Above Image Credit: United Football League
The United Football League is back for a second season. Eight teams prepare to enter the field, and they have a lot to prove to themselves and football fans everywhere. You will see some old, new, and, maybe some familiar, faces on the field
Now, let’s take a sneak peek of the four UFL matchups happening this weekend.
St. Louis Battlehawks vs. Houston Roughnecks
Date: Friday, Mar. 28th
Time and Channel: 8 PM EST (FOX)
Location: TDECU Stadium (Houston, TX)
The St. Louis Battlehawks begin their season against the Houston Roughnecks Friday night. One interesting detail to watch out for within St. Louis is seeing whether Max Duggan, Manny Wilkins, or Chevan Cordeiro will be the starting quarterback for the team.
Houston finds themselves in the same situation, too. However, I believe that they could end up picking Jalan McClendon to start. They will have to do a lot more than that to not end up with the worst overall record like they did last year. Perhaps they can be talked about if they can win more than one game this time.
St. Louis, on the other hand, proved they were a formidable team last year. Now, notable names like Hakeem Butler and Pita Taumoepenu return. They have also added veteran NFL kicker Rodrigo Blankenship to the roster.
San Antonio Brahmas vs. Arlington Renegades
Date: Saturday, Mar. 29th
Time and Channel: 4 PM EST (FOX)
Location: Choctaw Stadium (Arlington, TX)
After being shut out by the reigning champion Birmingham Stallions in the inaugural UFL championship game, San Antonio looks to get back into the title picture. One detail to note is that during the offseason, they have signed former NFL QB Kellen Mond. He could be the probable starter on opening night.
Their first challenge will be against their Northeastern neighbors, the Arlington Renegades. The former XFL champions didn’t have a better turnaround after the merger. They finished last in the XFL conference last season with a 3-7 record. Luis Perez is set to return as the starting quarterback.
Michigan Panthers vs. Memphis Showboats
Date: Sunday, Mar. 30th
Time and Channel: 12 PM EST (ESPN)
Location: Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium (Memphis, TN)
The Michigan Panthers look to start their season with a third consecutive win over the Memphis Showboats. The last time Memphis won this meeting was the USFL in 2023.
Memphis’s chance to become a legitimate threat in the UFL might have drastically slimmed. They are looking to start fresh with not only a roster of new faces but a slew of new coaches. Ken Whisenhunt announced days ago that he would be taking a leave of absence for personal reasons, so offensive line coach Jim Turner will take over as interim head coach.
Birmingham Stallions vs. DC Defenders
Date: Sunday, Mar. 30th
Time and Channel: 3 PM EST (ESPN)
Location: Audi Field (Washington, DC)
The Birmingham Stallions start their quest to become the first football team in history to win four consecutive championships. You’ll see double-threat Alex McGough return as possibly the starting QB. However, should he be needed as a wide receiver, backup QBs Matt Corral or Case Cookus will be ready and waiting for that opportunity to come.
Their first opponents are the Defenders who are more ready than ever to prove that they are more than a second-tier UFL team. However, that could complicate things after Reggie Barlow resigned as Defenders head coach and recently accepted the position at Tennessee State University. QB coach Shannon Harris will be the interim head coach.
For now, we will have to wait and see what happens as the season begins Friday night. If you need a refresher about the UFL, click here to read the post.
