Week 4 UFL Review - Additional Tidbits

Week 4 witnessed the birth of first wins for two new franchises, the continued fracturing of Birmingham, and DC/Orlando both laid claim to the position of best team in the league. Then, to top off the action on the field, several quarterbacks shook the league's foundation. The UFL is certainly never boring. 

Birmingham drew its finest UFL attendance with Gucci Mane as the halftime "entertainment." Over 18,000 walked into Protective Stadium and most of the them galloped out after seeing Stallions' non-existent offense played lamer than Smarty Jones. Houston's fans numbered slightly more than cards in a deck. Columbus produced a solid crowd for a 0-3 team and the Aviators awarded the faithful with an upset. DC's attendance disappointed, despite a beautiful day and rival St. Louis in town. If the defending champs with the Beer Snake and momentum are seeing dips, what can drive attendance? Is spring football too niche?

Louisville 24, Houston 22

Life can feel like a simulation. The UFL changed the controversial rule about the game ending in overtime on consecutive defensive penalties after the Kings were deposed by its application. How does the next Louisville end up? In overtime, of course. 

The two teams traded long field goals in the first quarter. Louisville then scored 10 unanswered points. Before halftime, the squads again each kicked massively long field goals for the 16-6 Kings lead. 

The Gamblers rolled a lucky seven out of halftime with Marcus Yarns rambling 68 yards for a touchdown. The extra point was missed. It proved critical. Taulia Tagovailoa, with brother Tua in the house, ran for a six yard TD and Houston led 19-16. 

The football gods decided that enough touchdowns were scored and more lengthy field goals were necessary. Houston extended its lead to 22-16 before Louisville tied the game at 22-22. The final ten minutes were scoreless but dramatic. After a punt exchange, Major Burns (elite name) intercepted Jason Bean. Houston attempted a go-ahead 38-yard field goal that missed by inches, if it missed at all - footage was inconclusive. Louisville was forced to punt and Houston had one last chance to win it regulation but a sack ended their dream. 

The first three overtime conversions failed before Bean connected to McKitty for the 24-22 lead. Louisville's defense rose up and made one final stop and the Kings celebrated their first franchise win. 

Dallas 14, Columbus 28

3-0 Dallas met 0-3 Columbus and the Aviators looked like the undefeated team but not at the start. The Renegades scored first on an Austin Reed touchdown pass to Stoops. Columbus tied the game in the second quarter on a rushing touchdown. Reed tossed another touchdown pass and all seemed right for Dallas.

Columbus struck back. A 3rd and 8 incompletion was negated by Ted Ginn Jr.'s Super Challenge for pass interference. The call was made. It proved genius. The following play featured an extraordinary TD catch by Chism to tie the game at 14-14.

The Aviators flew out of halftime on a long touchdown drive. The score came on a McClendon fumble that was fortuiosuly recovered by teammate Moragne in the end zone. Columbus got the ball back late in the third quarter and launched an Army football-like 18 play 97 yard TD drive. The air team ran the ball down Dallas' throats. Taua's two-yard TD run capped the drive. Reed's INT on the following drive essentially sealed the upset win. 

St. Louis 22, DC 28

The XFL rivals met in a rematch of Week 1 hard-hitting affair and this time DC emerged victorious. The Defenders made another case for the league's best team even if the Battlehawks nearly pulled off the improbable comeback. 

St. Louis opened the scoring with a 51-yard field goal. DC countered with a touchdown pass. Harrison Frost found Hakeem Butler on a short screen pass and the spring football superstar raced 75 yards for a spectacular individual touchdown. Of course, the kicker missed the extra point.

DC used a field goal and another touchdown pass combo for the 17-9 lead. St. Louis kicked a field goal as time expired before halftime. 

DC kicked a 43-yard field goal and then 26 seconds later sacked Frost for a safety. The Defenders drove for a knockout punch but had to settle for a field goal. St. Louis used the reprieve for a touchdown run. DC added an insurance field goal for the 28-19 lead. 

St. Louis drove down to DC 5 before a false start pushed them back to the 10. Facing fourth and goal and sitting on three timeouts, the Battlehawks kicked a field goal. Eschewing the 4th and 12 onside option, St. Louis trusted its defense. With some assistance from cowardly DC play-calling, the Battlehawks regained possession. 

