The Best Softball Players I Covered

 Softball is a relatively recent love for me compared to basketball or football. I fully discovered the sport while working as a graduate assistant at Saint Francis University and the love affair has never ended. It has only grown stronger.

 All-time greatest players I've covered. Well, I covered softball pretty much every year from 2019 through 2026. I filled in in 2020. In 2021 I wasn’t the SID, but quite frankly should have been. Due to our main one being of uneven quality. A 40+ win team and the coverage was shoddy.

 But, somehow, said SID ended up working for a Power Four team. Such is the vanity of life and the power of quotas. So, what is the criteria? Well, any teams that were directly covered or years that I served as the director of operations (2021).

 So, unfortunately, any players before that do not fall under the criteria. Sorry Madison Cabell, you would have been first base, but that's not how this works. Teams I covered were Saint Francis and Bucknell. Saint Francis from 2019 to 2021, and Bucknell from 2023 to the present. I had an off year in 2022.

 Starting off at catcher.

 I started at the catcher because since the role is arguably the most important position on the diamond. And if you have a good catcher, you're generally going to have a good pitching staff. Catcher is quite easy for me. Zoie Smith of Bucknell. Zoie Smith is one of those players of whom the historical record won't list as having significant laurels. Unfortunately, she was only ever a Second Team Patriot League member.

 She deserved first team. The Boston catcher, who possessed teammates with the ability to get on base, sucked up the slots. There wasn't much more Zoie could do than bat well.

 She batted incredibly well, despite little protection behind her, and receiving few pitches worthy of her keen eye. In 2023, she finished 19th in the nation in doubles per game. A significant feat for a player who had very little support.

 But she was a lefty, and like most great lefty hitters possessed an arcing swing, that flowed through the strike zone and clobbered a significant number of pitches.

 Her senior year, she actually had 75% of the team's home runs. Of course, that was only three out of four. But still, Zoie was a potent hitter. She handled the pitching staff incredibly well.

 Her left arm gunned down many a potential base stealer. So that puts Zoie Smith as a type of catcher that deserved a spot in the Bucknell Hall of Fame. It is unlikely, due to the fact that her conference honors simply won't be that significant.

And her team, unfortunately, did not win many games while they were in the conference tournament several times. She was sharp-minded, intelligent. She was everything you wanted in a backstop.

You know, place her on some of the greatest Saint Francis teams and she mashes .360, has 10+ plus home runs, and is sure to follow a Hall of Famer in the batting lineup.

At first base, this might be surprising to people, but it's another Bucknellian. 

MaKenzie Hilling possessed not the size of a typical first baseman, but the zealous heart of a competitor. A ferocious team captain with a capable batting eye, she graduated with Bucknell's career record for walks. Hilling was the type of player, the type of first baseman that existed back in the dead ball era for baseball.

 She wasn't a power hitter, though she did have a home run in 2025 when the Bison knocked out Lehigh in the Patriot League Tournament. She knew how to get on base, hit for a decent average, work the count, and overall led with fiery example.

 At second base, I'd put Cheyenne McKee.

 Cheyenne was a player who did it all. An excellent example of leading by example. Cheyenne hit for average, hit for power, fielded, and could play any position.

 She played in the outfield as well at second base and did what the team needed her to do, which was perform. A better person than player, which is hard to believe, Cheyenne epitomized what Saint Francis Softball was in those glory years.

 Cheyenne was a machine dedicated to annihilating his opponents. The 2018 NEC Player of the Year, which surprisingly was a rare award for SFU softball stars, despite winning multiple championships.

 Shortstop, I'll have to go with the transfer of 2021, Jordan Petruchowski.

 Jordan Pietrzykoski was the epitome of pep and the type of player that, if she was not on your team, you would find horribly outrageous. But that was only the more reason for Red Flash fans to love her.

 She brought endless energy and a rebirth to a program that spent the COVID-abbreviated year searching how to survive in the new post-Hayley Norton era. She hit well, fielded her position, and locked down the left side of the infield with MeKenzie Saban. There's really not much more to say about JP other than she gave one of the best quotes in my St. Francis tenure with, “I love Jimmy John’s!”

Oh, I love Jimmy John’s. I loved watching Jordan Pietrzykoski play shortstop.

The third base pick is a pretty easy one. Mekenzie Saban.

Zoie Smith had a long, lengthy swing of a lefty. Saban's lefty swing was short, brutish, and just absolutely vicious to softballs.

She hit doubles like crazy, one of the league's best in the NCAA in every full-length season, becoming the NEC's double queen. A feat that I confirmed despite no longer employed at Saint Francis. Like I said, folks, good SIDs are rare.

She was probably the best pure hitter during Saint Francis' run of titles. She hit a few home runs as well, but her focus was just leading off, hitting above .400, and lashing at all kinds of balls. She walked occasionally, but really, with a hitter like Saban, you don't want her to walk.

You want her to hit pitches, to tell the world, this is who we are: a battalion of batters guaranteed to put 10-plus up on you. She got started in 2019 (sophomore year) and she never looked back.

In the outfield, starting in the left field, Hayley Norton, the NEC's home run queen. One of the reasons I spent most of 2019 tracking down record-setting milestone balls. She was an RBI machine as well, the perfect kind of cleanup hitter.

Destined to deliver all sorts of blows to the team. Hayley stole bases in her career, hit doubles, fielded well. Just an all-around great player.

