A NOTE TO THE COMMUNITY

Calling a Timeout

I wanted to share briefly that I’m taking a hiatus from content creation for a bit to help my mother with some health issues she’s experiencing, so I need to focus on her recovery and trying to do my day job as well.

I appreciate all the readers of the Alt-Football Roundup that have subscribed this year.

For what they’re worth, I did at least get my picks in for Week 10 of the UFL below.

If you haven’t already, I encourage everyone to check out Abdul Memon’s Substack that focuses on the UFL:

Abdul Memon Football Substack

My Substack will discuss the UFL (United Football League). I will provide my insights and analysis on what’s happening on and off the field.

Abdul does a great job each week with diving into the numbers and matchups.

Again, thanks to all who read this Substack each week and I hope to return after I focus on my mom’s recovery.

Until next time…

— John Lewis Sports

(John Lewis Sports)

The DC Defenders officially placed quarterback Jordan Ta’amu on Injured Reserve Monday following a knee injury in Saturday’s loss to Louisville.

Ta’amu was among the best quarterbacks in the UFL before going down, completing 109-of-177 passes for 1,515 yards and 14 touchdowns through eight games while adding 198 yards on 46 carries on the ground.

“We never want to lose a quarterback of that caliber, especially a guy who’s been an MVP-level player and championship leader for us,” DC head coach Shannon Harris said. “But we still have a really good football team, and we are going to rally behind Spencer (Sanders) and Jason (Bean).”

Sanders replaced Ta’amu in Saturday’s game, but it will be interesting to see if former Louisville Kings starting quarterback Jason Bean gets the nod soon.

Bean arrived in Washington earlier this season via trade from Louisville, where he started three games for the Kings, completing 58-of-122 passes for 819 yards with four touchdowns and one interception.

Every UFL team is still in the running for the playoffs

The Dallas Renegades did something pretty cool this week, moving their final home game to Fort Hood to honor the military community but Orlando spoiled the part.

Storm quarterback Jack Plummer had himself a day — 238 yards through the air and the longest run of the UFL season, a 70-yard touchdown that put the game away. Orlando wins 31-24 and officially punches their playoff ticket.

Dallas is not done yet, but they need a win at Louisville this week and some help.

The Louisville Kings with back-to-back wins over DC might be the biggest surprise of the year.

The Defenders came to Lynn Family Stadium with revenge on their mind after Louisville’s road upset the week before. They struck first on the opening play of the game, but Tyler Hudson answered right back with a 92-yard kickoff return touchdown, and it was a battle to the end.

As mentioned above, DC quarterback Jordan Ta’amu went down with a knee injury in the first half and was replaced by Spencer Sanders, but credit to Louisville as they found a way to win a close game when it mattered. Tanner Brown was outstanding with a 4-point field goal and tying the UFL single-season field goal record with his 22nd successful attempt in the 33-30 win.

The Kings have won three of their last four and are very much in the playoff conversation. Here’s what the postseason picture looks like for the teams still fighting:

DC is in with a win over Orlando this week — or if Columbus beats Birmingham AND Louisville beats Dallas.

Louisville is eliminated with a loss to Dallas and if DC beats Orlando AND Birmingham beats Columbus.

The Houston Gamblers went into St. Louis — where the Battlehawks were undefeated this season — and left with a 23-16 upset win.

Luis Perez threw for 308 yards but also threw a pick-six that helped Houston jump out to a big early lead. St. Louis couldn’t recover despite the big passing numbers. The loss keeps the Battlehawks from clinching and somehow keeps Houston alive.

The good news for St. Louis: it’s simple. Win at Houston this week and they’re in. The bad news for Houston: same math, opposite result. Lose and they’re out.

A rock fight at Protective Stadium. Birmingham beat Columbus 14-3 in a game where both teams combined for just 270 yards of offense. Not pretty, but the Stallions got the win and retained fourth place.

The playoff math for these two is complicated.

Birmingham clinches with a win over Columbus this week — but only if DC beats Orlando AND Dallas beats Louisville AND St. Louis beats Houston.

Columbus is out with a loss to Birmingham, or if Louisville beats Dallas, or if Houston beats St. Louis.

UFL has to address attendance issues

Abdul Memon broke down the attendance numbers this past week and they’re worth paying attention to. St. Louis led the league with around 21,000 tickets distributed per game. Louisville is averaging just over 11,000, Columbus around 10,600, and Orlando just under 9,700.

Birmingham, though, is averaging around 4,800. Houston and Dallas have also struggled badly. And even DC and St. Louis — two of the league’s historically stronger markets — saw year-over-year declines. Overall attendance is down more than 14 percent compared to this point last season.

UFL co-owner Mike Repole already took a public shot at the Birmingham situation after last weekend.

With investment firms being involved in this league, the people writing the checks are going to want to see returns. Markets that can’t support a team aren’t going to get a free pass forever, especially when there are expansion markets like Oklahoma City waiting in the wings.

The league has every incentive to project stability right now after blowing up three franchises and built three new ones but some difficult conversations have to be coming this offseason.

Week 9 Schedule

The next-to-last week of the regular season:

• Friday at 8 on FOX: DC at Orlando

• Saturday at 3 on ABC: Birmingham at Columbus

• Sunday at 4 on FOX: Dallas at Louisville

• Sunday at 7 on ESPN2: St. Louis at Houston

IFL Cup: Rattlers rout Chupacabras, Knight Hawks crush Pirates to set up championship game

Jerome Bettis on bringing a new indoor football team to Athens, Georgia

Thanks for reading this week’s Alt-Football Roundup!

(UFL)

Three playoff spots could be taken after Week 8

It’s a win and in for St. Louis, Orlando and DC this week with that fourth playoff spot still up for grabs.

St. Louis sits atop the standings for the first time. Orlando is surging. Birmingham, thanks in large part to new quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson, is right on the bubble.

And the box of chocolates that is the Louisville Kings just walked into DC and handed the Defenders their worst loss of the year. That makes the rematch this weekend even more intriguing.

The standings after Week 7

The top four make the postseason, and here’s where things stand:

1. St. Louis Battlehawks

2. Orlando Storm

3. DC Defenders

4. Birmingham Stallions

Just outside: Louisville, who made a serious case for inclusion with their performance this week.

Louisville Kings 30, DC Defenders 13

This is the story of the week, and it wasn’t particularly close.

The Kings went into Washington as double-digit underdogs and dominated. Louisville forced turnovers, controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides, and neutralized an offense that had been rolling. Jordan Ta’amu threw for 353 yards for DC, but the Defenders couldn’t do enough with it.

Chandler Rogers was balanced and effective — 201 yards passing — and the Kings ran the ball efficiently with 145 yards on the ground. Louisville outscored DC by 17 points. On the road. As a heavy underdog.

Louisville snapped DC’s five-game winning streak and now takes on Louisville in front of what could be another raucous at Lynn Family Stadium with playoff hopes still alive.

A DC win, however, gives the Defenders a berth into the postseason.

Birmingham Stallions 21, Dallas Renegades 17 (OT)

Birmingham has been one of the better stories of the back half of this season, and quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson is a big reason why.

The former Orlando Storm backup threw two touchdowns and converted the overtime possession to give Birmingham the 21-17 win over Dallas. It’s a hard-fought win that moves the Stallions to fourth place and keeps their postseason hopes intact.

Dallas, meanwhile, is in freefall. After starting 3-and-0, the Renegades have now lost four straight.

Birmingham hosts Columbus this week. Dallas travels to Fort Hood to face Orlando. A Storm win puts Orlando in the playoffs. Somehow Orlando is a 1.5 underdog to Dallas, which is my easiest bet of the week. And it’s not on Dallas.

St. Louis Battlehawks 31, Columbus Aviators 20

Spring King Luis Perez made his first start for the Battlehawks and looked comfortable doing it — 204 yards passing and a touchdown in a 31-20 win over Columbus. St. Louis now sits alone at the top of the standings.

For Columbus, the math is getting difficult. The Aviators fall to 2-and-5 with upcoming games against Louisville and back-to-back matchups with Birmingham. Not impossible, but it’s a very tough stretch to make up ground.

Battlehawks clinch with a win over Houston in the Battledome, where St. Louis is undefeated.

Orlando Storm 24, Houston Gamblers 23

Orlando escaped Houston 24-23 at Shell Energy Stadium to break a two-game losing skid and hold their spot in second place.

It wasn’t pretty, and the Gamblers made them earn it late, but the Storm got the win when it counted. Orlando meets Dallas this week at Fort Hood while Houston heads to St. Louis.

The Gamblers may be playing out the string at this point.

Week 8 Schedule

Here’s what’s on tap:

• Friday — Orlando at Dallas (Fort Hood), 8 PM on FOX

• Saturday — DC at Louisville, Noon on ABC

• Saturday — Houston at St. Louis, 3 PM on ABC

• Sunday — Columbus at Birmingham, 1 PM on FOX

The Battlehawks are officially the Missouri’s football team

The Kansas City Chiefs announced a deal with the Kansas state government to build a new domed stadium just across the state line and Sen. Nick Schroer of St. Charles County says farewell with a resolution that makes the St. Louis Battlehawks the official pro football team of Missouri.