A good return and a defensive penalty started STL at DC's 40. Frost scrambled for 12 yards before throwing an incomplete pass and taking a 11-yard sack. On the next play, his feel good story vanquished as Frost badly underthrew a deep ball for an interception and the Defenders sealed the win. 

Orlando 16, Birmingham 0

Some empires collapse immediately after their founder's departure - see Alexander the Great's construction - and others like the Roman Empire limp along before passing into history. The Stallions under AJ McCarron are the former. Nothing went right and Anthony Becht got his revenge win on his former quarterback. Orlando sits at 4-0 and keeps stacking wins. 

Orlando scored the game's only touchdown late in the first quarter on a pass to Cam Camper. The Storm had a chance for another touchdown but a stiff Birmingham stand forced a 19-yard-old FG. The Stallions had a chance for a field goal before halftime but Anders Carlson missed worse than a nerd on prom night. Orlando seized the opportunity and scored before halftime. 

Matt Corral, after McCarron was caught on the hot mic mocking him to another player, was finally benched for Michael Hiers. The new quarterback provided a little spark but no points. Orlando tacked on another field goal for the 16-0 win. 

It has been the fate of spring football for teams to flounder when their markets show up for games. Birmingham was no exception. 18,000+ fans saw a dreadful display of football. The Stallions are a ghost of Skip Holtz's well-oiled machine. 

Trades

Louisville sent starting quarterback Jason Bean to DC for Mike DiLiello

An interesting move for sure by the Kings trading away their starting quarterback. However, judging from head coach Chris Redman's comments, Bean's slide at the goal line seemed to rub him and likely his teammates the wrong way. Still, Bean's big play ability won't be easily replaceable.

Grades: A- for DC | C for Louisville 

Birmingham shipped off quarterback Matt Corral and defensive end Amani Bledsoe to Orlando for quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson

The Corral-McCarron was irreparably broken. DTR offers some upside. However, many former NFL quarterbacks, including Corral, have not fared well in spring football. See Paxton Lynch and Kellen Mond. But the gamble is worth it. Orlando adds a solid defensive end to its roster. 

Grades: B+ for Birmingham | B+ for Orlando 

Power Rankings

1. DC - The Defenders move into first place with their strong showing over the Battlehawks. Strong offense and clutch defense can carry a team. 

2. Orlando - The Storm continue to stack wins against the league's weak sisters. 4-0 is 4-0. Becht has his new team humming. 

3. Dallas - The Renegades drop two spots after being shot down by the Aviators. Dallas will need to rebound after Columbus ran them over. 

4. St. Louis - The Battlehawks sit at 2-2 with losses to Dallas and DC and wins over Birmingham and DC. They are the favorite for the fourth and final playoff spot but quarterback remains a question mark. 

5. Louisville - The Kings show the most promise of the 1-3 teams. The defense is strong. But will Chandler Rogers be the answer at QB?

6. Columbus - If the Aviators can channel their Friday night magic into other games, look out. That running game was impressive. Woody Hayes would be proud. 

7. Birmingham - The Stallions might need to be put down or sent to the glue factory. Either way, DTR has a lot of pressure on him. 

8. Houston - The Gamblers should call the 1-800 number.

Okie from UFLogee (OKC in 2028)

I was about to enter a Wawa to use my free birthday drink coupon* when the UFL app sent a welcome notification about expansion in 2028. Repole's regime has been a flurry of activity and promises and he delivered on a major interest: expansion. The previous owners have talked about expansion in a hypothetical way - in the way parents put off kids' inquiries with vague promises to shut them up. 

This announcement of a confirmed city solidifies that the UFL has a long-term future. Cynicism about spring football is completely understandable. Leagues have come and gone like baseball cards. The AAF in 2019 started the rebirth in the sport and after Week 8 died. The 2020 XFL was the last league that generated large amounts of nationwide excitement. When COVID killed off Vince's second try at professional football, the sphere felt empty. 

USFL 2.0 launched in 2022 and the hub system, while financially prudent, lent an appearance of COVID-restrictions or intrasquad scrimmages. The football was solid; no rival league to split talent, but the lack of fans for non-Birmingham games allowed drone noise to dominant. 