Another lefty, her style was a bit like Zoie Smith. A lefty swing that was rather like Babe Ruth in its idea of, let's not worry about singles. Let's see how many launched angle homers we can place into the atmosphere.

If singles happen, so be it. We're going big game hunting. Her three-run double in the NEC final against Long Island won me my first ring.

It was a ball, that wasn't blasted, but it found a gap and kept rolling. It rolled and the bases cleared. She ended her career as a leader in everything.

Seeing as Saint Francis dropped down to Division III, she'll remain that.

Next up in center field, we have to go with Jordy Frank.

Jordy possessed the kind of glove that nabbed everything. A Skyhawk from DuBois, home of the McKee twins. Let it be said, every SFU ring came with a player from DuBois on the team. 

Jordy hit well. But her main job was to track down, dive, and annihilate all matters of line drives and fly balls. She caught the game-saving ball in the 2019 NEC Championship Game against Long Island.

 The Blackbirds were storming back before she nabbed a ball that halted their rally. She continued, as she was just a sophomore on that team, to play large roles in the 21 and 22 titles.

It's really not hard to look at Jordy and see the reason why Saint Francis' softball was great. She might not have been one of the A-plus superstars. But you don't have a dynasty with just three or four of those.

You have a dynasty with loads of other players that you can pencil into the lineup without care or concern. That was Jordy Frank.

And in right field, we have Sierra McKee, the other half of the McKee twin pairing.

Sierra was, as I dubbed her, the Countess of Clutch. She hit numerous grand slams, including one against New Mexico State for the first NCAA-win in Saint Francis' history.

Needless to say, if she needed a big hit, Sierra McKee would deliver. The type of vibrant devotion that only all-time players can provide. She hit homers, she hit doubles, she walked.

Oh, and she even floated in as catcher, occasionally. And despite her thoughts on the matter, did a bang-up job.

You win a lot of games with Sierra McKees. And that, my friends, counts for something.

 Pitchers. I'll go with a three-woman rotation here, because I think three works out well and it is a magic number

First of all, the #1 pitcher, Grace Vesco. Grace, the ace.

Grace Vesco, 2021, is as dominant as I've ever seen a pitcher be. She had a 1.00 ERA, and frankly, that should have been lower. The Akron scorer blatantly called an error hit, costing her two unearned runs.

Yeah, I'm still sore about it. Grace just left opponents in the proverbial dust. In the game that year against Bowling Green, she out-dueled Payton Gottshall, who now pitches in the AUSL, in a one-nothing classic that I had the pleasure of broadcasting on Facebook Live.

Many times, there were opponents, especially in the NEC, who went up and either didn't swing or half-heartedly swung, knowing they had no chance against the fearsome fastball that she could just unload upon opponents. She was the type of pitcher who showed no mercy when she was on, and displayed no mercy. She was easily the queen.

Second pitcher was her fellow teammate, Rachel Marsden. And you can't spell Rachel without ace.

 

Rachel was an ace as well. Conquering the second game after Grace won the first.

I mean, it was pretty easy living. Grace pitches the first, Rachel pitches the second, boom. Rachel also had offensive capabilities as well.

But as a pitcher, she was fantabulous. I'd also list Rachel as my DH due to that reason. But she did not hit when I was working at Saint Francis.

She was the type of player with a bulldog mentality. She might not have possessed Grace's pure talent, but she made up for it with a desire to have the ball. I loved her Pennsylvania grit that intensified her ability.

I loved watching her pitch, loved watching her hit from afar. And she could even field.

Third and final pitcher is easily Madison Roukey from Bucknell.

 Madison Roukey pitched, finished her career in the top ten in most Bucknell categories. She didn't have the gross win totals of Grace or Rachel. Again, wins and losses are often, even in softball, based on your team.

Maddie the Baddie, as I coined her after her ten strikeouts against Holy Cross in 2023, knew she had to usually keep things under two or three runs to win. She possessed a lot of guile, strength, and a desire to win.

Even more impressive was her backstory, losing her father during 2020 to a senseless shooting. But you would never know that after seeing Maddie, who wore a perpetual smile on her face, and still does. She was fun to watch.

She delivered a 1-0 win over Lehigh in 2024 Patriot League Tournament in the opening game. One of the best pitching outing I've seen live. She handcuffed the team that knocked her out of the box earlier in the year.

She was a great player, a great, even better person. And a pitcher who went out there and understood the assignment and made do with it. 

That's my starting lineup. I think I'm winning a lot of titles.

Thoughts on the UFL Announcement

The long, agonizing wait is finally over. On September 23, the UFL announced the locations that will replace the shuttered Birmingham and Houston franchises, along with the league's second expansion market for 2028.

Colorado and Rhode Island are set for 2027, while Utah joins Oklahoma City as part of the 2028 expansion.

UFL pundits tabbed Rhode Island as a popular pick with its USL stadium and a chance for the league to establish a northeastern outpost. Colorado received some attention — mostly because of the once-existing Denver Gold — but its reveal can safely be considered a surprise. 

AAF aficionados have long argued for Salt Lake City's return to spring football, blaming the Stallions' poor 2019 attendance partly on an early start and poor advertising. That's ironic considering how many in the UFL community still advocate for a February beginning. The UFL is treading old ground but Mike Repole can provide better fertilizer. 