Back in January, Schroer introduced a resolution proposing to strip the Chiefs of their honorary designation as Missouri’s official NFL team and replace them with the UFL’s St. Louis Battlehawks.

Not every senator was on board at first. Some held out hope the Chiefs’ move might fall apart before it was finalized. Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer suggested the NFL still hadn’t signed off and there was still time. But Sen. Doug Beck — who described himself as a genuine Battlehawks fan — offered a simpler take: if the Chiefs leave, the Battlehawks will probably be the only official football team left in the state, so the move makes sense.

On May 7, it became official.

The Missouri Senate Democrats posted on X that Sen. Beck’s amendment naming the St. Louis Battlehawks as Missouri’s official professional football team had passed with broad bipartisan support.

To be clear about the scope: this is a concurrent resolution, not a law. It doesn’t allocate public funds, doesn’t affect either team’s league standing, and doesn’t legally compel anything. But it’s my kind of petty and I kind of love it, so even if it’s not a law, at least Kaw is the Law still in Missouri.

(Jim Franco/Times Union)

Castronova goes full circle to lead AF1 team to victory

In 2025, Sam Castronova led the Albany Firebirds to a perfect record and the inaugural Arena Football One championship, throwing 61 touchdown passes against three interceptions and taking home league MVP honors.

That performance earned him a UFL contract. First with the Memphis Showboats (which folded in league restructuring) then with the Houston Gamblers, who were desperate for quarterback help after a string of injuries and called Castronova in early April.

The Gamblers’ injury situation resolved, the roster stabilized, and Castronova was released without appearing in a single game.

On championship banner night Saturday in Albany, Castronova, who retuned to the Firebirds, stepped back onto the field for the first time since Houston cut him to hand the Kentucky Barrels their first loss of the season.

Albany won 55-37, remaining the only undefeated team in AF1 at 5-0.

Oklahoma City’s UFL stadium project enters next phase

Tall City Black Gold hosts final tryout before season

Former Georgia star, NFL stars buy IFL expansion franchise

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(UFL)

A UFL playoff spot looks up for grabs

The 2026 UFL playoff race seems wide open after Week 6.

Let’s start with the most compelling storyline of the week. Just two weeks after being traded away from Orlando, Dorian Thompson-Robinson walked back into O-Town and delivered. DTR threw for 271 yards and a touchdown, leading the Birmingham Stallions to a 20-17 upset win over the Storm to snap a losing skid and move to 2-4.

DTR looked sharp, Orlando falls to 4-2 with consecutive losses, and suddenly the Stallions don’t look like a team that’s cooked.

The remaining schedule sets up nicely for a run. Birmingham faces Dallas this week in what looks like a must-win followed by back-to-back matchups against Columbus and a regular-season finale against Houston. If DTR keeps playing like this, a late-season surge is quite possible.

Not long ago, the Dallas Renegades were one of the most exciting teams in this league. But now, they might have to win out for a playoff spot.

The Renegades dropped their third straight game, a 24-6 loss to the DC Defenders at Audi Field. DC, now 5-1 and almost locked into a playoff spot, is playing its best football of the season. Dallas, meanwhile, is left at 3-3 with a tough road ahead. They’ll face both Birmingham and Louisville — two teams fighting for their playoff lives — along with Orlando and St. Louis.

The Columbus Aviators got exactly what they needed in a 24-17 win over Houston, controlling the game early before holding off a late Gamblers rally. Columbus improves to 2-4, and while the math is still complicated, they’re very much alive.

For Houston, the path to the postseason is essentially closed. Their remaining schedule includes Orlando, back-to-back games against St. Louis, and a finale at Birmingham.

Columbus has a puncher’s chance. Back-to-back games against Birmingham loom large on their schedule. If they can win those, the conversation changes.

Louisville hosted St. Louis in what should have been one of the marquee matchups of the week. It wasn’t.

The Kings’ run game — a persistent problem this season — went completely missing in a 16-3 loss at Lynn Family Stadium. Less than a yard per carry as a team average is not a formula for competing at this level. Louisville falls to 2-4, now staring down consecutive games against the DC Defenders, which is the worst possible matchup at the worst possible time.

The Kings would need wins and serious help to reach the postseason. That’s a lot to ask right now.

The flip side of that Derby Classic is that the Battlehawks continue to look like a genuine contender. St. Louis is 4-2, the defense has found its footing, the run game is coming together, and Harrison Frost is managing the offense.

Battlehawks head coach Ricky Proehl’s team has some work ahead — Columbus, back-to-back games against Houston, and a regular-season finale against Dallas — but none of those matchups are terrifying. The Battlehawks look poised.

Week 7 Schedule

• Friday (Fox, 8 PM ET): Columbus at St. Louis

• Saturday (Fox, 1:30 PM ET): DC vs. Louisville

• Saturday (ESPN, 8 PM ET): Dallas at Birmingham

• Sunday (FS1, 6 PM ET): Orlando at Houston

(WESH)

Fresh Squeeze unis made debut in Orlando

The Storm might have lost to the Stallions, but at least they had some fashion sense on the way to back-to-back losses.

Orlando debuted the “Fresh Squeeze” jerseys in Sunday’s game. It’s a departure from the uninspired dark blue/black home jerseys.

(Yahoo)

Plumlee signs with Houston

John Rhys Plumlee went undrafted out of UCF in 2024, and the Pittsburgh Steelers signed him as a free agent while the Arlington Renegades, in that same summer’s UFL college draft, selected him with the No. 3 overall pick.

Plumlee chose the NFL path, heading to Steelers training camp rather than joining the Renegades. Now, two years and four NFL stints later, Plumlee will try his hand in spring football.

The Houston Gamblers signed him heading into Week 7 after injuries to Nolan Henderson and Taulia Tagovailoa, along with Hunter Dekkers not being 100%.

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Toros bring spring football back to San Antonio, return with new leadership

COFL Announces Norfolk Neptunes As Replacement For Michigan Arrows

(SKY Sports)

Former XFL quarterback P.J. Walker calls it a career

P.J. Walker has retired. The 31-year-old quarterback made it official last week when he informed the Calgary Stampeders he was stepping away from football after nine years as a professional.

Before P.J. Walker was a Carolina Panther or a Cleveland Brown, he was a genuine star of the 2020 XFL.

In Covid-shortened return of the XFL in 2020, Walker went 5-0 as the Houston Roughnecks starter, throwing for 1,338 yards and 15 touchdowns with a 65-percent completion rate.

The Carolina Panthers took a chance on Walker after his XFL breakout, signing him to a two-year contract. Between 2020 and 2022 he started seven games for the Panthers, going 4-3 while completing under 58 percent of his passes for 1,461 yards, five touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. Then came a stint with the Cleveland Browns in 2023.

He bounced to the CFL instead, joining the Calgary Stampeders in 2024 after failing to make Seattle’s final roster, and starting one game for the Stampeders in 2025.

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(UFL.com)

The midway point of the UFL was full of scoring, surprises

The UFL’s second half is here — and the race just got a lot more interesting.

We are moving fast into the second half of the UFL season, and Week 5 gave us a lot to chew on. St. Louis ended Orlando’s unbeaten run. Louisville went into Dallas and absolutely dominated. Columbus may be in serious trouble. And DC just keeps rolling like nobody can stop them.

The Saint Louis Battlehawks went into Orlando, built a 25-0 lead, and then had to hold on for dear life as the Storm made things interesting late. Orlando clawed back to make it 25-17, but St. Louis did enough to get out of Florida with the win.

Quarterback Harrison Frost was the story for the Battlehawks — 185 yards through the air and a performance that gave St. Louis exactly what they needed on the road. Orlando, meanwhile, now has their first loss of the season under former Battlehawks head coach Anthony Becht.

Both teams have interesting matchups ahead. Orlando hosts Birmingham — a team they shut out in Week 4 — and St. Louis heads to Louisville on Thursday night.

Louisville and Dallas did not look like the same teams we’ve watched for the first part of this season. That was very good news for the Kings and very bad news for the Renegades.

Dallas quarterback Austin Reed threw four interceptions in this one — two of them went back for pick sixes. Meanwhile, Chandler Rogers made his first start for Louisville and ran a balanced, efficient offense. Rogers put up 150 passing yards and the Kings added 147 yards on the ground, including four touchdown runs from Ian Wheeler.

The final: Louisville 47, Dallas 25.

This was the Kings’ most complete game of the season. When Louisville head coach Chris Redman reconfigured the offense by trading away starting quarterback Jason Bean, cutting some offensive lineman and running back Benny Snell, many of us were wondering if it was too much too soon, especially off a win and an upcoming road game at one of the UFL’s top teams.

Well, we saw what happened and Louisville is starting to look like a team that belongs in the playoff conversation.

Dallas, on the other hand, now has back-to-back losses against two teams that struggled in the first half of the season. The Renegades visit DC this week, and that is not the matchup you want when you’re trying to stop a skid.

A gut-punch loss for the Columbus Aviators in Houston. Quarterback Jalan McLendon fumbled on what looked like it could have been the game-winning drive, and the Gamblers held on for a 17-13 win.