XFL 3.0 arrived the next year and the Battlehawks' fan base supplied an excitement of legitimacy. The USFL increased to three hubs but too many games still only featured family and friends in the stands. 16 teams split the shallow talent pool and the XFL's emphasis on celebrity coaches generated horrific results. 

A merger was needed. While eight teams felt too low - 12 might have satisfied the core spring fan base - it was a financially acceptable move. 2024 & 2025 UFL seasons weren't terrible but they lacked the freshness of previous editions. Momentum has slowed to a crawl and several markets, like Memphis, were zombies. 

Enter Repole. The man immediately tweeted into the spring football circles and got people talking. Brashness is a powerful force. Many of America's best generals - Anthony Wayne, Andrew Jackson, George Patton - rumbled into the arena and got tongues talking. Love or hate his social media tactics, folks are talking about the UFL. More importantly, he is listening to fans. That matters. 

Oklahoma City isn't the sexy west coast team that thousands of expansion posts on Reddit crave. Neither is the spot an Eastern metropolis but the city does watch the UFL. Shoring up the base is always a good move. Oklahoma City supports the UFL. Reciprocating support matters. 

Bring on 2028!

Team Name Suggestions

Outlaws - Historical USFL name. Ties to history legitimates spring football and alliteration is always fun. 

Scissortails - The majestic state bird and unlike Eagles, Cardinals, and other birds, the moniker would be original. Plus, the hashtag can be #ClipClip! 

Toby Keiths - RIP. Keith played football and, if you have to think if he wasn't tragically struck down, he would have invested in the league. Maybe the fan club can take the moniker? Miss you, Toby! 

Wildcatters - Oklahoma oil has fueled the nation - Conoco and Phillips 66 - and wildcatters were tough, gritty men. 

Week 3 UFL Review

The 2026 season continued with a thrilling Week 3. The showcase included the highest margin of victory in UFL history, a controversial ending, a DWI-inspired coaching change, and a back-and-forth wild one in St. Louis where a new star might have come out of hibernation. The weekend certainly did not lack for action or strangeness. Frontrunners emerged and several teams found themselves sitting at 0-3. 

Ratings jumped. With the games back on ABC, ESPN, and FOX, audiences responded accordingly. 1.01 million tuned for Sunday's Stallions-Battlehawks showdown for AJ McCarron's return to St. Louis. They saw a wooly affair with plenty of big play and turnovers. 

FNF (Friday Night Football) on FOX saw a slow but steady growth pattern. Hopefully, the game's abrupt ending did not turn off potential fans. But more on that outrage later. 

Orlando 29, Louisville 27

The Storm, once again as typical of Becht's style, won a close game and remained unbeaten at 3-0, as the two teams battled for the second straight week. But Orlando's perfection was overshadowed by a controversial rule. Both quarterbacks tossed three touchdowns. Plummer, Orlando's thrower, proved more consistent while Bean, Louisville's gunslinger, alternated between amazing throws and inaccuracy short passes. 

Louisville struck first on a 51-yard field goal. Orlando struck back with a touchdown pass. The teams traded field goals in the second quarter for a 10-6 Storm halftime lead. 

The game went haywire in the second half. Bean found his stride for a touchdown pass. Plummer answered the call with a TD toss. Louisville's field general struck for his second TD pass of the third quarter and the Kings led 20-17 entering the final quarter. 

Orlando tied the game at 20-20 on the first play of the fourth stanza. The Storm seized the lead on a beautiful 40-yard TD catch by KJ Hamler, who dove out like an acrobat for the sensational snag. Bean tied the game on a two-minute drive, as he found Davidson for a second time. 

The game headed into overtime and the UFL's system, a series of three two-point conversions, kicked into gear. Neither team could convert a single attempt as misfires after misfires piled up and the sequence dissolved into sudden death. Eventually, Louisville's defensive backs committed consecutive penalties, and by the rules, Orlando received the winning two points. 

Social media exploded with outrage as an exciting contest ended in the football equivalent of a balk. I expect a rule change will occur in the offseason. 

Houston 7, DC 45

The Defenders unlocked the largest win in UFL history in a complete dismantling of the hapless Gamblers. DC, after an anemic Week 1 showing in the BattleDome, appears to be one of the league's finest teams. 