Every possible market comes with a risk. There is no surefire thing in spring football. Texas, for example, was seen a fruitful market but declining attendance has pruned the Lone Star State to only Dallas. However, these three markets offer suitable stadiums and hungry fan bases. 

The biggest news from the announcement may be what wasn't announced. The Michigan Panthers will not, as of this moment, be returning until 2029 or later — barring an unexpected relocation. The proposed soccer stadium in Detroit hit a snag during construction. UFL fans have clung to the departed Panthers like a 25-year-old to his old high school crush. 

Popular guesses such as Austin, Boise, Las Vegas and New Orleans proved to be what so many rumors are: wishful thinking, clickbait and fan-driven dreaming. Vegas, with its tantalizing tidbit of Jon Gruden as head coach, was too much of a wish list item to be true. 

Colorado

Thoughts: Colorado Springs, home of the Air Force Academy, loves its sports. A picturesque city, nestled in the Rockies, opens a western wing for a league long consolidated in the Midwest and South. The stadium only seats 8,000 but can be expanded to over 10,000. Under Repole, the vision has shifted from too-large coliseums to cozy soccer stadiums. Colorado Springs fits the bill. 

Possible Monikers: Trailblazers, Trappers, Silver, Springboards

Rhode Island

Thoughts: The tiniest state in the union was home to the last defunct NFL franchise, the Providence Steam Roller, to win a league title. This version will play at Pawtucket (please spare us the Family Guy jokes) in the USL stadium. The opening video focused on waves crashing into the shore (Breakers resurrection?). The UFL needed new regions and New England represents the next bold move of Repole's vision.

Possible Monikers: Breakers, Whalers, Steam Roller Continentals, Privateers, Greene* 

Utah

Thoughts: In 2019, spring football failed in Utah with the Salt Lake City Stallions heading to the glue factory. Of course, the AAF, a recipient of overly indulgent nostalgia which has blinded its devotees to its seriously flawed foundation, failed everywhere except Orlando and San Diego. A late March start should avoid Utah's temperamental winter weather. Salt Lake City is familiar ground and certainly not as exciting as new territory, but the city has potential and if the metropolis is willing to play ball, the UFL can't ask for much more. 

Possible Monikers: Stallions, Mountaineers, Pioneers, Battalion, 

All told, Repole and the UFL arrived at three suitable locations. I might have hedged differently; personally I would have jousted for Pittsburgh or New Orleans, but the three cities offer potential for a league looking for another Louisville. 

*Why not honor one of America's best and overlooked generals: Nathanael Greene? We aren't celebrating 250 years without him. 

Why the Western Michigan-Michigan Ending Means More Than a Vetoed Upset

The Phantom Second, the Wolverine Ripoff, the Replay Mary, call the dramatic play whatever you want. The title does not matter. What matters is how Western Michigan was unjustly robbed of a victory. Of a lifetime defining moment. A program-defining moment. 

The Western Michigan players still have a story to tell their grandkids. Instead of a tale of heroism and victory over the odds; it will be a football folk tale of John Henry beating the machine but perishing in the effort. 

When justice fails; society turns inward and bitter. When that happens, a football loss, as painful it can be in the moment, registers low on the totem pole. 

Recent developments have already shaken fans' faith in college football. The sport seems determined to create apostates or devoted to culling the weak-willed of their belief. A small core cannot sustain college football. The casuals must believe. 

I love college football. Even if the sport hasn't returned my affections. I have seen Army come up short against ranked foes, in heartbreakers against Michigan and Oklahoma. Saint Francis recently dropped from Division I to Division III. Tonight, in a game between two teams of which I harbor no affection or hostility, I felt a gnawing pain that my allegiance and hours spent watching college football was a chasing of the wind. 

Will college football survive this scandal? It will. The sport is remarkably resilient. It survived player deaths in the early 1900s, two World Wars, pro football, conference expansion, and even with all the summer legal drama, thousands of people packed the stands today. However, each crack damages the foundation. Everything eventually falls apart. 

Restore some faith in the sport. Vacate the win and properly reward Western Michigan. 

Requiem for the Birmingham Stallions

It's the fate of spring football to inevitably end tragically. It's almost inappropriate that the Stallions do not go out as champions, but instead went out no longer on top, but a sad remnant, a failed dynasty, a decaying empire that could not withstand a new regime.

Birmingham ruled the United States Football League, won the first year of the UFL, won a division title the next year, and then floated away. A determined band, a dedicated core, was not enough to sustain them. The city simply never produced large enough numbers to appreciate the dynasty.

In fact, the numbers were never enough. Even when they were in the middle of the pack, it felt lackluster. Not enough came out to praise the conquering heroes of spring football.

The three-time title winners, the Kansas City Chiefs of modern spring football. We can say that perhaps it's unfair that Birmingham was on the chopping block. That other teams like Dallas have a pittance in its stands, yet its location as UFL headquarters shields the franchise from the executioner's axe.

But we must remember Birmingham, not as they went out, but as they once were. The galloping horses who owned the UFL, who owned the spring football prairie.

The UFL under Mike Repole has taken a new direction. A direction of smaller, intimate stadiums. Protective Stadium and her 47,000 seats do not fit that new viewpoint.

One can say perhaps marketing could have been better, and there's some truth to that. It could have been. It certainly lacked pizzazz for a sport that is a niche.