Columbus came into Week 5 riding the momentum of their first win — a big upset over Dallas in Week 4 — and this loss hurts. These two teams are back at it again in Columbus on Friday, so we’ll find out quickly whether the Aviators can bounce back.

Dorian Thompson-Robinson stepped in as Birmingham’s new starter after the Matt Corral trade, and he had himself a day — 313 passing yards and 43 rushing yards. But it wasn’t enough.

Jordan Ta’amu threw four touchdown passes and the DC Defenders rolled 45-28. In their four wins this season, the Defenders are averaging more than 40 points per game. DC head coach Shannon Harris has this team playing at a completely different level than everyone else right now.

DC hosts Dallas this weekend, and that should be one of the better games of the Week 6 slate.

Week 6 Schedule

Four days of football ahead:

• Thursday on FS1 at 8: St. Louis at Louisville

• Friday on FOX: Houston at Columbus

• Saturday at noon on ABC: Dallas at DC

• Sunday at 4 on FOX: Birmingham at Orlando

Hard to believe the second half of the UFL season is already here. Playoff positioning is either going to change or really solidify over the next few weeks. Stay tuned.

Prognosticating the remainder of the UFL schedule

Why not go on a fool’s errand and guess how each team will finish the season?

Birmingham (4-6)

At Orlando - L

Vs Dallas - L

Vs Columbus - W

At Columbus - W

Vs Houston - W

--

Columbus (2-8)

Vs. Houston - W

At St Louis - L

At Birmingham - L

vs Birmingham - L

vs Louisville – L

--

Dallas (7-3)

At DC - L

At Birmingham - W

Vs Orlando - W

At Louisville - W

At St Louis - W

—

DC (8-2)

Vs Dallas - W

Vs Louisville - W

At Louisville - L

At Orlando - W

Vs Orlando - W

--

Houston (2-8)

At Columbus - L

Vs Orlando - L

At St Louis - L

Vs. St Louis - W

At Birmingham - L

--

Louisville (4-6)

Vs St Louis - L

At DC - L

Vs DC - W

Vs Dallas - L

At Columbus - W

—

Orlando (6-4)

Vs Birmingham - W

At Houston - W

At Dallas - L

Vs DC - L

At DC - L

--

St. Louis (7-3)

At Louisville - W

Vs Columbus - W

Vs Houston - W

At Houston - W

Vs Dallas - L

So if this holds, St. Louis, Dallas, Orlando and DC would be the four playoff teams. Could another team (*cough* Louisville *cough*) move up to that fourth playoff spot before season’s end?

The 2026 United Bowl Is Coming to Washington, D.C.

The UFL’s championship game has a home and a new name.

The UFL made it official Thursday: the 2026 United Bowl will be played at Audi Field in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, June 13, with kickoff set for 3 p.m. ET on ABC.

This is the first season the championship game will carry the “United Bowl” name, replacing whatever unofficial branding the league had used previously.

June 13 falls during the lead-up to America’s 250th birthday, and UFL President & CEO Russ Brandon was direct about the symbolism of holding the championship in the nation’s capital during that window.

Memphis Hound Dogs introduce Richard Gilliam as first head coach

New Glasgow sports team will ‘do better’ after safety concerns

I attended Scotland’s first American Football Arena League game - it wasn’t worth the hefty ticket price

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The UFL had no games Sunday, but the off-the-field news kept the UFL in the news cycle with one-time starting quarterbacks getting traded.

After Birmingham head coach AJ McCarron said everything is on the table following what he called an embarrassing 16-0 loss to Orlando at Protective Stadium Saturday, the next day starting quarterback Matt Corral and defensive end Amani Bledsoe were sent to Orlando for Storm backup quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson.

I had high hopes for Corral this season, but for every spectacular throw he made, there seemed to be two questionable pass attempts.

DTR may inject some life into the Stallions, assuming he’s the starter sooner rather than later.

A perplexing trade for the Louisville Kings as they send starting quarterback Jason Bean to the DC Defenders for DC’s backup quarterback Mike DiLiello.

Bean is the league’s fourth leading passer and was key in the Kings first victory this past weekend over Houston.

Louisville head coach Chris Redman announced soon after that Chandler Rogers will take over the quarterbacking duties. Rogers has appeared in three games this season, throwing for 160 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions.

For Bean, this means he’s going from starting quarterback to backup in DC, unless there’s an injury to Jordan Ta’amu that we are unaware of right now.

I thought Louisville could use a boost to the offensive line rather than a one-for-one trade for a quarterback.

Speaking of the Kings o-line, running back Benny Snell was released and responded to Pro Football Newsroom’s James Larsen’s tweet about it:

Louisville is last or near last in every rushing category so far this season. It’s hard for me to put the burden entirely on the shoulders of the running backs.

The Kings have possibly the toughest remaining schedule for any other UFL team: at Dallas Sunday, hosting St. Louis the next week followed by home and away games against DC, another matchup with Dallas and wrapping up the season at Columbus.

It’ll be interesting to what moves the Kings continue to take to try to stay on track.

Looking back at Week 4 in the UFL

Orlando Storm head coach Anthony Becht came into Birmingham for the Stallions’ home opener and handed AJ McCarron’s team a 16-0 loss in front of a reported 18,000 tickets distributed at Protective Stadium. That’s a big crowd for Birmingham, and they went home disappointed.

It was the first regular-season shutout in UFL history.

The Stallions are now 1-and-3. They host the 3-and-1 DC Defenders in Week 5. The margin for error is shrinking fast.

Orlando is now the lone undefeated team in the league at 4-0.

The Columbus Aviators — who came in without a win — went to work against the previously unbeaten Dallas Renegades and just ran the ball. And ran it. And ran it some more.

202 rushing yards. 47 rush attempts — a new UFL record for rush attempts in a single game in a 28-14 upset over one of the league favorites to win it all.

Dallas had played three games in 11 days coming in, and it showed. Columbus was patient, physical, and relentless. It was a clinic in controlling the clock and wearing a defense down. Credit to Aviators head coach Ted Ginn Jr. — his team came to play.

Columbus gets a week to build on this before hosting Houston in Week 5. A back-to-back win would suddenly make the Aviators a very different conversation heading into the second half of the season.

Dallas gets nine days off before hosting Louisville. The Renegades are still the class of this league on paper but this week showed they’re not untouchable.

A bit of a red flag in Washington this week — fewer than 8,000 showed up officially as the Defenders beat the Battlehawks 28-22.

DC is clicking right now. Saint Louis has quarterback questions to sort out before heading to the unbeaten Storm next week. The Battlehawks showed some fight, but the Defenders are playing the best football in the league outside of Orlando.

After that heartbreaking loss to Orlando in Week 3 — where a rule almost nobody had heard of handed the Storm the win in overtime — Louisville had a decision to make. Fold, or fight.

They fought.

The Kings traveled to Houston on Thursday night and outlasted the Gamblers 24-22 in overtime. Win number one. It wasn’t pretty the whole way through — Houston came back and had a chance to win it in regulation — but the Kings made the plays when it mattered most.

That overtime rule the UFL implemented? The one that cost Louisville the Week 3 game? The league changed it following that game. And then Louisville wins in overtime the very next week.

You genuinely cannot write that script.

(Screenshot from NFL Network broadcast)

A word (or several) on Houston

I’ve never fully understood the UFL’s commitment to keeping a team in Houston.

Yes, the Roughnecks drew well in 2020 during the COVID-shortened XFL season. In 2023, the numbers were decent. But in 2024, the move to Rice Stadium pushed averages down to around 7,000 per game. In 2025 it got worse — around 5,700 per game on average. And this season, Week 4’s Kings-Gamblers game had an announced attendance somewhere around 4,800-4,900 tickets distributed — and a Thursday night game makes a convenient excuse, but it doesn’t tell the whole story.

Shell Energy Stadium is a beautiful venue. The Gamblers had a real shot at something last year. But if the attendance trajectory continues this season, the conversations about Houston’s long-term viability are going to get louder.

The Gamblers have a brutal schedule ahead, including back-to-back games against a surging Columbus team and a visit from the 4-and-0 Storm. The next few weeks will tell us a lot.

Week 5 at a Glance

• Friday: DC at Birmingham — FOX, 8 p.m. ET

• Saturday: St. Louis at Orlando — ESPN, 7 p.m. ET

• Sunday: Columbus at Houston — ABC, noon ET

• Sunday: Louisville at Dallas — ABC, 3 p.m. ET

The Nashville Kats (playing 60 miles away in Clarksville) draw 2,000 to opener

Former UFL player Chris Payton-Jones had daughter weeks before fatal car crash

Indoor American Football: Will this new sport work in the UK?

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The Ginn situation and the Columbus Aviators

As of publishing time of this newsletter, there’s still no clear indication surrounding the future of Columbus Aviators head coach Ted Ginn Jr.

Ginn was arrested on a DUI charge just before Sunday’s game against the Dallas Renegades. Offensive coordinator Todd Haley stepped in as acting head coach on short notice.