Deon Jackson raced 60 yards for DC's opening touchdown on the opening drive and the rout was on. Matt McCrane kicked his second four-point field goal and then added a traditional one. Gareon Conley, former first round pick for the Raiders, picked off Taulia Tagovailoa, Tua's brother, for a touchdown. DC notched another rushing touchdown and led 28-0 at halftime. 

After another McCrane boot, Houston scored its only points on a Tagovailoa touchdown pass. DC answered with two more scores and negated a beautiful Houston touchdown with a Super Challenge. The DC fans and Beer Snake were hollering for 50 points but the Defenders showed mercy. 

Columbus 23, Dallas 28

In a game where the score wasn't indicative of Dallas' relative dominance, the biggest storyline resided in how Todd Haley, acting head coach for Columbus, after Ted Ginn Jr.'s DUI had the Aviators looking competent at times. Austin Reed only threw for 147 yards but tossed two touchdowns. 

Columbus struck first for a touchdown before Dallas answered with seven points. The Aviators flew ahead on a field goal but disaster grounded them before halftime. A pick six lateral gave Dallas the 14-10 lead before halftime. 

Dallas tacked on two touchdowns in the third quarter for a seemingly indestructible 28-10 lead. Columbis found the end zone before the quarter ended. The Aviators wouldn't score again until the two minute warning. The two-point conversion failed but Columbus had hope. The 4th and 12 onside try was not convert and Dallas improved to 3-0. 

Birmingham 30, St. Louis 34

The game emphasized everything wacky and mindboggling about the UFL, as the two most-known spring football teams staged a third straight classic. Both teams turned the ball over at a prodigious rate. St. Louis benched its starting quarterback and despite the backup, Harrison Frost, tossing two interceptions, saw its newest entry turn into the hero. Matt Corral continued his uneven play for the spring powerhouse, as the Stallions fell to 1-2. 

St. Louis jumped out to a 10-0 lead on a Corral pick six and a 54-yard field goal. Corral struck back with a long touchdown pass and the Battlehawks added a field goal for a 13-7 halftime lead. 

Like Orlando-Louisville, the second half featured explosive plays and offensive fireworks. Birmingham cut the deficit in half with a field goal before returning a Frost pass for a touchdown and a 16-13 lead. The Stallions then went up 23-13 on an Anthony McFarland TD run. 

Frost found his bearings and led a touchdown drive. The Deon Cain Train responded with a majestic 67-yard bomb. Hakeem Butler, not to be outdone by his horse rival, caught a 64-yard TD pass. The Dome, home to a few Big 12 Championship Games, saw the conference's spirit renewed. The Battlehawks seized the lead on a late touchdown pass. Corral attempted to lead a comeback but he missed a wide open deep threat and the Battlehawks batted away his fourth down pass and won a potential playoff elimination game. 

Power Rankings

1. Dallas - The Renegades dodged the trap game with aplomb. Now, they head to Columbus for a rematch with the Aviators. Now Dallas avoid the pitfall? If Austin Reed continues his MVP play, the law is helpless. 

2. Orlando - Is Orlando really the #2 team? Likely not, but 3-0 is 3-0. The Defenders-Battlehawks winner will likely jump the Storm next week. Orlando heads to Birmingham. Becht and McCarron had the bitterest divorce since the Millhouses. Orlando wins ugly and Birmingham loses by narrow margins. Can the Storm rain dance on the Stallions' home opener? 

3. DC - The Defenders lost to St. Louis in Week 1 but rebounded with amazing offense and tenacious defense. The Battlehawks travel to Audi Field for the UFL's best rivalry. Unless you count head coaches versus clock management. The Defenders' O-Line will need to actually, well, defend against St. Louis' pass rush. 

4. St. Louis - The Battlehawks edged the Stallions in an all-time classic. The kind of game that would be repeatedly replayed on the UFL Network, if such a channel existed. If Harrison Frost is the real deal, expect barren harvests for opposing defenses. The only question for St. Louis: does a rookie head coach limit its ceiling to the Dome's roof? 

5. Birmingham - Skip Holtz is greatly missed. The Stallions have been plagued by discipline issues. McCarron hasn't broken in his colts. Corral varies between top quarterback in the UFL and how the hell was his a third round pick in the NFL Draft. Four INTs is a ghastly number. 