An audience of true football-dedicated diehards who love the game and vehemently know the names of folks like Alex McGough and J’Mar Smith without irony or hipster happiness. Unfortunately, those fans, like Birmingham's, are small in overall number. And perhaps we see that's why spring football rarely lasts.

Because how could it? It is the domain of those who see more than what and see beyond the NFL and college football's borders. Yet we could say that either way, spring football has had a strong stay in Birmingham. The Stallions have left their mark.

And maybe if it is just a brief couple of pages in the chapter of football's history, it's still a story that those won't remember. Of when Skip Holtz reigned supreme. Is it fair to say? It's hard to tell.

Fairness is not a goddess found much in spring football. She tends not to bestow her favors. Instead, she often is a vapor.

The Stallions won their first title when Case Cook found his leg broken in the 2022 United States Football League Championship game. Perhaps we can but say it comes around. But regardless of what happens with the Stallions, they did play.

They did win. And those are titles that can never be erased, even if their name passes into history.

My Two Cents on Brendan Sorsby - Not Sponsored by FanDuel

In case, you haven't heard, the NFL, like a weathervane followed popular opinion, announced today it would not hold a 2026 Supplemental Draft, effectively casting Brandon Sorsby adrift until the 2027 draft. The disgraced Texas Tech quarterback took another loss after the NCAA barred him from competition. 

UFL head honcho Mike Repole quickly filled the breach with another one of his must-see tweets:

Repole Stable

@RepoleStable

Welcome to the

@TheUFL

, Brendan Sorsby. The UFL is the league of opportunity. We created our Regional Player Initiative to keep great players closer to home, closer to their fans, and on the field. Let’s do this!!!!! Brendan Sorsby, welcome to the

@UFLRenegades

. Have your people call my people!!!!!

First off, Repole gonna Repole. The man enjoys his guerilla marketing more than the Viet Cong. No publicity is negative publicity and considering his successes, you can understand the strategic vision. What is worse than bad gossip? No gossip. The UFL exists but extra reminders, especially in the dead offseason, never hurt. Unlike the NFL, the UFL doesn't have an offseason that engages casuals. 

Secondly, the accompanying photo (posted below) screams AI. The off-brand XFL logo (rather sharp) and the misspelling of NoBull (apparently, AI spells like Scooby Doo) draws attention away from his offer. Spring football always battles perception. 

However, the graphic is irrelevant. Should Sorsby sign, he and the Renegades would be partners. Interesting, since Dallas has a capable quarterback in Austin Reed. Reed cooled off after his hot start but finished among the league leaders in several categories. 

The NFL could bar Sorsby for the year because the Shield doesn't need him and can afford to virtue signal. An extra good quarterback never hurts, of course, but his presence isn't that important. But the UFL? It could always use another bolt of talent at the most important position in football. 

2026 UFL QBs were a shifting lot. The United Bowl saw two starters combine for 40 yards at halftime. Luis Perez rapidly aged, Ta'amu went down with an ACL injury, and most of the others ranged from Rosie O'Donnell in a bikini to closing time acceptable. That is the lot of spring football. The best quarterbacks succeed and move on to backup roles in the CFL (Perkins), practice squad conversion to wide receiver (McGough), and NFL backup purgatory (PJ Walker). 

Will Sorsby accept Repole's offer? Likely not. He will fight for access to NFL riches. Would his signature on an UFL contract help the league? Indeed, it will, should he prove talented. Modern spring football needs another Kurt Warner. Kickers are nice and they put the foot in football. However, a star quarterback would signify its importance in development. 

UFL: United Bowl Review

 The 2026 United Bowl delivered packed stands, a record-long Beer Snake that slithered like Kaa around Audi Field, and a game that wasn't decided until the final minutes. Mike Repole and the league couldn't request much more from the fickle football gods. 

Thrice time was the charm for a close United Bowl. The inaugural edition in 2024 featured a dull 25-0 Stallions romp over the offensively-challenged Brahmas and the incredibly, risk-averse Chase Grabers. Last year's edition featured 92 points but the Defenders held solid control in a 58-34 firefight. 

The 3 p.m. ABC timeslot slide in perfectly before the night's NBA finals. The competing World Cup game was a C-Lister affair between Qatar and Switzerland. Hopefully, the report featured, at least, 1.5 million viewers. The game trended on X. Spring football continues its positive upward momentum. 

The city of Louisville clearly embraced its winner. The bridge lit up in a Halloween-green and social media buzzed about the win. Chris Redman, the hometown boy, delivered the goods after retooling the roster from a 0-3 start. With a couple of changes on the offensive lines and the cutting of Benny Snell, the Kings went from barely running better than a one-legged mule to dashing for long touchdowns. 

The only blemish stemmed from the horrendous quarterback play. Jason Bean and Chandler Rogers combined for 40 yards at halftime. 50 Cent had more yardage in his name than the two QBs. EJ Perry replaced the injured Bean (spoiler alert!) and threw for 50 yards. Rogers finished with an anemic 81 yards and two interceptions. A casual's stereotype for spring football is dismal quarterbacking. The 2026 United Bowl didn't shake that impression. But it did feature a Defender chugging a beer after a touchdown. That beats Dak Prescott any day. 

DC 20, Louisville 27

In a strange quirk, DC was technically the away team, but the raucous Audi Field crowd left no doubt that the stands were not a two-party affair. (A little capital humor for my readers). DC dominated early and should have led by more except running back Xazavian Valladay fumbled while heading for the end zone. Still, a Matt McCrane field goal provided a 3-0 lead after the first quarter. 