Despite the distraction, Columbus hung around. Dallas ultimately pulled away for a 28-23 win behind a strong defensive performance, moving the Renegades to 3-0 while the Aviators fall to 0-3. Those two teams meet again this week in Columbus.

Orlando has proven it can win back-to-back games against the same opponent, so maybe Columbus pulls off the upset no matter who is leading the team. But heading toward the midway point of the season, a win sooner rather than later needs to happen to keep a chance of a playoff berth alive for the Aviators.

Speaking of…

Louisville’s tough break

The Kings opened Week 3 at home and came away with a loss that left a lot of people scratching their heads. In overtime, Louisville committed two defensive penalties, and an arcane rule converted the second one into a scoring play for the Orlando Storm — resulting in a 29-27 final.

Even head coach Anthony Becht had to have the rule explained to him after the game.

Louisville falls to 0-3. The run game still needs work, but Jason Bean’s 352-yard, 3-touchdown outing deserves recognition. This team isn’t getting blown out — they’re losing in the margins.

The best take? This one from WDRB’s Eric Crawford.

Still, with all that encouragement, the right result for Louisville has to come about and there’s a chance it happens Thursday when the Kings visit Houston.

DC puts on a clinic

And speaking of the Gamblers, the DC Defenders made a statement against Houston, winning 45-7 in what was the largest margin of victory in three years of UFL play. The Gamblers had no answers.

DC now sets up a rematch this week against the St. Louis Battlehawks — the only team to hand the Defenders a loss so far this season.

This time, it’s in DC for a Saturday 12:30 p.m. kickoff. The forecast is partly sunny and 85 and the beer snake could have record growth.

That St. Louis comeback though

Sunday’s finale in Birmingham was something else.

The Battlehawks entered as underdogs against the Stallions and their head coach, former Battlehawks quarterback AJ McCarron — a storyline with some real bite to it, given that the two sides did not part on good terms. McCarron had been looking forward to this one since before the season started.

The game itself was sloppy for three quarters. Matt Corral threw a pick-six early, and Harrison Frost — in relief of a struggling Brandon Silvers — threw a pick-six of his own to open the second half. Not exactly must-watch football at that point.

Then the fourth quarter happened.

Frost caught fire, throwing three touchdowns in the final frame to complete the comeback. St. Louis wins 34-30. Wild finish, and suddenly the Battlehawks are right back in the conversation.

We talked about Week 3 on the latest Around the UFL along with Dallas Renegade Donald Payne and former Birmingham Stallion Jace Sternberger.

(UFL)

Payton-Jones dies after car crash

The alt-football world is remembering former XFL and UFL cornerback Chris Payton-Jones following his death in a head-on car crash over the weekend.

Payton-Jones retired from the St. Louis Battlehawks in 2025. During that season, Payton-Jones granted an interview with me to talk about overcoming a lot of real life obstacles to play the game he loved.

While my interactions with Payton-Jones were brief and only online, I found him to be friendly, grateful and extremely optimistic about his journey and about the opportunities the league provided for players like him.

Payton-Jones was 30 years old.

Expansion or relocation? UFL to OKC in 2028

The UFL announced last week that Oklahoma City will host a team in 2028.

One word missing from the press release, both on the website and sent out to media, was the word “expansion.”

Now, I openly admit I’m an old cynic and maybe I read too much into what I, well, read, but I felt as if “expansion” missing from that release could be telling.

My conspiracy theory: OKC can work one of two ways.

If the league is hitting on all cylinders in each market, OKC will truly become an expansion team.

But what if there’s a market in 2026 and 2027 that is struggling to check all the boxes the league wants (including attendance), then I think OKC could be the site of a relocated team.

Still, it’s a good sign that the UFL feels spring football is viable enough to have ten teams (at least, that’s the plan right now. Remember in 2024 when the league was looking for RFPs for “expansion” teams and later relocated three teams).

Either way, I think OKC is a prime market for the UFL and explained why in this video:

Lions begged for a chance by Arena Football League star with sign outside Detroit facility

QB Paxton Lynch football comeback cut short by brutal injury

NFL should embrace UFL’s officiating transparency

What a week. Thanks for reading this edition of the Alt-Football Roundup!

Week 2 of the 2026 UFL season had a little bit of everything — a dramatic walk-off, a statement win, a struggling expansion team trying to find its identity, and some attendance numbers that should have league offices paying close attention. Let’s break it all down.

Houston Gamblers 22, Birmingham Stallions 20

Nobody had the Houston Gamblers winning this one. Coming in as the biggest underdogs on the board, Houston needed a late defensive stop, a challenged pass interference call that went their way, and then the steady right leg of kicker John Hoyland — who drilled a 50-yard field goal as time expired to give the Gamblers a stunning 22-20 victory over Birmingham.

Hoyland was the story of the night, going a perfect 5-for-5 on field goal attempts.

The Stallions had their chances and led 20-19 with two minutes to play, but failed to convert a two-point attempt after their go-ahead score, and Houston’s offense — behind backup quarterback Nolan Henderson — methodically moved the ball into position for Hoyland to do the rest.

With quarterback Hunter Dekkers likely out for some time after an apparent shoulder injury in the game, the Gamblers have signed AF1 MVP Sam Castronova.

Both teams hit the road in Week 3. Houston travels to DC for the Defenders’ home opener, and Birmingham heads to the toughest environment in the league — The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis.

Louisville Kings 9, Orlando Storm 19

Louisville Kings head coach Chris Redman wanted to see improvement from Week 1 to Week 2. Defensively, there are things to build on. Offensively, the questions are piling up.

The ground game went backwards — from 46 rushing yards in the opener to just 27 yards against Orlando, a number that includes a scramble by quarterback Chandler Rogers.

Jason Bean got the start for the second week in a row, but Rogers took over for the bulk of the game after Bean struggled early. The two-quarterback approach isn’t a long-term strategy, and Redman is going to have to make a decision heading into a home game against a Storm team that just beat them on the road.

The good news? Louisville’s defense held Orlando to a 30% third-down conversion rate and the Kings led 9-6 at halftime. The Kings have been in both games but on the wrong end of the final score.

The rematch is this Friday night at Lynn Family Stadium on FOX. Orlando comes to Louisville 2-0 and confident.

DC Defenders 44, Columbus Aviators 26

The DC Defenders came into Week 2 having managed just 153 yards of total offense in their opening loss to St. Louis. then delivered a complete offensive turnaround — 319 total yards and a dominant 44-26 road win over Columbus in the Aviators’ home debut at Historic Crew Stadium.

Running back Deon Jackson was the star, finishing with three rushing touchdowns.

For Columbus, it was a rough welcome to home football. The Aviators had the crowd behind them and head coach Ted Ginn Jr. returning to his hometown, but turnovers and penalties ultimately buried them. They fall to 0-2 and now have to avoid an 0-3 start on the road in Dallas this Sunday.

The Attendance Question

The league needs more people in the stands, and Week 3 is an important test.

New co-owner Mike Repole made waves when he moved teams into soccer venues specifically because he didn’t like the optics of large stadiums with sparse crowds. That was the right call. But the optics still matter, and some of what we’ve seen so far is concerning.

Here’s the early attendance picture:

• Louisville, Week 1 — Sellout at Lynn Family Stadium. Great start for a brand-new franchise.

• St. Louis, Week 1 — Strong crowd at the Battledome for the opener against the defending champion Defenders.

• Dallas, Week 1 — Fewer than 8,900 (and that’s distributed tickets) at Toyota Stadium. That’s a problem.

• Orlando, Week 1 — 11,000+ for a Sunday night 8 pm kickoff on ESPN. Solid for a debut.

• Orlando, Week 2 — Under 8,600 for a Saturday night game. That number needs to come up.

• Columbus, Week 2 — Nearly 15,000 announced for the home opener. The eyeball test suggests the real number was lower, but still an excellent crowd.

• Houston, Week 2 — 7,700 on Easter Sunday for a 5 pm CT kick at Shell Energy Stadium. The timing didn’t help, but the number has to improve.

Week 3 brings home games in Louisville, DC, and St. Louis — three markets that have shown they can put people in seats. The average attendance should take a meaningful jump. Dallas has a Sunday home game against Columbus.

Dallas: show up.

Week 3 Slate

Friday, April 10 — 8 PM ET on FOX Orlando Storm at Louisville Kings — Lynn Family Stadium

Saturday, April 11 — Noon ET on ESPN Houston Gamblers at DC Defenders — DC home debut

Sunday, April 12 — ABC Doubleheader Columbus Aviators at Dallas Renegades — Noon ET Birmingham Stallions at St. Louis Battlehawks — 3 PM ET

I went 3-1 in week 1 and 4-0 last week. This week might prove to be a little tougher.

CoFL’s Cincinnati Dukes has historic home

AF1 inks deal with streaming platform

UFL analyst Joel Klatt 1-on-1 with Gio Journal

Thanks for reading the latest Alt-Football Roundup. If you have suggestions for content here, let me know!

(John Lewis Sports)

Louisville showed up. Dallas and Orlando…not so much

Lynn Family Stadium delivered everything a new franchise could ask for on opening night, except a win.