6. Houston - The Gamblers' win over Birmingham loses more and more like the kind of fluke that happens when a drunk sorority girl joins a blackjack game, says hit me on 18, and the dealer draws a three. Injuries and Kevin Sumlin are snake eyes. A cool logo can only carry a team so far. 

7. Louisville - The Kings are better than what their 0-3 record indicates. They can prove it tomorrow at Houston. The league needs the Louisville market to work. Bean has talent galore but his 50% completion percentage is too erratic. Big plays and big misses are fun to watch for neutral fans, though. 

8. Columbus - Ted Ginn Jr. will stay on as head pilot despite his DUI. However, the Aviators looked their best without the Ohio State legend at the wheel. The Columbus market has excitement but a lackluster team can cool off a fevered market. A Friday night upset over Dallas would be huge. Someone call Lindy. However, I bet he is a Battlehawk fan. 

UFL Week 2 Review

Week 2 might have not reached the level of the opening salvo but it certainly was interesting. Dallas reaffirmed its status as the league's best, DC broke Columbus' heart and defense with a scintillating offense, Orlando handled Louisville to remain unbeaten, and the Houston Gamblers repeated what they always did in USFL 2.0 and stunned the Stallions. 

Attendance, as usual, proved a mixed buffet table of prime rib and soggy eggrolls. Columbus drew a loud and vocal crowd that slowly quieted with each DC touchdown. The UFL appears cursed in that every time a new market fills a stadium, the home team lays an egg. Houston, despite Ludacris' appearance, had pockmarked attendance. Orlando suffered a slight dip but the Storm Surge fan base was LOUD! Dallas' attendance, depressed by a rare bird Tuesday night slot, should see a boost after their Renegades crashed the Battlehawks. 

TV numbers continue to hold steady. The Friday night game on FOX actually saw a boost from Week 1 - something which did not occur in 2025 - and the other nights were situationally solid enough. Spring football is caught in-between not being fresh and not being established. 

The league also announced expansion to Oklahoma City in 2028. An article on that topic will be released in the upcoming days. 

DC 44, Columbus 26

The game started promising with both teams scoring touchdowns on their opening drives. The Columbus crowd, pouring into the old Crew stadium, exhibited large excitement. DC made a field goal while Columbus eschewed a 4th and 2 opportunity for a 51-yard field goal attempt. The kick missed and the reigning champions promptly took advantage tallying two straight touchdowns. 

DC looked to be running away with the game before a muffled punt sparked Columbus. The Aviators cashed in the favor and cut the deficit to 24-14. Columbus notched an interception on DC's next drive but the Defenders returned the favor. 

The Aviators crashed in the second half. The Defenders converted two fumbles into two touchdowns and essentially sealed the win. Columbus added some garbage time points to make the final score look more respectable. 

Louisville 9, Orlando 19

The battle of the two newcomers was classic bad spring football. Both offenses were inefficient before a zany touchdown gave Orlando the win. The teams traded field goals for a 6-6 score. Louisville added another field goal before Jack Plummer scrambled and found KJ Hamler. The speedy wide receiver created offense from the broken play and darted across the field for an exciting touchdown and Orlando led 12-9 entering halftime. 

The teams went quiet during the third quarter. Plummer found Eliijah Badger for a 39-yard touchdown to increase the lead to 19-9. The teams traded interceptions and Orlando's defense forced one final stop. 

The Storm are 2-0 and looked poised for a 3-0 beginning. Becht, despite suffering slings and arrows for his postseason shortcomings, owns a 25-8 regular season record. 

Birmingham 20, Houston 22

The Gamblers have historically been Birmingham's nemesis and Kevin Sumlin, generally hapless against other foes, is 2-1 against the Stallions. 

Birmingham's offense sputtered for most of the first half. The Stallions refused a makeable field goal and failed on a 4th and 1 throw. Houston's offense drove all day on the Stallions but stalled in the red zone or fumbled at the goal line, leaving the score at 6-0. Birmingham went hurry-up before halftime and scored in six plays with a Matt Corral touchdown pass to Jayden Mickens. 

Birmingham galloped out of the gate with a sharp drive capped by a TD pass to Deon Cain. The Stallions failed to land a knockout blow and Houston, once again, saw lengthy drives result in field goals. A Corral interception set up a Houston touchdown. The drive was extended by a silly Birmingham on a field goal attempt. 

