The Columbus Lions continued their indoor football success in their new league beginning in 2017. Darren Daniel and Mason Espinosa spent significant time at quarterback, combining for 2,684 yards, 65 scores and just eleven INTs. Michael Reeve led all receivers with 21 scores and 809 yards. Columbus quarterbacks were sacked only eleven times all season. Instability plagued the 2017 season, with teams like Corpus Christi and Georgia being far from competitive. A key rouge with 56 seconds left put the Lions on top of Lehigh Valley for what would be a 52-50 playoff victory, capping a 23-7 fourth quarter. Jacksonville would survive a comeback attempt by Columbus in the first NAL title game, and escape with a 27-21 victory. Mason Espinosa played again in 2018, passing for 3,132 yards, 66 scores and seven interceptions. Jarmon Fortson caught 31 scores and, along with Durron Neal, surpassed the 1,000 yard receiving mark. After an 8-3 start to the season, Columbus dropped four in a row to end the regular season, losing six of seven games by a touchdown or less. After a road victory over Massachusetts, Columbus again advanced to the NAL's title game. However, they'd again fall, and this time lost 66-8 to the upstart Carolina Cobras. In 2019, the Lions got out to a 3-8 record before winning the final three games of the regular season to qualify for the playoffs. Jacksonville beat Columbus 67-43. In 2021, the Lions posted a 6-2 regular season and defeated Orlando in the semifinals to advance to the title game at Albany. Albany won 79-62. Mason Espinosa quarterbacked the team for 2021, throwing for 2,230 yards, 56 touchdowns and just two picks. Lonnie Outlaw, Antwone Grant, Romond Deloatch, and Desmond Reece all caught at least ten touchdown passes. Ulric Jones sacked opposing quarterbacks eight times. Espinosa returned to quarterback the team in 2022 for two games and into the playoffs. Daniel Smith quarterbacked seven games, passing for 748 yards and 21 touchdowns. Jarmon Fortson remained with the team again, catching 49 passes for 558 yards and 17 touchdowns. Darien Townsend led all receivers with 74 catches for 856 yards and 23 touchdowns and also scored three touchdowns on kick returns. Kerry Starks racked up ten sacks. The team went 7-5 in the regular season and secured a playoff berth. In their week one tilt with Jacksonville, they used a 34-15 second half to win 56-49. Carolina defeated the Lions 65-51 in the semifinal round of the playoffs. The team left the league following the 2022 season and joined the semipro AIFA.