A sellout crowd of more than 14,000 turned out for the first Friday Night game of the 2026 UFL season, giving the Louisville Kings and gave a genuine home-field atmosphere.

Head coach Chris Redman’s debut ended in a narrow 15-13 defeat to the Birmingham Stallions, but the margin reveals how competitive the Kings were. For a first-year team making its debut in front of a packed house, there was plenty to build on.

“First of all, it was an incredible atmosphere, the fans showed up and the city did its part,” Redman said. “These guys fought really hard and its hard to do when you have some turnovers and we could not get off the field on third down.”

"I knew the fans would show up," Redman said. "I'm just so proud of this city and the opportunity they have. There's history out there waiting for us."

Birmingham first-year head coach AJ McCarron takes the win, but the result was far from comfortable.

“I thought our group did an unbelievable job of just being resilient,” McCarron said. “We always preach the process, not worrying about the result. Every play has a history and a life of its own. I think that showed tonight throughout our group. I mean, they drive down, they’re on the goal line, and the defense just had no quit and nocks the ball out. Huge play in the game right there. I just think we have a really resilient bunch and it’s awesome to have the opportunity to coach these guys.”

The St. Louis Battlehawks announced themselves in a big way, knocking off the defending champion DC Defenders 16-10 in head coach Ricky Proehl’s debut. DC did make a bit of UFL history along the way — kicker Matt McCrane connected on the league’s first-ever four-point field goal — but it wasn’t enough to hold off the Battlehawks in front of a crowd of more than 31,000 fans in the Battledomes.

“It's definitely a big thing for us because it gives us an advantage,” Proehl said. “This is a huge game – opening day against the defending champs. I'd be lying if I'm not sitting here saying that I want to get off to a great start.”

DC head coach Shannon Harris says the final score was more about the Defenders than it was about the Battlehawks.

“That team didn’t technically beat us. We beat ourself,” Harris said.

In Dallas, the Renegades rolled past the Houston Gamblers 36-17, but the story wasn’t just the final score. Renegaddes quarterback Austin Reed put up 376 passing yards — a new UFL regular season record. The other story was the stands: an announced crowd of just 8,800 at Toyota Stadium raised serious questions about the league’s footprint in Dallas.

In Orlando, Storm quarterback Jack Plummer had an impressive debut with 245 passing yards in a 23-16 win over the Columbus Aviators. UFL co-owner Mike Repole during an in-game interview made no secret of his disappointment with an announced crowd of just 11,000.

Orlando head coach Anthony Becht, who never had to expend too much effort to drum up support as the head coach in St. Louis, said after the game: “The fanbase was incredible tonight. If everybody just brings one friend next game, we’re gonna have a great environment.”

Ratings in from UFL Week 1

According to this article from UFL News Hub’s Greg Parks, the early TV numbers for the UFL’s opening weekend may tell a mixed story.

Late Tuesday, ESPN highlighted strong viewership for the D.C. vs. St. Louis matchup, which delivered the second-highest UFL rating in the network’s history with 938,000 viewers.

Friday night’s season opener on FOX between Louisville and Birmingham brought in 649,000 viewers, a noticeable dip from last year’s Week 1 opener, which drew 690,000. However, the Duke/St. John’s NCAA Tournament matchup was opposite the game, which could have caused a dip.

Sunday night’s ESPN matchup managed 466,000 viewers on ESPN.

Kings assistant says he was fired after week 1 loss

Louisville offensive line coach Breno Giacomini said via his Instagram account that he was fired following the opening week loss to Birmingham. The Kings nor the UFL have made a statement about the situation.

Giacomini, a former Louisville Cardinal, said in his post that he will support the Kings and the community.

Videos of the Week

I have a look back at the first week of the UFL as well as what’s ahead for each team plus I made a couple of appearances on other channels leading up to week 1.

CRAWFORD | Even in defeat, the Louisville Kings’ opening night felt like a beginning

ELF officially declared insolvent, adding even more uncertainty

Indianapolis Capitols to play inaugural 2026 season at Grand Park Sports Campus

Wyoming Cavalry suspended by league for not following rules

Welcome to in-season spring football and thanks for reading!

(John Lewis Sports)

UFL kicks off Friday

As you might expect, this will be a very UFL-centric edition as the 2026 season kicks off Friday.

Let’s take a look at Week 1 slate:

Birmingham Stallions at Louisville Kings

Friday, March 27 | 8:00 PM ET (FOX)

It’s a “Green Out” at Louisville’s Lynn Family Stadium for the UFL opener Friday night with the Kings and the Stallions.

With a near sellout already, I’m expecting a party atmosphere in the stands. On the field, well, it’s hard to predict anything in Week 1 with so many unknowns (but I will try as you will see below).

My players to watch: For the Kings, it has to be running back Benny Snell, Jr. He could be key to the ground game that offensive coordinator Steve Logan will want to establish early and often.

For the Stallions, I can’t wait to see quarterback Matt Corral back in action. If he stays healthy this season, I can see him as a dark horse MVP candidate.

DC Defenders at St. Louis Battlehawks

Saturday, March 28 | 12:00 PM ET (ESPN)

DC head coach Shannon Harris will try to “maintain the terror” as he likes to say as the defending UFL champions have to open on the road in the toughest place to play in the league: The Battledome.

New Battlehawks head coach Ricky Proehl says there’s no better way to debut the season than a home game against the champs, but I wonder if he might rethink that when the final horn sounds.

My players to watch: all eyes might be on the Defenders offense, but I’m looking forward to seeing the work edge rusher Derek Roberson will do Saturday. He’s an all-UFL selection from last season.

St. Louis quarterback Brandon Silvers might have his work cut out for him, but it’s great to see the veteran spring football alum back in action as a starter.

Houston Gamblers at Dallas Renegades

Saturday, March 28 | 4:00 PM ET (FOX)

The two Texas rebrands face off for what could be a good one to cap off the double-header Saturday.

New head coaches Kevin Sumlin (Gamblers) and Rick Neuheisel (Renegades), who both have spring football head coaching experience so this could be a chess match down the stretch.

My players to watch: Yes, the Spring King is back for the Renegades and I’m really curious to see if quarterback Luis Perez is going to be entrenched as the starter again or if Austin Reed will give him a run for his money.

For the Gamblers, honestly, I’m perplexed by the entire roster. I hate to cop out and say the players to watch for me are everyone on that roster, but here we are.

Columbus Aviators at Orlando Storm

Sunday, March 29 | 8:00 PM ET (ESPN)

Storm head coach Anthony Becht snatched up a corps of Battlehawks to come with him from St. Louis to Orlando so it’ll be interesting to see if the success will translate to a new team.

Becht will take on rookie head coach Ted Ginn, Jr. who says he wants the whole league and the fan base to see that he doesn’t have a “rinky dink” team, but a true contender.

My players to watch: Aviators running back Toa Taua is a bruising back that led the UFL with six rushing touchdowns last year for the Michigan Panthers. If he has that same form in 2026, Taua could be right back up there again and help the Aviators move the chains on big downs.

For the Storm, new kicker Michael Lantz might be one of the favorites to hit that first 4-point field goal from 60+ yards (although my money is on DC’s Matt McCrane). Lantz is new to the league after a standout career at USC and has the range that could make him a legit scoring threat for the Storm all season long.

Running the fool’s errand

Trying to gamble on the UFL in week one with so much change is a guessing game at best, but being the fool I am, here are my picks for the opening week using the Wednesday point spreads from theScore bet app.

My picks are in yellow. I think Louisville covers (if not wins) with DC, Dallas and Orlando all winning and covering.

And check out my opening week preview below!

(FOX 35 Orlando)

Orlando unveils mascot

I’m sure as soon as I hit “PUBLISH” the UFL will release more mascots, but Tuesday, we saw the unveiling of Kratos, the Orlando Storm’s mascot.

If you need more than picture, check out Orlando’s FOX 35 story.

(WDRB)

Signs of spring (football) in the Derby City

How excited is Louisville to get a UFL franchise? Enough for media coverage of the goalposts going up at Lynn Family Stadium.

Stories here from WDRB, WHAS, WAVE and WLKY

National Arena League and A7FL gets new streaming platform

CoFL’s San Antonio Toros making the media rounds ahead of the projected May 2026 kickoff

AIF suspends an assistant coach for the season and several players for multiple games after brawl

(CFL)

Mauldin retires as a Redblack

Louisville Kings fans were excited about the return of former Louisville Cardinal Lorenzo Mauldin, but after signing a deal with the Kings, the 33-year-old defensive lineman decided to retire from the game instead.

Mauldin signed a one-day contract with his former CFL team, the Ottawa Redblacks, and retired.

Selected by the New York Jets in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft out of Louisville, his NFL tenure was derailed by injuries — a herniated disc in his back required season-ending surgery cutting short a promising start in which he had recorded 6.5 sacks in 26 games.

Mauldin signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL in 2019 but his breakout season happened in 2022 in Ottawa. He set a Redblacks franchise record with 17 sacks and became the first Ottawa player to win the CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award. Mauldin earned All-CFL honors twice and led the league in sacks again in 2024.