Corral, inconsistent all day, mustered the troops for a decisive drive and Anthony McFarland scored from one-yard out for the 20-19 lead. Birmingham went for two but Corral made the wrong read and the attempt failed, leaving the door open for Houston. 

Birmingham's lack of discipline reared its head again. The Stallions had the game won on fourth down but negated a Houston holding penalty with an avoidable horsecollar penalty. A Nolan Henderson first down run was called back after AJ McCarron used his super challenge. On fourth down, Birmingham achieved a pass breakup but Sumlin challenged a missed DPI. His obvious gamble worked. John Hoyland made his fifth field goal of the day - a 50th yarder - and Houston celebrated its upset. 

St. Louis 15, Dallas 31

Dallas and Austin Reed continued their blazing hot start with a decisive victory over the UFL's standby. Reed tossed four touchdowns, three of which went to star wide receiver Tyler Vaughns. Reed has been accurate and sharp with his reads and looks like spring football's best quarterback since 2023 Alex McGough. His mic-up sessions have also gained new fans. 

Dallas scored on its opening drive and then added a field goal for the 9-0 lead. St. Louis stemmed the bleeding with a field goal but the Renegades countered with a touchdown pass and a two-point conversion for the 17-3 halftime lead. 

Reed made a rare mistake in the third quarter but the Battlehawks could only score a field goal. Dallas answered with Reed's third touchdown pass. St. Louis fought back with a touchdown run and converted the first three-point conversion of the season. Suddenly, the score was 24-15 and the Battlehawks, with the UFL's scoring system, transformed the game into a one-score situation. St. Louis' defense obliged and raised the stakes with a stop. The Battlehawks' offense could not answer going four and out. 

Dallas drove a stake through St. Louis' hearts when Reed delivered the best pass of Week 2 on a 30-yard kill shot to Vaughns. A Brandon Silvers interception on the next drive was academic. 

Power Rankings

1. Dallas - The Renegades laid undeniable claim to the league's top spot. They have the best quarterback-wide receiver combo in the league. Rick Neuheisel's hiring reinforces that experience dominates in spring football. 

2. Orlando - The Storm are the other undefeated team but have played the league's (spoiler alert) two weakest teams. Still, wins are wins. They face Louisville again (quirky schedule) this weekend. A 3-0 start would be huge for the brewing hurricane. 

3. St. Louis - The Battlehawks have the best win of the 1-1 teams - a 16-10 victory over DC. However, their quarterback situation remains dicey. Will AJ Smith, the OC, make a change? Silvers has proven to be fool's gold. 

4. DC - The Defenders routed Columbus and have a team and staff full of continuity. The offensive line remains a question mark. 

5. Houston - Are the Gamblers better than the Stallions? Likely not, but they won the first meeting and that must be respected. 

6. Birmingham - Can AJ McCarron rally the troops as the Stallions head into a hostile BattleDome? Skip Holtz is dearly missed. Birmingham has the horses to make the playoffs but do they have the jockey?

7. Louisville - The Kings need to beat Orlando this Friday night at home. The Week 1 opening crowd was electric. Chris Redman, another rookie head coach, can't afford a 0-3 start. 

8. Columbus - The uniforms are great, the crowd was great, the team was not great. Ted Ginn Jr.'s coaching gives off shades of 2023 Hines Ward. Unfortunately for the Aviators, their next flight heads into anti-aircraft Dallas. Swelled heads for Dallas might be the wing and a prayer. 

UFL Week 1 Review

Week 1 of the 2026 UFL season is in the books and the first weekend displayed play far ahead of the 2025 season opening. The extra time in training camp definitely paid off with offenses looking sharp and defenses hustling around. Mike Repole appeared at two games and delivered excellent interviews. His methods are brash but he has a vision for spring football. 

The early attendance numbers were also solid. St. Louis reported 31k and the Dome looked filled to that number. Louisville reported a sellout and the Kings' crowd brought immense energy. Orlando's 11k were loud and the Storm rewarded their fans with a victory. Dallas' crowd wasn't up to expectations but the Renegades routed Houston with a proficient offense. 

DC-St. Louis drew 938k in viewership on ESPN - a spectacular number that prompted ESPNPR's X account to celebrate. Birmingham-Louisville posted the usual 600k number for Friday night. Columbus-Orlando grabbed a respectable 466k on Sunday night. Spring football continues to build upon its niche audience. 

