One thing we learned about each UFL team in the first half of the season

The UFL has reached the midway point of its regular season. Every team has begun to establish a personality and philosophy. Here is one thing we learned about each team in the first half of the season.

Arlington Renegades (0-5)

The team has fallen apart around Luis Perez

The acquisition last season of QB Luis Perez was undoubtedly the reason Arlington was able to sneak into the playoffs, then upset two teams en route to the XFL Championship. But there were pieces around him that contributed in major ways, too. Arlington’s collapse this year isn’t the fault of Perez, but rather the supporting cast. The running game has underwhelmed, ranking sixth in the league. The defense is last in sacks and second-to-last in total yardage surrendered after being the aspect of the team that kept them afloat until Perez’s arrival in 2023. Had a couple of breaks gone their way, the Renegades could easily be 2-3 or even 3-2. When a team struggles in as many facets as this one has, they tend to not catch such breaks.

Birmingham Stallions (5-0)

The merger has not slowed down the Stallions

It’s not a surprise that Birmingham is tops in the UFL – most prognosticators had them in this position during the preseason. What is a little surprising, though, is the ease with which they’ve cruised to their 5-0 record. They’ve faced occasional challenges – the first half of the opener against Arlington, the game against D.C. – but they’ve otherwise been in total control. That may change in the second half when they face what is likely to be their two stiffest challenges of the season in St. Louis (week seven) and San Antonio (week nine). The merger and the idea that all teams would get stronger was supposed to check the power of the Stallions. Instead, they’ve gotten stronger as well, keeping their spot as head-and-shoulders above all others to this point.

D.C. Defenders (2-3)

D.C. has struggled to replace those lost to the NFL, injury, or retirement

It’s no coincidence that many of D.C.’s shortcomings this year can be traced back to key players lost in the off-season. Without Abram Smith (injury), the run game hasn’t been as dominant. That threat last year opened up a pass game that has struggled with consistency in 2024. The graduation of receivers Lucky Jackson (Minnesota Vikings) and Chris Blair (Atlanta Falcons) to the NFL left a void that others in that position group have yet to fill. P Paxton Brooks has had his growing paints (two blocked punts last week) in replacing Dan Whelan, who is entering his second season with the Green Bay Packers. QB D’Eriq King’s move into the coaching ranks with his Alma mater SMU has hampered the offense’s creativity. The retirements of G Liam Ryan, DE Jacub Panasiuk, DT Caraun Reid and TE Ethan Wolf took a bite out of the team’s depth. Ultimately, D.C.’s 2-3 record shows that the losses chronicled above were not replaced satisfactorily to keep up with improvements other teams made to their rosters.

Houston Roughnecks (1-4)

Reid Sinnett is the QB that gives Houston the best chance of success

Jarrett Guarantano won a close training camp competition for the starting QB spot over Sinnett in March. Guarantano struggled through a game and a half before an injury sidelined him for the next several contests. Enter Sinnett, who has steadied the ship. He has been able to get the ball out quicker, avoid the rush better, and improve the vertical pass game. Sinnett’s success could be attributed, at least in part, to other position groups getting better around him, which could in turn help Guarantano if he returns to find his starting job intact. All of this said, Houston is still 1-4 and it’ll take more than strong quarterback play for them to enter the playoff mix in the second half of the season.

Memphis Showboats (1-4)

Improving offensive line play will be key to any offensive improvement

Through five games, Memphis quarterbacks have been sacked 25 times. That’s eight more than the team that has surrendered the second-most sacks. The Showboats are also at the bottom of the league in rushing at just 3.1 yards per carry, with just one rushing touchdown. Until they get their line sorted out, the offense will continue to sputter. This issue has already cost Case Cookus one game under center and head coach John DeFilippo has talked about needing to protect Cookus better. The staff hasn’t sat idly by and accepted the subpar line play: They’ve shuffled through four starting OL combinations in five games and waived the opening-day starter at left tackle. Still, while Darryl Johnston was in Arlington lauding the improved line play across the league last week, that improvement hasn’t been seen in the Home of the Blues.

Michigan Panthers (3-2)

Michigan will go as far as their run game and defense takes them

After five weeks, the strengths of the Michigan Panthers are clear: It’s their running game and defense. Of all running backs in the league, Wes Hills is tops in rushing yardage. Defensively, they rank in the top half of the UFL in almost all metrics. And that’s after playing the three strongest offenses in the league in the first five games. With a two-game lead for the final playoff spot in the USFL Conference, Michigan should focus its attention over the next few games on ironing out its QB spot. Defense and rushing may get a team to the playoffs, but like in the NFL, it’s difficult to make a deep run without strong quarterback play.

San Antonio Brahmas (4-1)

The Brahmas successfully transitioned their offense from Houston to San Antonio

There were questions before the season as to whether San Antonio could adapt last year’s Houston Roughnecks offensive philosophy in a short amount of time, with so many new faces. The early returns have been positive. The Brahmas are within 1.5 points of Houston’s 2023 points per game average and are exceeding the passing yards per game by 15 yards. Key additions on offense like Chase Garbers, Anthony McFarland, Cody Latimer and Marquez Stevenson have played a significant role this year. The entire San Antonio offensive staff migrated over with head coach Wade Phillips, so the scheme was not expected to change. Only the execution of it was in question and thus far those questions have been answered in the affirmative.

St. Louis Battlehawks (4-1)

St. Louis’s offense is even more explosive than last year

We saw glimpses of just how dangerous St. Louis’s offense could be in the 2023 regular season finale against Orlando. Needing to pile on the points to have a shot at the playoffs via tie-breaker, the Battlehawks hung 53 on the hapless Guardians. That momentum has carried into 2024: They lead the UFL in points per game at over 30, and in Jacob Saylors, they’ve finally found a running threat to compliment A.J. McCarron’s passing attack. That said, perhaps no QB is as critical as his team’s success in the UFL than McCarron. He is the leader both on and off the field, and the straw that stirs the St. Louis drink. If he can stay healthy, this team could do some real damage down the stretch.