Over six CFL seasons, he appeared in 91 games and posted 163 defensive tackles, 36 sacks, and six forced fumbles.

Enjoy the opening week of the UFL and check back here and on my YouTube channel for more coverage!

UFL cutdown day reveals some surprising names

There are a thousand reasons a player fails to make the cut for a team on any level: injury, numbers, attitude, lesser talent, whatever. And surely that’s the case coming from Thursday’s announced cuts from the UFL’s eight teams.

Some surprising names I saw (or at least a surprise to me) on the cut list: Dee Anderson in Orlando, James Robinson in Louisville, Leon O’Neal in DC and Peyton Hendershot in Dallas just to name a few.

A lot of these players will no doubt land on other rosters soon.

Coaches call cutdown day one of the worst of the year. Hopefully it’s a bit better for some of the players who still have something to give to the game.

“No owner in f***ing history is doing what I’m doing right now.” - Mike Repole

That’s one of many takeaway quotes from this in-depth article on UFL co-owner Mike Repole from Sports Business Journal.

Repole has zero filter and too many times, some of the random things he says will make headlines even if it’s just talking off the cuff.

The latest example is Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio running with the headline “Mike Repole wants the UFL to have 32 teams.”

I’m sure he does. I want to get one million subscribers on Substack and YouTube. Could it happen? Yes. Will it happen? Probably not.

I appreciate Repole being vocal about the league and seemingly popping up everywhere ahead of next week’s slate of games, but every time the man speaks off the cuff, journalists need to stop taking it as gospel.

Pair of Gamblers games moved to NFL Network

The Houston Gamblers home debut April 5 and the Gamblers matchup against the Louisville Kings on April 16 will both air on NFL Network.

The April 5 game shifts from noon and will now kickoff at 6 p.m. eastern time.

Former Panthers punter latest special teamer to sign NFL contract

Seth Vernon, who handled punting duties for the Michigan Panthers last season, has signed a two-year, $1.935 million deal with the Miami Dolphins.

Vernon averaged 45.4 yards on 23 punts during his time in the UFL before the league’s exit from Michigan, putting enough on tape to earn another opportunity at the next level. He’s yet to appear in a regular-season NFL game but has had previous stints with Tampa Bay and Minnesota.

UFL News Hub’s Greg Parks on how the non-GM structure affects UFL rosters

NAL team could get $32k in public funding

What do you think of this AI generated Battlehawks podcast?

(San Antonio Toros)

CoFL’s Toros looking for investors

Are we seeing another alt-football league trying to run before it can walk? That’s the vibe I’m getting from the proposed rebirth of the Continental Football League.

The league is scheduled to kickoff in less than 70 days and is still looking for investors for the San Antonio Toros franchise.

According to the team’s WeFunder page, the Toros are looking to raise $500,000 and has a valuation cap of $2.7 million, meaning early investors are guaranteed to convert their investment as if the company is worth no more than $2.7 million, no matter how high the actual valuation goes in the next round. (It’s also smart to note most startups flop.)

Thanks for reading the latest edition of Alt-Football Roundup! I always love to hear your comments, so be sure to let me know what you think.

(John Lewis Sports)

Lynn Bowden Jr. out in Louisville — for now

For the second straight year, it looked as if former third-round NFL draft pick Lynn Bowden Jr. was finally going to bring his electric playmaking ability to the UFL.

And for the second straight year, it didn’t quite happen.

The Louisville Kings waived the versatile former NFL wide receiver this week.

But according to Louisville head coach Chris Redman, Bowden’s story with the Kings might not be over yet.

“He’s an incredible guy and an incredible person. I wanted that to work out so much but it was kind of a numbers thing,” Redman said. “Not to say the door is shut to ever bring him back, and that could be something down the road.”

Heading into camp, all signs suggested Bowden would be a centerpiece of the Kings’ offense.

The former Kentucky Wildcats star was featured prominently during the Kings’ fan rally earlier this year, made appearances on several UFL-focused podcasts and remained active on social media discussing the upcoming season.

Then the news broke.

(Deleted post from X)

Bowden himself revealed the move in a now-deleted social media post announcing that he had been released from the team.

In 2025, Bowden appeared poised to play in the UFL after joining the DC Defenders in training camp.

But he was waived in late March before the season began.

This year’s cut came just a little earlier — more than two weeks before the Kings’ season opener.

Even so, Redman says the decision was difficult.

“Honestly a tear fell when I had to make that call,” Redman said.

Part of the challenge for Bowden was simply the depth already on Louisville’s roster.

The Kings feature several established spring football standouts, including Jonathan Adams, a former New Orleans Breakers and Memphis Showboats receiver who has racked up more than 1,800 receiving yards across four spring football seasons.

Another key target is Lucky Jackson, a former All-XFL selection with the DC Defenders.

Jackson briefly spent time with the Minnesota Vikings before returning to spring football this year.

The Kings kick off the 2026 UFL season Friday night, March 27 against the Birmingham Stallions at Louisville’s Lynn Family Stadium.

(Continental Football League)

Continental Football League rounds out league with Fort Worth

The rebirth of the Continental Football League is set to kick off in May, although it's going to be a rush to kickoff as the league just announced it’s final team for the proposed eight team league.

The CoFL announced the Fort Worth Braves will become the eighth team (and fourth in Texas) to form the new CoFL.

The original Fort Worth Braves played during the late 1960s as part of the Continental Football League’s Texas Division before the league folded after the 1969 season.

Now the brand is being revived as part of the modern CoFL’s effort to reconnect the league’s legacy with a new generation of players and fans.

With the Braves now confirmed, the CoFL’s inaugural eight-team lineup is complete.

North Division

• Cincinnati Dukes

• Indianapolis Capitols

• Michigan Arrows

• Ohio Valley Ironmen

South Division

• Fort Worth Braves

• San Antonio Toros

• Tall City Black Gold

• Texas Syndicate

(LAPRESSE)

IFL player killed in Georgia

Jordan Jones is dead after being shot while attempting to break up a fight outside a bar in Georgia.

According to police, the incident happened early Saturday morning in the parking lot of Saddle Bar in Acworth. Authorities say the 28-year-old Jones, who was working as a security guard at the time, intervened in a fight outside the establishment. During the confrontation, a man allegedly pulled out a gun and shot him.

Jones was transported to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital, where he later died from his injuries. A suspect, identified by police as 25-year-old Daniel Di Vonne Parsons, was arrested and faces charges including murder, aggravated assault and aggravated battery.

Jones spent time with the Tulsa Oilers and the San Antonio Gunslingers and had recently signed with the Michigan Arsenal ahead of the upcoming season.

The Indoor Football League released a statement mourning Jones, describing him as a respected competitor who left a strong impression on teammates and coaches.

(Queen City News)

Rodeo vets taking their talents to the gridrion

I love this story from Charlotte. A semi-pro team features a roster full of rodeo cowboys, some who are playing for friends and family who have died. Check out the story here from WBTV.

Thanks for checking out the latest from the world of alt-football! Share this with someone you think might enjoy it.

(UFL)

UFL training camp features joint practices, weekend scrimmages

The UFL training camp moves on in Arlington as the teams held joint practices Tuesday and scrimmages are set for Saturday.

Here’s Saturday’s scrimmage schedule:

SCHEDULE & LOCATIONS:

• 10:00 AM CT: DC Defenders vs. Birmingham Stallions

  • Choctaw Stadium (1000 Ballpack Way, Arlington, TX 76011)

• 10:00 AM CT: Columbus Aviators vs. Louisville Kings

  • Pennington Field (1501 Central Drive, Bedford, TX 76022)

• 10:00 AM CT: Orlando Storm vs. Dallas Renegades

  • Southlake Carroll High School (2400 N. Carroll Ave., Southlake, TX 76093)

• 10:00 AM CT: St. Louis Battlehawks vs. Houston Gamblers

  • Vernon Newsom Stadium (3700 E Broad St, Mansfield, TX 76063)

Some training camp insight this week from Anthony Miller, who talked to the King of Spring Luis Perez for this article on UFL News Hub, Pro Football Newsroom’s James Larsen has some takeaways from the Houston Gamblers camp, and the UFL has one-on-one interviews with Columbus head coach Ted Ginn, Jr. and Birmingham head coach A.J. McCarron.

(@UFLKings)

Former Jaguar signs with the Louisville Kings

Former Jacksonville Jaguar James Robinson, who burst onto the NFL scene as an undrafted free agent with the Jaguars in 2020, has signed with the Louisville Kings ahead of the UFL’s 2026 season.

His agency announced the deal this week, a move that marks a fresh chapter for the 27-year-old runner after several years of bouncing around the league.

Robinson joins former Pittsburgh Steeler running back Benny Snell in the Kings backfield.

The Kings recently lost running back Jalen Jackson to a season-ending Achilles injury, according to Pro Football Newsroom’s James Larsen.

Less than a month out, mixed results in UFL ticket sales

UFL News Hub’s Greg Park dove into the numbers of UFL week one ticket sales a month out from kickoff.

You might be surprised with some of the results.

The build up to the 2026 UFL season rolls on. Here are some UFL videos I posted in February.

