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.
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