Inside the UFL
by Fran Stuchbury
April 4, 2024 - United Football League (UFL)
The first action of the newly-formed United Football League took place this past weekend, bringing together teams from last year's XFL and United States Football League.
In the two games in which XFL and USFL went head-to-head, the former USFL members won both matchups. In a battle of each league's reigning champs, the Birmingham Stallions toppled the Arlington Renegades, 27-14, while the Michigan Panthers edged the St. Louis Battlehawks, 18-16.
On Sunday the San Antonio Brahmas surprised the D.C Defenders, 27-12, and the Memphis Showboats outlasted the Houston Roughnecks, 18-12.
While many players returned from last season, some have found new homes.
Birmingham Stallions
• CB Mark Gilbert - three total tackles, one interception, one fumble recovery and one pass breakup - 2023 with the Pittsburgh Maulers
• LB Kyahva Tezino - six total tackles - 2023 with the Pittsburgh Maulers.
Michigan Panthers
• RB Wes Hills - 11 carries for 85 yards - 2023 with the New Orleans Breakers
San Antonio Brahmas
• WR Jontre Kirklin - eight receptions for 61 yards and one touchdown - 2023 with the Houston Roughnecks
• S Jordan Mosley - nine total total tackles - 2023 with the Houston Roughnecks
Memphis Showboats
• QB Case Cookus - competed 23 of 40 passes for 204 yards, one touchdown and one interception, added 15 rushing yards - 2023 with the Philadelphia Stars
Houston Roughnecks
• LB Reuben Foster - seven tackles, one pass breakup and one interception - 2023 with the Pittsburgh Maulers
In week one, several newcomers to the league announced their presence as well.
Birmingham Stallions
• QB Matt Corral - completed 12 of 21 for 201 yards, one touchdown, one interception and 13 rushing yards
• QB Adrian Martinez - three carries for 52 yards, 26 passing yards, one interception before leaving the game with a foot injury
• Carlos Davis - 6 total tackles, 1.5 sacks and one forced fumble
Arlington Renegades
• LB Marquel Lee - nine total tackles and one pass breakup
Michigan Panthers
• Kicker Jake Bates - hit a game winning 64-yard field goal, his first field goal made since high school
• DT Daniel Wise - seven total tackles and 1.5 sacks
D.C. Defenders
• WR Travis Scott - four receptions for 87 yards
San Antonio Brahmas
• QB Chase Garbers - completed 19 of 25 passes for 158 yards and two touchdowns
• RB Anthony McFarland - nine carries for 47 yards, one reception for 28 yards and a touchdown, 52 kick return yards
• CB Darius Phillips - six total tackles, one interception and one pass breakup
Top 10 plays from week 1 of the 2024 UFL season:
Every touchdown of Week 1
Top Protection Plays of Week 1
Mike Florio and Chris Simms discuss the UFL's opening weekend, what the league did well and what it can improve
Week 2 Games
Saturday, April 6th
• San Antonio Brahmas at Memphis Showboats - 12 pm est. ESPN
• Arlington Renegades at St. Louis Battlehawks - 8 pm est. ABC
Sunday, April 7th
• Birmingham Stallions at Michigan Panthers - 12 pm est. ESPN
• Houston Roughnecks at D.C. Defenders - 4 pm est. FOX
EXTRA POINTS
• Saturday's Birmingham Stallions - Arlington Renegades game on FOX drew 1.18 million viewers. The St. Louis Battlehawks - Michigan Panthers broadcast which following totaled 1.35 million viewers. Sunday's D.C. Defenders - San Antonio Brahmas contest on ESPN finished with 960,000 viewers, and the Memphis Showboats - Houston Roughnecks matchup, also on ESPN, completed the weekend with 703,000 viewers.
• Attendance at Saturday's Birmingham at Arlington game was 14,153, while St. Louis at Michigan drew 9,444 fans. Easter games saw 13,164 in Texas for D.C. at San Antonio, while Memphis at Houston drew 9,157. The USFL did not announce attendance figures in 2022 or 2023.
• San Antonio Brahmas quarterback Chase Garbers, Birmingham Stallions cornerback Mark Gilbert and Michigan Panthers kicker Jake Bates were named the OurSports Central UFL Offensive Player, Defensive Player and Unsung Hero of the Week, respectively, for the Week One of the UFL season.
• Teams went five-of-seven on one-point conversion attempts from the two-yard line, five-of-seven on two-point conversions from the five-yard line, and zero-of-one on the lone three-point conversion attempt from the 10-yard line.
• On this edition of "Know My Name", Birmingham Stallions' QB J'Mar Smith shares his appreciation for the UFL and the competition involved. He also discusses his road to the UFL and his love for Stallions' fans:
• United Football League players including Brahmas' Brad Wing, Roughnecks' Reuben Foster, Panthers' Breeland Speaks and more are asked which celebrities they would like to invite to watch them play in a game this year and what they had to say was hilarious:
• United Football League players including Roughnecks' Toby Johnson, Brahmas' Alize Mack and more are asked what their favorite pregame music to listen to is, with answers like Lil Wayne, Drake, Lil Baby and Future, it makes this a must watch:
• My UFL best bet lock of the week is the D.C. Defenders -5 over the Houston Roughnecks. The Defenders return to Audi Field, home of the fan-made beer snake. D.C. moved the ball last week, and Jordan Ta'amu rolled up 227 passing yards against San Antonio but crucial mistakes kept them out of the endzone. The Roughnecks offense struggled with only 158 yards passing and 42 yards rushing in their 18-12 loss loss to Memphis. Look for the Defenders to get their first UFL win of the season.
United Football League Stories from April 4, 2024
- Inside the UFL - OSC Original by Fran Stuchbury
- Inside the UFL - OSC Original by Fran Stuchbury
- Inside the UFL - OSC Original by Fran Stuchbury
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer(s), and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
