The 2024 UFL season continued this weekend with four more high-quality games of football. Here’s a breakdown of how each team fares after two weeks of play.
1. Birmingham Stallions (2-0)
Week 1 Ranking: No. 1
The Stallions stayed perfect on the season with their 20-13 win over the Panthers on Sunday. Birmingham’s defensive unit made it hard for Michigan to get anything going offensively, totaling seven sacks and two forced turnovers. Taco Charlton (three sacks), Carlos Davis (two sacks), Dondrea Tillman (forced fumble), and A.J. Thomas (interception) all made big plays for their team.
Offensively, the Stallions continued employing their two-quarterback system featuring Matt Corral and Adrian Martinez. While the quarterback play hasn’t been at the level we saw with USFL MVP Alex McGough last season, Corral remains the highest-graded UFL passer on PFF and Martinez has impressed with his dual-threat ability.
The Stallions look to keep their bid at a perfect season alive in their home opener against the Showboats next Saturday.
2. San Antonio Brahmas (2-0)
Week 1 Ranking: No. 3
It wasn’t pretty, but the Brahmas were victorious in comeback fashion versus the Showboats on Saturday. San Antonio entered halftime trailing Memphis 13-0 with just 27 offensive yards on 17 plays. Wade Phillips’ team went on to outscore the Showboats 20-3 in the fourth quarter. A crucial fourth-and-12 conversion by the Brahmas set up what turned out to be the game-winning drive.
Overall, Chase Garbers finished 29-for-40 passing with 287 yards and three touchdowns. Cody Latimer (eight receptions, 91 yards, one touchdown), Jontre Kirklin (seven receptions, 53 yards, one touchdown), and Marquez Stevenson (six receptions, 103 yards, one touchdown) have all emerged as Garbers’ top targets through the air.
Defensively, the Brahmas’ defensive unit encapsulated the “bend-but-don’t-break” mentality, surrendering just one touchdown on six red zone visits from Memphis. The defense was the reason San Antonio was able to get back into the game after the Brahmas’ offense scored zero points through three quarters.
3. St. Louis Battlehawks (1-1)
Week 1 Ranking: No. 5
The Battlehawks looked much improved in their home opener, with 40,317 in attendance at The Dome at America’s Center. A.J. McCarron went 19-for-29 passing with 248 yards and two touchdowns, while the rushing attack came to life with Mataeo Durant rushing for 7.4 yards per attempt and one touchdown on 14 carries. Marcell Ateman, the current UFL receiving leader, posted a staggering four receptions for 114 yards and two touchdowns in the victory.
On defense, St. Louis allowed 287 total yards and a perfect trio of red zone appearances from the Renegades. While these aren’t exactly favorable figures for the Battlehawks, remember Arlington has one of the better offenses in the UFL, headlined by the “Spring Football King” Luis Perez. In the end, St. Louis got the result they wanted, anyway.
It ultimately came down to a missed 46-yard field goal from Taylor Russolino, which allowed the Battlehawks to walk it off with a field goal of their own—a 22-yarder from Andre Szmyt.
4. Memphis Showboats (1-1)
Week 1 Ranking: No. 2
The Showboats are yet to put all four quarters together in one game. They have gotten off to 15-0 and 16-0 leads versus the Roughnecks and Brahmas, respectively, but have been outscored 29-9 in the second half this season. San Antonio outscored Memphis 20-3 in the fourth quarter in its big comeback on Saturday after going scoreless through three quarters.
Things won’t get any easier as John DeFillipo’s squad is slated to play the reigning back-to-back USFL champion Stallions next week. Fans should definitely remain optimistic, though, as there is undoubtedly a bunch of star power on Memphis’ roster that I expect will help the team ultimately make the playoffs. For example, the Case Cookus-Daewood Davis connection has emerged as one of the top quarterback-receiver connections in the UFL.
5. D.C. Defenders (1-1)
Week 1 Ranking: No. 6
The Defenders got back on track versus the Roughnecks in a game that went down to the wire—ending after a failed last-second red zone drive from Houston. There were multiple lapses from both squads and coaching staffs down the line. For example, Reggie Barlow calling a timeout before the two-minute warning while the Roughnecks were driving on offense, which showed a complete lack of game awareness. Nevertheless, tight games are what D.C. was all about last season—going 6-2 in games determined by one possession.
Now, the Defenders have a 10-0 historical record at Audi Field. They go back on the road next week for what will be a crucial XFL conference battle against the Renegades.
6. Michigan Panthers (1-1)
Week 1 Ranking: No. 4
Michigan’s defense has been impressive through two weeks. 2023 USFL Defensive Player of the Year Frank Ginda is currently the UFL tackling leader, with 19 tackles, while players like Breeland Speaks, Kai Nacua, and Daniel Wise have also been key contributors on the defensive side.
Conversely, despite high expectations with E.J. Perry returning and a new system in place, the Panthers’ offensive output has been underwhelming. Michigan scored just one touchdown on Sunday, while the rest of their points came from long-distance field goals. The rushing attack also struggled, as Wes Hills garnered just 1.4 yards per carry on seven tries.
Things likely won’t get any easier offensively next week against a talented Roughnecks defense. If Perry continues to struggle, will we see Danny Etling take over at quarterback?
7. Arlington Renegades (0-2)
Week 1 Ranking: No. 7
Don’t let their record fool you, I am still bullish on Arlington. Even though the Renegades played well on Saturday, they essentially lost on a missed field goal. Luis Perez had another solid performance, going 21-for-29 passing with 233 yards and one touchdown. He has an incredible arsenal of weapons, headlined by Tyler Vaughns, JaVonta Payton, and Sal Cannella. His offensive line is above average, too.
Run defense has been the main concern for the Renegades, as they have allowed 146.5 rushing yards per game through two weeks. The sooner Arlington can get its rush defense fixed, the better. We will see how the Defenders work to exploit it next Saturday.
8. Houston Roughnecks (0-2)
Week 1 Ranking: No. 8
Reid Sinnett looked like he found a rhythm upon entering at quarterback for an injured Jarrett Guarantano. But the Roughnecks did it to themselves in their 23-18 loss to the Defenders. Penalties, turnovers, and coaching lapses were all the main culprits in the loss.
2023 USFL Offensive Player of the Year Mark Thompson has missed the past two weeks due to injury. As soon as he returns, expect a vast improvement in the Roughnecks’ rushing production and their offense overall.
Houston’s defensive unit has certainly been its strong point, allowing 256.5 points per game through two weeks. Reuben Foster and Chris Odom have headlined the Roughnecks’ front seven, while Donald Rutledge Jr. and Corn Elder have been playmakers in the secondary.