DC's butterfingers returned in the second quarter. Ty Scott fumbled and Eric Garror returned the sphere 12 yards for the opening touchdown. Valladay redeemed himself for his earlier fumble with a 51-yard touchdown. McCrane added two field goals in the final two minutes and DC led 16-7 at halftime. With Louisville's offense looking more tragic than a nerd's prom plans, DC fans were right to feel confident. 

Louisville tried the field goal game in the third quarter with future NFL kicker Tanner Brown knocking home two attempts. In between the scores, Bean suffered an injury. 

That opened the door for Louisville to make its move. The Kings undertook a drive and opened the fourth quarter with Ian Wheeler's 44-yard touchdown run. DC tried to strike back on the next drive and Perry delivered a long strike to Cornell Powell. Unfortunately, he was called for offensive pass interference. The drive ended with a Perry interception. Louisville was set up at DC's 25 and the Kings scored again for the 27-16 lead. 

DC, unlike at Bladensburg in 1814, refused to give up and McCrane kicked a 60-yard field goal for four points. Louisville's next drive went down as one of the most cautious attempts in recorded history and the Kings punted. Perry drove the Defenders down to the Louisville six-yard-line. Facing a 4th and 5, he had a wide-open receiver but the interior pressure forced an errant throw. The Kings took over with 1:52 remaining and drained the clock for the win. 

Three years and three different UFL champions. Parity, thy mine is spring football. 

UFL Playoffs Review

The first round of the UFL playoffs did not disappoint! Both games were one-score affairs (gotta love the three-point option) and the crowds were engaged and excited. Homefield advantage melted away under the Daytona sun and the Kaw is not the Law in St. Louis according to the Kings' degree. Both Coach Becht and his old franchise St. Louis continue their quest for that elusive first playoff win. 

The switch to Daytona was a last-minute change by Repole and the league and it worked beautifully. The team drew over 6k to the stadium - a number certainly higher than anything the original plan of hosting the game in Columbus would have collected. 

Unfortunately, the Storm faithful saw Becht continue his journey into the Jim Mora Sr. of the UFL. Another solid 8-2 regular season disappeared into playoff disappointment. 30-10 in the regular season washed away by 0-3 in the playoffs. 

St. Louis delivered a respectable crowd to the Dome that, once again, left in misery. The Battlehawks' attendance plunged 20% this season and the brief feedback online has many fans threatened to yield their season tickets. Now, much of that might be heat-of-the-moment exasperation but the league could have used a win for Birds. 

Louisville continued its Cinderella campaign. The Kings started 0-3 before trading Jason Bean - which in a marvelous twist will be their foe on Saturday in the United Bowl - and rolling to the 6-4 finish and now a playoff win. A team that once couldn't run the ball on a Pop Warner team has ripped off massive gains. Chandler Rogers is consistent and the defense swarms. 

DC 28, Orlando 22

The key to a playoff upset is a fast start. DC roared to a 14-6 lead on two short rushing touchdowns. Orlando answered with two field goals but eschewed a third three-point attempt in lieu of a 4th and goal try. The chance failed and momentum returned to the Defenders. Take the points in the first half. DC missed the opportunity to cash in before halftime when McCrane inexplicably shanked a 28-yard attempt. 

The Defenders added a field goal and were driving for more points when Bean went down with an arm injury. Backup Spencer Sanders entered the game and threw a tragic pick six on a screen pass. Orlando was alive, as Sanders' career died. The cruel camera caught him, squatting down before the bench in gross acknowledgment. 

Bean returned to the game and calmed the storm with a devastating touchdown drive, capped by a 33-yard pass. Orlando renewed its strategy of relying to seven points with three. McCrane answered with a 60-yard field goal (counting for four points in the UFL). Because in spring football, that is how kickers roll. Miss the put. Make the eagle. 

DC went into a softer-than-Neville Chamberlain prevent defense and Orlando scored with three minutes left. The three-point conversion failed but they had life down 28-22. Becht controversially passed up the 4th and 12 chance, trusting his gashed defense and three timeouts. The gambit failed. DC gained two first downs and drained the clock. The defending champions remain alive. 

Louisville 29, St. Louis 20

The Kings possibly ended the Spring King's reign with a road playoff win. The affair went back-and-forth before a Perez red zone interception ended the contest. Perez had more pass attempts (45) than Louisville had plays (42) but the Kings maximized their possessions and used big running plays to drive past the Battlehawks.

Louisville scored first on a 53-yard touchdown run by James Robinson. St. Louis responded with a field goal before Tanner Brown connected on a four-point 60-yard bomb. 

The second quarter was all St. Louis with the Battlehawks tallying two touchdowns for a 17-11 halftime lead. 

Rogers found Winstead for a 9-yard touchdown pass and Louisville regained the 18-17 advantage. St. Louis replied with a field goal for a 20-18 lead. The Battlehawks missed a prime opportunity to extend their lead when Perez missed a wide-open McBride. 

Louisville capitalized on the miss when Ian Wheeler darted 55 yards for a touchdown. St. Louis challenged for a block in the back but Dean Blandino disagreed. The Battlehawks drove down the field but their red zone reception disappeared when Louisville challenged for holding. The penalty was obvious. St. Louis' drive went backwards and their 4th and 26 attempt was batted down. 