Some other Alt-Football headlines…

Former NY Giant is now the commissioner of the Italian Football League

The American Indoor Football League marks 20 years of play

Remembering the player who broke the pro football gender barrier

(Yahoo)

IFL expands deal with Yahoo after axing FanDuel deal

The Indoor Football League killed its streaming deal with FanDuel and expanded the previous contract with Yahoo Sports. continues to reshape its national media footprint.

Despite the expanded Yahoo arrangement, not all 2026 IFL games are currently assigned to a broadcast partner as of now.

According to Yahoo Sports, 64 live IFL games will stream exclusively on Yahoo including the IFL National Championship Game on Aug. 16.

The IFL season kicks off its 18th season March 14.

Thanks for reading this week’s roundup!

(Still from UFL/FOX)

UFL revisits the rule book for 2026

UFL play will look a bit different this coming season with the installation of some new rules, which I will try to avoid calling Repole’s Rulebook.

The four-point field goal

This season, any made field goal from 60+ yards will be worth four points.

That fundamentally alters late-game strategy. Down four with two minutes left? You’re still alive. Cross midfield and you’re suddenly in potential game-tying territory if you have a strong-legged kicker.

No Tush Push

The UFL is also eliminating the “Tush Push” — the short-yardage quarterback sneak made famous in recent NFL seasons.

I’m sure the ratio of UFL to NFL attempts is not even close, but it’s now going to be zero for the UFL.

One foot inbounds counts as a reception

I guess the UFL believes more completions will equate to more scoring opportunities and maybe that’s the case. But I’m not a big fan of this one. Wide receivers who want to get to the NFL need work on fundamentals. I’ll be interested to hear from the league’s wide receivers and coaches on this one.

No punting inside the 50

This might be the most aggressive change of all.

Teams will not be allowed to punt the ball from inside their opponent’s 49-yard line (except after the two-minute warning).

Cross midfield and you’re in “go for it or kick it” territory.

Three (now four) PAT options

After touchdowns, teams will have multiple choices:

• One-point kick (33-yard field goal)

• Two-point attempt from the 2-yard line

• Three-point attempt from the 8-yard line

The three-point conversion alone introduces scenarios where nine-point swings become very real.

Kickoff and field position changes

The league is also adjusting kickoff alignment to encourage returns while maintaining spacing and safety:

• Kickoffs from the 30-yard line

• Coverage team aligns at the receiving team’s 45

• Landing zone between the 20-yard line and goal line

Touchbacks spotted at the 40 (if kicked into the end zone)

Overall, I think there are some interesting rule changes.

One of the best (and easiest) ways to differentiate a league is having rules that are experimental and dynamic. Looking forward to seeing how these really play out on the field.

DC Defenders quarterback Jordan Ta’amu joined us on the Around the UFL podcast to discuss the rules. He stops by around the 31 minute mark.

(Spectrum News)

Battlehawks ditching the dome?

Another major change on UFL co-owner Mike Repole’s radar is possibly moving the St. Louis Battlehawks from the Dome at America’s Center to the MLS Energizer Park.

In this story from St. Louis Public Radio, Repole rhetorically asks, “is it better to be fighting to be one of the 22,000 in (a smaller stadium) and building demand, and that place is sold out, and that place is going crazy, what's a better atmosphere?”

New St. Louis head coach Ricky Proehl responded: “I understand from a business standpoint, what (Repole) wants to do, to create an atmosphere, where the stadium is full, it's at capacity,” Proehl said. “But hey, why can't we do that in the Dome?”

(UFL)

McCarron hopes his team doesn’t eat ‘rat poison’

The Birmingham Stallions went into training camp as the co-favorites to win the league according to The Score Bet.

When I asked McCarron about the preseason attention, he called it “rat poison.”

You can see his entire answer here along with Louisville head coach Chris Redman talking about his first foray into UFL training camp.

(coflarrows.com)

The Michigan Arrows and Indianapolis Capitols are back in the Continental Football League

The Continental Football League keeps adding teams ahead of the projected summer kickoff this year. Is it really going to happen? We’ll see but so far, the CoFL has announced its sixth and seventh teams while hoping for eight to start the season.

The newest arrivals: the Michigan Arrows and Indianapolis Capitols.

The Arrows franchise originally competed in the CoFL in 1968 and featured notable talent like future NFL kicker Garo Yepremian.

The franchise is owned by Michigan football coach, radio host, and podcast co-host Mike Jones.

“Bringing the Michigan Arrows back isn’t just about football,” Jones said. “It’s about providing opportunity for players, coaches, and staff, and giving Michigan fans a team they can truly call their own.”

CoFL Commissioner Mike Kelly echoed that sentiment, highlighting Michigan’s natural alignment with the sport.

“Michigan is football country,” Kelly noted, underscoring the significance of restoring pro football in the region.

The league recently added another classic brand: the Indianapolis Capitols, bringing back a team name with league history — one that originally captured the 1969 Continental Football League championship.

The franchise has named Hal Mumme as its head coach. Mumme won The Spring League title in 2021 after serving as offensive coordinator for the 2020 Dallas Renegades of the XFL.

Other news and notes:

ESPN announces 2026 UFL broadcast crew

IFL commish talks future and history of league

Chris Redman on Kings first training camp

Thanks for reading this week’s edition. If you know someone who would be interested in the Alt-Football Roundup, pass it along!

The 2026 UFL uniform reveal is here — and if you love branding, helmets, and heated fan reactions, this was a good week.

There were bold swings. Subtle tweaks. And a few decisions that already have fans arguing online.

Let’s start with the biggest change of the returning teams.

Birmingham Stallions: Bold Flip… Very Bold.

New Era flipped the script completely.

The previous look — gold helmet with garnet jerseys — is gone. In its place? An almost all-gold uniform paired with a darker red helmet.

That unveiling sparked some skepticism/vitriol from fans. UFL co-owner Mike Repole leaned into it on social media, joking that the Stallions fanbase is harder to please than his family — and even quipped that the Birmingham mayor designed them.

Not subtle. Which tracks.

Repole, who bought struggling performance brand NoBull and built it into a billion-dollar company, doesn’t exactly operate in half-measures.

Which brings us to the detail fans absolutely noticed…

The NOBULL patch — prominently placed on every uniform.

I thought it could’ve been more subtle. But subtle isn’t really the lane here.

Personally? I’m not a uniform purist. Change is good. I’m just not the biggest fan of full one-color jersey-and-pants combos. That said, I love the helmet. If that darker red had matched a garnet jersey instead of going full gold? That might’ve been the sweet spot.

Columbus Aviators: Best Helmet in the League?

I already feel for the play-by-play announcers trying to distinguish blue numbers on blue jerseys.

But aesthetically? Columbus might have the best helmet in the league. The clean logo. The lighter blue palette. It’s sharp.

I do wish there was a bit more contrast on the home jerseys — maybe lean even more into that light blue. But perhaps the league didn’t want to drift too close to Dallas in tone.

Still a strong debut look.

Houston Gamblers: Playing the Hand Perfectly

Black-on-black numbers? Brave.

Also potentially unreadable.

But conceptually, this is one of the most cohesive designs in the league.

The playing card motif is outstanding. The numbers resemble card fonts. The stripe details incorporate card suits. There’s even a poker chip patch detail that shows someone really thought this through.

Only concern? Those 80- or 90-degree Houston spring days.

Style points though? Near the top of the league for me.

Orlando Storm: Missed Opportunity?

Orlando’s primary home uniform is black/dark navy.

In Florida.

In the spring.

Interesting choice.

The Storm have one of the most dynamic color schemes in the UFL — purple and orange pop. It’s a little disappointing that the primary home look didn’t lean into one of those colors instead.

Another team opting for a black helmet.

Feels like a chance to differentiate that wasn’t fully taken.

Louisville Kings: Optimism Required

Alright. This is my team.

I’m choosing optimism.

I’m good with the green color scheme. What I struggle with is the full Color Rush vibe. I thought we learned our lesson after the infamous Tampa Bay Vipers green-on-green situation…

And then the Orlando Guardians reminded us how wrong neon and green combos can go.

This isn’t disastrous. Not even close.

But it’s reminiscent enough to give fans flashbacks.

Maybe it grows on me.

Maybe it looks better under the lights.

But right now? Jury’s out.

DC Defenders: Where’s the Camo?

The defending champions stayed steady.

No radical changes from New Era. Clean. Familiar.

But I’m not alone in saying I miss the subtle camo theme from the previous uniforms. That touch gave them personality without overwhelming the design.

This year feels a little more safe.

St. Louis Battlehawks: The Arch Detail Wins

St. Louis largely stayed the course.

New Era streamlined the wings on the helmet — mixed reactions so far.

Personally, I’d love to see the 2020-era blue helmets and wing pattern come back. But the real win here?

The “stripes” on the jersey aren’t stripes.

They’re the Gateway Arch.

That detail is outstanding. Subtle. Local. Intentional.

Exactly how design storytelling should work.

Dallas Renegades: No Notes.

I kind of love everything here.

Re-branding cleanly as Dallas.
The return of the Bandit mascot.
The black helmets.

