for the playoffs, but decided not to participate. The team would have played Sioux Falls two weeks in a row.