The Kings moved the ball to St. Louis' 45 and faced a 4th and 6 decision. Brown told his coach he would make the field goal. Redman trusted his kicker and Brown booted a 63-yard missile for the 29-20 lead and a possible NFL contract.

The Battlehawks refused to cede and drove down the field looking for the tying score. Their last ditch effort perished when Chambers picked off Perez, who was seeking Butler, in the end zone. Louisville knelt down and the Kings punched their ticket for the United Bowl. 

Week 10 UFL Review

Well, the 2026 regular season is over. It flew by with alarming speed, as time always seems to accelerate as the years progress. Orlando clinched the #1 seed, St. Louis will host another playoff game as the #2 seed and look to break its playoff drought. DC limps into the playoffs while Louisville rides in hotter than the summer sun. 

The UFL recently announced that the Orlando-DC playoff game, originally scheduled for Columbus due to the English national team renting the soccer stadium, will be held in Daytona. With tickets at $10 and the nearby collegiate venue of Bethune-Cookman, a packed house should be expected. 

Dallas 20, St. Louis 16

The Renegades ended the season and its six-game losing streak with a 20-16 upset win over the Battlehawks on Friday Night Football. St. Louis' attendance rebounded to 24k but its offense remained anemic. Luis Perez's play has made him the Henry VI of spring quarterbacks. Austin Reed rebounded with three touchdown passes and Dallas' defense brutalized Perez with seven sacks. The Battlehawks stumble into the playoffs, going 1-2 over the last three weeks against Dallas and Houston. 

Both teams scored twice in the first half. Dallas recorded two touchdowns but missed an extra point while St. Louis kicked two field goals. 

The Battlehawks grabbed the lead in the third quarter on a Perez touchdown pass and forged ahead 16-13 on a fourth quarter field goal. Dallas drove for the game-winning touchdown, helped by silly St. Louis penalties, when Reed found Butler in the end zone.

Houston 26, Birmingham 13

The only thing more disappointing than the Stallions' attendance was the team itself. Birmingham's slim playoff chances disappeared in a lackluster effort. DTR's rejuvenation ran out of gas and the defense looked apathetic against Houston's running game. 

The Gamblers jumped out to a 17-0 halftime lead on a field goal and two rushing touchdowns. Birmingham temporarily gained life on an epic interception touchdown return. Marcus Major suffocated that light on the next play with a 72-yard gallop through the Stallions' defense. 

Birmingham drove for a DTR touchdown pass but the two-point conversion was incomplete. Houston tacked on a field goal for some insurance. The Stallions' fate was sealed when Coach AJ McCarron punted with four minutes left and Birmingham missed the playoffs for the first time in the modern era. 

Orlando 29, DC 23

The Storm completed the back-to-back victories over DC with a game not as close as the score indicated. DC started Jason Bean and he provided the full experience of great plays and what-the-hell maneuvers. The two teams will meet for the third straight time in the playoffs. 

DC dominated early taking a 3-0 lead and looked poised for a 10-0 advantage when Bean eschewed two wide open options in the end zone to throw a pick six. A flurry of field goals had Orlando up 10-9 at halftime. 

The Storm extended its lead to 17-9 on a Rowland touchdown catch. DC tied the game with a rushing touchdown and two-point conversion. Special teams changed the game. Orlando downed a punt inside the five yard line and then blocked DC's punt for a safety. A 74-yard touchdown catch and a field goal gave the Storm a 29-17 lead. 

A little backdoor cover occurred in the final minute. Orlando, instead of kneeling, tried running for a first down. A fumble resulted. DC recovered and, despite two timeouts, allowed the seconds to drain away. Bean threw a touchdown pass as time expired to enrage the saps who bet the under. 

Louisville 42, Columbus 27

The Kings entered the game, knowing they were already playoff bound and crowned their accomplishment with a win over fellow newcomer Columbus. 

Louisville struck early with a pick six on the first play from scrimmage. Columbus forged ahead 10-7 before the Kings regained the lead on a touchdown run. The Aviators tied the game at 14-14 on a four-point field goal to end a dramatic first quarter. The teams then traded touchdown runs for the 21-21 deadlock before Louisville scored a touchdown for the 28-21 halftime lead. 

Columbus cut the deficit to 28-27, entering the final stanza. Louisville closed the game and regular season with two more touchdowns. 

Power Rankings

1. Orlando - The Storm stay in Florida for the playoff game. Can Becht overcome his playoff woes or is he doomed to become the Chuck Knox of the UFL? Orlando is the most balanced squad. 

2. Louisville - If Orlando is the most balanced then Louisville is the hottest team. They are 6-1 after their 0-3 start and the offense is humming since removing Jason Bean. Can the Kings win the crown?

3. St. Louis - The Battlehawks have the defense to win the United Bowl. The offense is still a question mark. The wide receiver corps is great. Frost and Perez are similar but the former offers more mobility. 

4. DC - The Defenders have everything but a quarterback and clock management. Still, they are in the playoffs. Anything can happen. 

5. Houston- The Gamblers displayed some life at the end of the season with wins over Birmingham and St. Louis. Maybe there is hope, after all. 

6. Birmingham - DTR's magic tricks wore out, the offense looked anemic, and the defense played with the passion of nursing home bingo. AJ McCarron might become the first player-coach in UFL history. 