The new rules of a four-point field goal (60+) and having to go for it after passing the 50-yard line were immediate successes. DC converted on a lengthy field goal opportunity and the fourth down attempts sparked intriguing strategies and play calls. 

Birmingham 15, Louisville 13

AJ McCarron christened his Stallions' debut with a thrilling win over the relocated Louisville Kings. Matt Corral looked poised and converted several 3rd and longs. If McCarron can corral the talent that made the former Ole Miss Rebel a third round NFL pick, Birmingham has the offensive weapons to dominate the league. 

Louisville's Jason Bean displayed confidence - a bit too much. He threw away a credible game-winning drive by tossing a 20-80 ball into the stratosphere. The Kings' head coach Chris Redman's take will be to harness Bean's aggressive tendencies into productive throws. Early returns suggest Louisville is a playoff caliber team. However, three turnovers to none will sink any squad. 

DC 10, St. Louis 16

St. Louis defeated their XFL rivals in a thrilling defensive showdown. The reigning league champion Defenders grabbed the early 10-0 lead but the Battlehawks defense rose up and shut down DC. St. Louis harassed Jordan Ta'amu all days, collecting a franchise record seven sacks. 

The Battlehawks' offense looked anemic without star wide receiver Hakeem Butler (inactive) and quarterback Michael Silvers failed to impress. But the team combined enough drives to outscore the downtrodden Defenders. 

Houston 17, Dallas 36

Another opening weekend, another dreadful Houston showing. The renamed Gamblers, replacing the Roughnecks moniker, rolled snake eyes against a hungry and determined Renegades squad. At this point, one wonders if the Houston franchise carries a curse from the aborted 2020 season. Kevin Sumlin continues his downward trajectory as a head coach. Bad spring football coaches are a special kind of tragic. In the NFL, it is a farce. In the UFL, it is depressing as an ASPCA commercial. 

Dallas made waves throughout the spring football commercial when the team announced Austin Reed would start over Luis "The King of Spring" Perez. The decision paid off, at least, for a week. Reed set the single game passing yardage record and threw three touchdowns against the hapless Gamblers. If Reed is the real deal, Dallas has the deepest QB room in the league. Fans have suggested trading for Perez but Dallas would be foolish to ship away a proven starter for a position player. 

Columbus 16, Orlando 23

Week 1 concluded with two relocated foes meeting in the Sunshine State. The game wasn't as close as the score. Orlando generally held control throughout the game. Columbus' best chance came after pinning Orlando with an elite punt. But an Aviator dropped a gift-wrapped pick six and the Storm, given new life, completed a long pass, setting up a touchdown drive. 

Columbus had a chance to tie the game but a sack derailed their final drive. Anthony Becht, who posted a 22-8 regular season record with St. Louis but went 0-2 in the playoffs, won his first game with Orlando. Becht, the new dean of UFL head coaches after Skip Holtz's departure, continues his winning ways. 

Power Rankings

1. St. Louis - DC might not be at the same level as in 2025, but St. Louis' defense broke through the Defenders' line like the British at Bladensburg. 

2. Birmingham - The Stallions' defense generated three turnovers and the offense delivered a clutch drive. McCarron coached like a veteran presence - he definitely learned from Saban - and the moment never appeared too big for him. 

3. Dallas - The Renegades are for real but Houston looked completely disorganized. Dallas, very well, could be the best team. 

4. Orlando - Anthony Becht is better than his online reputation would suggest and their offense scored 20+ points - not a common feat in early season UFL play. 

5. Louisville - The Kings have a quarterback. Their running game needs work but the playoffs are possible if they clean up their turnovers. 

6. DC - The Defenders are reigning champs but Ta'amu, as a pocket passer, is offensive line dependent. With spring football's notoriously shoddy offensive lines, he will have to adapt. 

7. Columbus - The Aviators refused to give up down 23-6. That is a good sign. Ted Ginn Jr. looked a bit overwhelmed in his coaching debut and his hat was crooked. Todd Haley's offense resembled stale bread. 

8. Houston - Poor coaching, poor defense, poor QB play, elite uniforms. The Gamblers are that  Pokémon card (hello, Base Set Charizard!) with cool art but completely worthless in competitive play. Houston, the team is a problem.