The penultimate weekend of the 2026 UFL season revealed several maxims. Orlando reinforced its argument for top team in the league, Columbus reiterated that they won't be beaten twice in a row, as the Stallions stumbled in a chance to nab a playoff spot, Louisville continued its late season push, and St. Louis won a sludge fest over Houston to clinch its playoff bid.
Several questions remain: is Orlando truly the top team or merely the one with the best record? Can Louisville notch a playoff spot and reward the smaller but loyal fan base that packs Lynn Family Stadium? Do the Stallions have any magic left or is Skip Holtz's dynasty truly under the control of Birmingham's edition of Romulus Augustulus? Did DC actually clinch a playoff bid or did the UFL jump the gun? Did Houston run out of its 5,000 Jim Kelly bobbleheads???
DC 19, Orlando 27
The Storm have the amazingly, unique ability to dominate a game yet in the final minutes the opposing team looks up at the scoreboard and remains within one score. DC found themselves in one of those messy affairs.
The Defenders, missing their MVP candidate, weathered an early Orlando touchdown to take a 10-7 lead after the first quarter. Then came the rain. Jack Plummer tossed two more touchdown passes and the Orlando led 21-10 at halftime.
The teams traded field goals in the third quarter. Orlando's offense went quiet while Spencer Sanders directed DC to two field goals and suddenly the Defenders were only down 24-19. Alas, Sanders could not conjure any magic. An insurance three-pointer by Orlando effectively ended the game.
The Storm continue to stack unimpressive wins but it equals homefield advantage for a playoff game.
Birmingham 29, Columbus 36
The Stallions' clear playoff path hit a detour with the Aviators led by former Birmingham backup Jalen Morton mounting a comeback for the 36-29 victory. AJ McCarron proved he is not the jockey equivalent of Skip Holtz. The disjointed Stallions, on paper, had the easiest remaining path. Life is different on the back stretch.
The game opened with a DTR interception. Lost in the winning streak was that DTR's play wasn't exactly elite and his bad habits came out to play. Columbus eschewed the the field goal attempt for a double pass try. Cook jumped the lateral and returned it for a touchdown. The Aviators blocked the extra point attempt and returned it for one point - the scoring system under UFL rules - for the ultra-rare 6-1 tally.
Birmingham and Columbus then traded touchdowns. The Stallions added another score but once again Columbus answered with a touchdown and strangely went for two but failed. Birmingham hit a field goal before halftime for the 23-14 lead.
Columbus cut the score to 23-21 before Carlson connected on two field goal for the Stallions. A Birmingham punt pinned Columbus deep before the Aviators flew through the Stallions' defense for the tying score and two-point conversion. Disaster struck on the next drive when DTR firing blindly threw a devastating pick-six. He and the Stallions could not answer on the final chance and Columbus likely sent the former champions to the glue factory.
Dallas 23, Louisville 37
The Renegades dropped their sixth-straight game, as Louisville broke away with a 21-point fourth quarter. Austin Reed went from MVP favorite to 1933 NFL passer by completing only seven passes on 21 attempts. Jerry Jones can sleep at peace knowing his Cowboys are less dysfunctional.
Affairs started well for Dallas, taking 7-0 and 10-3 leads. Louisville battled back and led 13-10 at halftime. The Kings converted on a 54-yard field goal in the third quarter for the 16-10 advantage.
Dallas found some life and Reed connected on a 12-yard touchdown pass and swiftly the Renegades had the lead. It lasted 1:23. Louisville hit a 40-yard touchdown pass and the ensuring two-point conversion. Two more touchdowns resulted in a 37-17 advantage and Lynn Family Stadium rocked in celebration. Dallas saved face with a meaningless touchdown run but missed the extra point. Their season memorialized in one play.
St. Louis 21, Houston 15
The Battlehawks avoided busting twice against the Gamblers with a narrow but unsatisfying victory. St. Louis clinched a playoff spot, so one cannot complain too much. Houston squandered multiple opportunities to build its lead and St. Louis punished them for not hitting 21.
The Gamblers led 9-0 on a touchdown pass (missed XP) and field goal. St. Louis seized a 10-9 halftime lead when Luis Perez found Hakeem Butler on a 39-yard jump ball touchdown nine seconds before the quarter concluded.
Houston showed some life after halftime by driving for the 15-10 lead. The rest of the game was St. Louis. The Battlehawks scored a touchdown and converted the two-point try. A final field goal added some icing on playoff cake.
Power Rankings
1. Orlando - Is the Storm the best team in the league? Maybe. They aren't the hottest one - Louisville is - but they just keep winning. Belief is built from that.
2. Louisville - The Kings are reigning since trading Jason Bean. After dispatching DC twice, they avoided the trap game against Dallas. Now if they win, they are in. The message is simple: win and you are in!
3. St. Louis - The Battlehawks looked unimpressive against Houston. Perez had a decent game but will need to improve if the Dome wishes to hang a banner.
4. DC - The Defenders have the weapons and a credible enough defense to make noise. The quarterback position might not be settled. Does Bean receive a chance or does Coach Harris remain committed to Sanders? Can Jalen Daniels pinch hit?
5. Birmingham - The Stallions fell into Columbus' trap and now need to win and hope Louisville falls to the same Aviators team that shot them down. DTR is a double-edged sword and his interceptions cut down Birmingham's chances.
6. Houston - The Gamblers left the Battlehawks off the hook. Houston has shown some life. The Jim Kelly bobbleheads looked cool.
7. Columbus - The Aviators have a chance to play spoiler again. If you can't have a dream season, ruin someone else's.
8. Dallas - The Renegades' sideline is more entertaining than their offense. Plenty of material for the new 4th and Goal show.
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