7. Dallas - The Renegades regained some pride. Losing seven straight games was a bridge too far. 

8. Columbus - Morton might have something. Columbus has fans. Let's hope they are patient. 

Week 9 UFL Review

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. 

Attendance Overview

Nothing inflames the r/UnitedFootballLeague subreddit like a good, old-fashioned attendance debate. Well, maybe expansion or relocation posts have an argument. Comments on plays can be counted on a hand. Post a photo of Protective Stadium and we are talking triple digits engagement. 

Obviously, attendance is important. Empty stands don't suggest to the unconvinced or casual viewer that the UFL is worth investment. People are social and tribal creatures. What fueled the Pokémon craze stemmed from a fear of not liking what everyone liked. Solid ratings are nice and important but they don't scream engagement like tangible bodies. The aspect of fandom drives sports. 

General takeaways: Well, concerts are still carrying the water. The home opener musicals brought in a bunch of fans who wanted to see their favorite acts for cheap and then promptly ditched. Strip away the home openers and the numbers are uglier than the options at last call. 

Birmingham: Three measly shirtless supporters away from averaging 9,000. Of course, the 18,000+ to see Gucci Mane perform during Birmingham's shutout loss to Orlando are more doing work than DTR to support the Stallions. Would a better performance have kept the numbers higher? Maybe. I am skeptical. Birmingham's attendance has been the red-hot topic for years. It goes to show that winning isn't the tonic many UFL fans claim. 

Columbus: The Aviators drew over 14,000 fans for their home opener. Since then, they have found a range of 8,000+. That works well enough. Their final two games are at home with a 2-6 squad. Can they maintain that average? 

Dallas: The Renegades finished their 2026 home slate with a contest at Fort Hood. The number fits in the range of what Dallas drew outside of the home opener. Will they survive for another year? The sweetheart deal with Arlington leans towards yes.

DC: Winning doesn't cure attendance woes. Write off Birmingham fans as the outlier, but the defending champions, despite the Beer Snake and Audi Field, have shredded fans. The home opener had 12,000+ witness DC demolished Houston in the UFL's biggest blowout. 4,000+ fewer showed up the next week. The core fan base in DC exists in the 7-8k spectrum. 

Houston: The Gamblers' attendance woes have become a punchline. Massive city, little interest. Some advocates have presented contradictory arguments. One claim is that changing from Roughnecks to Gamblers depressed interest. Another proposal said taking Wade Phillips away hurt. A final point pushed the theory the city doesn't even know the franchise exists which renders the first two null and void. The Roughnecks moniker did not boost 2025 attendance. 

The 2020 season - only five games - is gone. PJ Walker retired. The magic evaporated. The Texans are competent again with CJ Stroud providing hope. The 2020 Roughnecks provided a salve to the wounded hearts after the Chiefs rallied from 24-0 in that famous Divisional Game. The Texans are no longer that clumsy franchise stumbling from one bad decision to another. DC's initial energy drew from disliking Snyder's ownership of the RedCommandersTeam. The side chick isn't needed anymore. The wife put out again. 

Louisville: The Kings have been the sole bright spot for attendance, nearly selling out their home. 10k and higher for every non-home opener almost fills Lynn Family Stadium. Can they continue to draw after the novelty wears off? 

Orlando: The Storm hit 11k in their home opener and haven't been over 10k since. However, they are not far off and the team has generated some excitement with their playoff berth. Becht has a chance for redemption. The Orlando market might need his conversion. 

St. Louis: Ah, the Battlehawks. Proving that a millionaire losing 100k is more interesting than a homeless man dropping a dollar. Sure, the latter is more devastating but the former screams economic concerns. When St. Louis hit 18k for a Friday night game, alarm bells rang. Ignoring that total still outpaces every other 2026 UFL game, concern is warranted. If the fans stop coming to the BattleDome, what does it mean for league health? A poor showing in Houston is expected. Under 20k in St. Louis isn't. 

The Battlehawks are fine but the days of 30k are over. The team remains good and should host a playoff game. However, screaming F*** Kroenke has grown old. St. Louis fans proved that they can support a football team. That the NFL shouldn't have returned the Rams to Los Angeles. 

Week 8 UFL Review

Week 8 featured two massive upsets with the Battlehawks and Defenders falling, a fun Fort Hood game, and the Stallions using a Block Six to remain in the playoff race. Dallas has lost five straight games. The Kings have proven to be the Defenders' biggest nightmare. Houston has the ability of a cockroach to stay alive. Birmingham has won three straight games in ugly fashion but ugly wins count the same in the standings. The biggest development came from the news that Jordan Ta'amu is out for the season. 

Suddenly, DC's playoff chances, extremely firm before the two losses to Louisville, are now in the situation where they could miss out on playing in the United Bowl - hosted at Audi Field. The UFL just can't catch a break. 

Orlando 31, Dallas 24

Fort Hood hosted the Hats Off to Heroes Game and the military crowd showed up to see a wild affair. Dallas' collapse could be summed up by Austin Reed's fourth quarter interception - an ideal pass that bounced off his receiver's hands, a Renegade's hands, before being collected by a Dallas player. 

The Renegades led 10-0 before the Storm rallied for the tie heading into halftime on a Plummer 1-yard TD run. Plummer opened the second half with a magnificent 71-yard TD dash. Reed and the Renegades (cool band name) responded with a beautiful touchdown pass and Dallas had life. 

