Week 7 witnessed Luis Perez' first St. Louis start, Louisville stunning the red-hot Defenders, Birmingham outlasting desperate Dallas, and Orlando edged Houston in front of a disheartening tiny crowd. The quality of football continues to improve in the UFL while the ratings raise but attendance keeps dipping. It is a disquieting situation. The league has never been better yet casuals and previous in-person attendees refuse to flip the turnstiles.
Ratings just dropped for three of the four games. The NASCAR lead-in on FS1 boosted Sunday's night Orlando-Houston to 475k. Dallas-Birmingham had a relatively disappointing Saturday number on ESPN. Columbus-St. Louis posted over 680k on Friday night. If anything, FOX's Friday night strategy has grown into a staple slot. Continuity is king.
Columbus 20, St. Louis 31
Luis Perez received his first Battlehawks start and the Spring King proved worthy of his throne. He started the procession with two first quarter touchdowns. The Aviators counterattacked with a score before St. Louis added another touchdown for the 24-7 halftime. The Battlehawks missed a field goal chance before halftime with some awful mismanagement. The Defenders (spoiler alert!) would do the same. Spring football follies!
Columbus opened the second half with a touchdown. St. Louis immediately answered with another rushing touchdown and that essentially sealed the game. The Aviators tallied a touchdown in the fourth quarter, and since a 17-point game is a two-score situation in the UFL, Ted Ginn Jr. should have called for a two-point or three-point conversion. Instead, he ordered the traditional extra point attempt. The football gods issued a punishment. The kick doinked off the upright. The celebrity coach giveth in tickets and taketh away in situational football.
St. Louis drew its smallest crowd in history at just below 19k. Of course, those are numbers that every other team would sell its mascot for. Still, there are concerns. If the league's headliner for fan support loses its luster, then what?
Louisville 30, DC 13
The Defenders went from league favorites to a muddled, three-way tie at 5-2 after blowing a 13-3 lead to the hard-fighting Kings. Jordan Ta'amu had an AFL game, throwing for 353 yards and two TDs but also tossing two INTs. Chandler Rogers continued his ascension as the anti-Bean with two TD passes.
Louisville opened the scoring with a field goal before DC tallied two touchdowns and looked firmly in control. Before halftime, the Kings drove down the field and on third down, Rogers scrambled and was DEMOLISHED by a Defender. He understandably fumbled (as his soul departed) and DC recovered. Alas, unnecessary roughness was called. The dodged bullet and savage hit awoken a berserker mentality in Rogers. He found Black for a touchdown pass and the Kings were alive.
Louisville tied the game at 13-13 with a field goal and then scored 17 more points to complete the upset. Four DC turnovers plagued the Defenders. The two teams rematch this weekend.
Dallas 17, Birmingham 21
The DTR experience has given the Stallions a new lease on life. Birmingham improved to 3-4 and currently sits in the fourth and final playoff spot. Meanwhile, Dallas lost its fourth straight game as the Renegades can't find a way to stop bleeding.
The game was a dull affair for three quarters. Dallas went up 10-0, partly fueled by DTR throwing the world's funniest interception, as his throwaway attempt stayed in-bounds. Birmingham scored on a 47-yard TD pass on 4th and 11. The league's no-punt past the 50 yard line rule, once again, produced an exciting play.
The two teams supplied a scoreless third quarter before Birmingham tied the game at 10-10 and Dallas bullied its way for a touchdown run at 5:07 left. DTR, undaunted, led a touchdown drive capped by a Mickens catch. Dallas moved into position for a game-winning field goal that was blocked.
Overtime provided more replay controversy that only Renegades-Stallions games can provide. Dallas was called short on a quarterback sneak. While, it appeared his body, and by extension the ball, crossed the line, no definite shot was found. DTR, on Birmingham's first try, eluded pressure and crossed the line. Dallas' second chance ended in a sack. DTR found Mickens via a tight window and Birmingham had the 21-17 win.
Orlando 24, Houston 23
Anthony Becht found another way to win an ugly game and moved into a three-way tie at 5-2 upon the UFL standings. Orlando blew a double-digit lead to the hapless Gamblers before rallied for the nerve-wracking 24-23 victory.
A touchdown pass and a pick six intermixed with a Houston field goal had Orlando up 14-3. The Gamblers led by Hunter Dekkers fought back and trailed 17-13 at halftime.
Houston grabbed the 20-17 lead on a 49-yard TD pass when forced by the UFL's no-punt rule to go for it on 4th and 11. Orlando responded with a deep touchdown pass to Badger for the 24-20 advantage. The Gamblers countered with a field goal. The two teams exchanged three punts before drama arrived on Houston's final drive.
A questionable offsides call wiped out a game-sealing interception. The next play, 4th and 5, ended with Dekkers missing a wide-open running back on a wheel route. Kevin Sumlin employing the same desperation Super Challenge strategy that beat Birmingham whipped out the red flag. Dean Blandino agreed with the holding challenge. Houston had new life and moved to Orlando's 45 where on 3rd down Dekkers again missed a wide open Gambler. Sumlin elected to try the 63-yard field goal. The kick was on target as your grandma playing Madden and Orlando celebrated its narrow win.
Power Rankings
1. St. Louis - The Battlehawks needed an offense and they likely found one. Perez is heating up and if he and Butler can become the Wonder Twins, call Thanos. Or the Hantavirus.
2. DC - The Defenders stumbled badly. Louisville's avalanche left a bewildered foe behind. However, revenge can be had this weekend. Audi Field needs its home team in the United Bowl.
3. Orlando - The Storm win in ugly ways but are positioned for a chance to host a playoff game.
4. Birmingham - DTR has given new life to a season previously on life support. However, the last two wins have been helped by opponent errors and favorable fortune. Still, winning makes believers from Doubting Thomases.
5. Louisville - The Return of the Kings were the biggest story of Week 7 and justly show. If Louisville can repeat itself performance this weekend at home, Repole found his best success of 2026. Of course, UFL teams tend to fall flat when they need a big win at home.
6. Dallas - The Renegades lost their mojo. Austin Reed's decline leaves a fan base frustrated about the Perez trade. Prayers up for the health of Reed's twin babies.
7. Columbus - Ted Ginn Jr.'s Ohio State education shone through on Friday night. But he wasn't there for math, just football. The Aviators are sky-diving into missing the playoffs. Ryan Day isn't coming to rescue this Columbus team.
8. Houston - At least, no one is there to see the Gamblers lose. The same won't be said for this Saturday at St. Louis.
Attendance Data
Hang around the UFL reddit group and you will notice attendance talk dominate the discussion. I decide to pull the data for home games without concerts.
Columbus: 8,538
Dallas: 6,018.3
DC: 7,636.3
Houston: 4,818.3
Louisville: 10,769
Orlando: 9,142.3
St. Louis: 19,386
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