The Storm rained on their parade with two straight rushing touchdowns. The second touchdown saw Hamler terrified by the celebratory cannons. Reed tossed his third touchdown pass but time ran out on the doomed Renegades. 

Orlando continues to crank out unimpressive wins but they sit alone at the top of the standings. Ugly wins are better than colorful losses. 

DC 30, Louisville 33

The two teams, clashing on ABC, delivered what the league needed; an entertaining contest on OTA TV. Louisville, seemingly dead in the water two weeks ago, won its second consecutive game over the defending champions. 

The scores came quiet and fast. Ta'amu tossed a 41-yard TD pass just ten seconds into the game. Louisville electrified the crowd with a kick return touchdown. The elite special teams continued for the Kings, as Louisville kicked two traditional field goals and one four-point version for the 17-7. During the stretch, Ta'amu went down an injury. 

DC, despite losing its star quarterback, refused to fold. The Defenders hit a long field goal and found a rushing touchdown for the 17-17 halftime deadlock. Louisville took a 20-17 lead but DC used a rushing touchdown for the 24-20 advantage, entering the final quarter. 

The Kings controlled the fourth quarter, scoring two touchdowns but a blocked extra point kept the game at 33-24 - a one-score contest in UFL vernacular. DC had an opening and walked through the door. Jackson dashed into the end zone with 28 seconds left. Spencer Sanders, Ta'amu's replacement, had an open wide receiver on the three-point conversion but he couldn't connect. The 4th and 12 onside play failed and Louisville remained in contention for the final playoff spot. 

Houston 23, St. Louis 16

DC's defeat allowed a chance for St. Louis to claim the inside track for a home playoff game. The Battlehawks squandered the opportunity as Houston remained alive with a 23-16 upset win at the BattleDome. St. Louis, usually impervious at home, were stunned by a Houston, usually incapable of road performances. The UFL stands for Unpredictable Football League.

Upsets tend to avoid quick starts and a key turnover. St. Louis scored first on a field goal before Houston grabbed a 14-3 lead on a touchdown pass and a Luis Perez pick six. The Spring King collected over 300 yards but threw two crucial interceptions. The Gamblers increased its lead to 20-6 and then the Battlehawks added a 21-yard field goal before halftime. 

The Gamblers' offense went nearly silent in the second half, tallying only a field goal. The Battlehawks scored one touchdown but a controversial review erased a first down catch and the final drive ended on Houston three-yard line. Perez threw short of the goal line and, in a delicious irony, a St. Louis player was tackled short of the end zone in a 23-16 game. Revenge of the Oilers/Titans. 

Columbus 3, Birmingham 14

The sun was boiling hot in Birmingham but the offenses were not. The Stallions won another grimy game on the backs of an elite defense that held Columbus' elite running game to 61 yards. The Aviators paid the price for ignoring their namesake's profession. DTR received the credit for the win but the offense stagnated too much, scoring only one touchdown. 

The team traded interceptions in the first quarter and nearly exchanged field goals in the second stanza. Columbus debuting a new kicker nailed a 48-yard field goal. The Stallions' kicking issues continued when Carlson missed a 36-yard field goal. McCarron and Saban are destined for kicking disappointment. The price to be paid for rings. 

Columbus' 3-0 lead held up until 6:35 in the third quarter when DTR found Thomas WIDE OPEN in the end zone for a 29-yard TD pass. It was a beautiful play drive, as somehow, a large tight end completely avoided detection. 

The play of the game occurred when Columbus lined up for a 55-yard field goal. Gilmore sliced in from the left, blocked the field goal, picked up the loose ball, and returned it for a Block Six. The thrilling return was keyed by elite blocking. An underrated aspect of plays like that.

The Aviators still had a chance and used a nifty kickoff return to set up a drive. On 4th and 1, White was stuffed more than a Thanksgiving turkey. The play was too telegraphed and White visibly displayed his frustration on the sidelines. Birmingham drained over three minutes before punting it away. An interception ended Columbus' miserable day.

Power Rankings

1. Orlando - The Storm don't feel like the top team but they keep winning and avoiding those derailing upsets. 

2. St. Louis - Despite the zany defeat, St. Louis still has its starting quarterback healthy. That matters. 

3. Louisville - The Kings picked up two straight wins over DC and knocked out their star quarterback. Now, can they handle success? Louisville is now the hunted. They have Dallas at home. It should be a win. But we have seen that the 2026 UFL rarely deals in should. 

4. Birmingham - The Stallions have the easiest schedule remaining on paper. But the Columbus rematch is a trap game on the road and Houston has the Stallions' number. AJ has the chance to make fans eat crow. 

5. DC - Can Bean and Sanders save the season? The DC defense has forsaken their moniker. 

6. Houston - The Gamblers continue to lurk. They can really shake up the race by defeating St. Louis again. Don't be on it. 5,000 Jim Kelly bobbleheads will be given out. How many will remain?

7. Dallas - The Renegades continue to crash out. Austin Reed threw three touchdowns but his wide receivers dropped more passes than the stock market did points in 1929. The team lost its belief in winning. 

8. Columbus - Todd Haley and Ted Ginn Jr. are an amusing duo but Columbus fans aren't laughing. 

Week 7 UFL Review

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. 

Birmingham: 6,412.5
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

What does it mean? Louisville's stadium doesn't hold many more bodies, so the Kings have been a success. St. Louis remains the headliner but the dip below 20k is not ideal. Everyone else is grasping for air.