This feels cohesive and confident.

No complaints.

For my YouTube video on the uniforms (along with some preseason odds), click here.

Henderson back in Houston

(The UFL)

Quarterback Nolan Henderson is set to don that sweet Houston Gamblers jersey.

The Gamblers added quarterback Henderson to their roster, completing their quarterback room ahead of the 2026 UFL season.

Henderson, a Smyrna, Delaware-native and former standout at the Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens, spent the past two seasons with the Houston Roughnecks, where he saw action as both a starter and backup.

TAL GM breaking boundaries

The Arena League’s Arkansas Diamonds have appointed Lauren Hatten as their general manager.

Hatten’s leadership marks a meaningful milestone in a sport where women are still underrepresented in executive roles.

Meet Hatten in this story from WTHV.

Former World League of American Football QB dies at age 58

Michael Proctor, who had a Hall of Fame career at Murray State University and later led the WLAF’s Montreal Machine, died earlier this month at 58.

Here’s a rundown of the dual-threat quarterback’s career and you can see Proctor in action in my video about the WLAF quarterbacks.

Thanks for reading this week’s roundup! If you get some value out of these weekly newsletters, let me know!

(Penn Athletics)

Tune out, Sayin in

The Columbus Aviators were busy with transactions this week, replacing quarterback Clayton Tune (who opted for an NFL futures contract) with former Penn QB Aidin Sayin.

The Aviators were also involved with a preseason trade with the DC Defenders.

The Defenders are bringing back a familiar face at tight end, acquiring Briley Moore from the Columbus Aviators in exchange for nose tackle Patrick Jenkins.

Moore, who was selected by Columbus in the 2026 UFL Draft, returns to DC after spending the previous two seasons with the franchise. He appeared in four games during the 2024 season, posting seven catches for 48 yards and a touchdown before a Week 3 knee injury cut his year short. After recovering, Moore played all 10 games in 2025, recording 15 receptions for 205 yards and two touchdowns, reestablishing himself as a reliable option in the Defenders’ passing attack.

A former Kansas State standout and All-Big 12 selection, Moore brings continuity and proven production back to DC’s offense.

In return, the Defenders send Patrick Jenkins to Columbus. Jenkins was originally selected by DC in the 2026 UFL Draft.

Sponsors coming on board as UFL season nears

The Orlando Storm announced a major sponsor for the 2026 season and I’m told more teams will have similar announcements soon.

As part of a multiyear deal, Orlando Health — a private, not-for-profit network of community and specialty hospitals headquartered in Orlando — will serve as the Storm’s Official Medical Team and have its logo featured on the team’s game jerseys beginning this spring.

Orlando Health will also be the presenting sponsor of the Storm’s first game — a primetime home opener at Inter&Co Stadium on March 29, when Orlando hosts the Columbus Aviators.

Beyond game days, the collaboration will extend into the offseason with youth football camps that include on-site medical support and wellness education for young athletes and families.

(IFL.com)

Indoor Football League set to debut with week long event

The Indoor Football League (IFL) has announced the inaugural IFL Cup, a new week-long national showcase event set to debut in May 2026 at American Dream (which the IFL is billing as “the nation’s premier indoor entertainment destination. It’s a mall with a bunch of attractions. It’s where the disastrous AFL revival’s Arena Bowl XXXIII took place).

So here’s the setup:

• Monday, May 18: Two opening games — Arizona vs. New Mexico and Vegas vs. Orlando.

• Saturday, May 23: Fan and youth engagement programming.

• Sunday, May 24: A consolation game followed by the IFL Cup Championship and a late-night championship celebration at DreamWorks Water Park (21+).

The coach of the New Mexico Chupacabras spoke to ONNJ about the event.

Former UFL quarterbacks heading to the CFL

The Great White North is drawing signal callers from the UFL.

According to UFL News Hub’s Pat Rifino, the pipeline from the UFL to the CFL is still flowing.

Since Mike Repole’s new ownership era began in the United Football League, the quarterback landscape has shifted dramatically. The UFL has experienced its biggest turnover of signal callers since the 2024 merger, with a mix of retirements, roster cuts, and players opting to pursue opportunities in the CFL.

(@marquetteking on X)

King says he’s “blocked” from NFL

Former XFL and UFL punter Marquette King announced his retirement from professional football after a 13-year career spanning the NFL, XFL, and UFL.

Over six NFL seasons with the Raiders and a brief stint with the Denver Broncos, he became known for his booming punts, dynamic personality, and unconventional style — earning an All-Pro nod and setting franchise punting marks.

In his retirement announcement on social media, King said he fought to return to the NFL but felt blocked by the league’s “gatekeepers,” choosing to step away on his own terms.

(WBKO)

UFL player helped create NFL celebration phenomenon

You’ve seen the celebration in the NFL but, if you’re like me (old), you might not have known what it was called.

Birmingham Stallion Daewood Davis was a partial creator of the celebration called Zombieland.

ESPN has the history of the most prevalent big play celebration from the NFL in 2025.

Thanks for reading this week’s alt-football roundup. Subscribe and share!

(John Lewis Sports)

Louisville Kings fan rally signals belief in UFL

If the Louisville Kings’ Fan Rally on Jan. 31 was any indication, the appetite for pro football in Louisville is real.

A reported 2,500 RSVPs came in, and fans were lined up in frigid weather before the doors opened at the Churchill Downs venue.

The excitement is building for fans, now it’s up to head coach Chris Redman to build a winner.

What’s emerging ahead of the Kings’ inaugural 2026 UFL season is a roster built on local ties, former rivalries, and players chasing renewed opportunity.

For Redman, building from scratch means patience and precision.

“We’re grinding and getting after it and putting a really good playbook together right now. Step by step. There’s a lot going on, but I feel like we’re in a good spot,” Redman said.

The makeup of the roster so far is compelling to local fans of both the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville. Thanks to the edict from the UFL to have players with local ties populate the roster, bitter rivals now find themselves as teammates.

“I feel like it’s going to be epic. Two sides coming together and making a strong impact,” said Kings running back Benny Snell, a former star at UK.

For players like Willie Tyler, a former UofL lineman, the Kings represent both opportunity and homecoming.

“Now we’re teammates. We’ve just got to represent the state of Kentucky. Everybody’s on the same page. We’re here to win,” Tyler said.

At quarterback, Redman’s approach leans toward mobility and adaptability. That should appeal to UofL fans who cheered for Lamar Jackson during his Heisman campaign.

Will Jason Bean be Lamar Jackson? Maybe not, but Redman appreciates the former Kansas quarterback’s dual threat ability and thinks the fans will as well.

“We’ve got a couple quarterbacks who can really run the ball. And people around here like running quarterbacks,” Redman said.

Wide receiver Lynn Bowden Jr. might be the most dynamic piece on the roster. Known for doing a little of everything during his college career at Kentucky, Bowden remains open to any role that helps the Kings win.

“I play everything—offense, defense, center, whatever it is. That’s play and win,” Bowden said.

Bowden was slated to play for the DC Defenders in 2025 but said he was still feeling the aftereffects of surgery, so the UFL was a no go. In 2026, all systems are go for Bowden. After

“I’m fresh now, 100% ready to go. Especially being home,” Bowden said.

Redman doesn’t plan to waste that versatility.

“I saw what he did to Louisville back in the day. We’ve got to get him on the field.”

Running back Benny Snell brings experience—and perspective. After a productive college career at Kentucky and time in the NFL, his goals in the UFL are about more than a comeback.

“Getting back to the league isn’t the goal for me this time around. I’m doing this for me. For Kentucky. For something deeper than just a league.”

For Snell, reconnecting with fans and delivering quality football in the state matters.

“I want to bring some good football back—and hopefully bring a championship.”

Ask Redman what he wants the Kings to be, and the answer blends intensity with discipline.

“We want to be competitive, play with passion, and do things the right way—on and off the field.”

And yes, expect speed.

“People around here are used to fast horses. Same thing with this football team.”

For more from the Kings Rally, check out my video here.

Birmingham Stallions DB JoJo Tillery joined us on the Around the UFL podcast.

The Louisville Kings Corner crew talked to Kings o-line coach Breno Giacomini.

The Boise Stallions?

The Kings host the Birmingham Stallions for the 2026 UFL opener on March 27, but was there a chance that could have been a matchup between Louisville and Boise?

According to this story from BoiseDEV, Boise and the UFL had a “verbal agreement” to locate a franchise there.

Could it have been Birmingham before some 11th hour bailout from UFL co-owner Mike Repole?

(CoFL)

Glanville named DC of Toros

I missed this one in the last edition, but Jerry Glanville is back in football.

Now, I don’t know if the Continental Football League will get off the ground this summer as promised, but they are continuing to add coaches. And kudos to them for releasing the Glanville hiring with a picture of him in that sweet fur coat.

The 84-year-old Glanville brings more than two decades of NFL experience, including head coaching stints with the Houston Oilers from 1985 to 1989 and the Atlanta Falcons from 1990 to 1993. He also spent more than 10 years at the collegiate level, serving as head coach at Portland State and as a defensive coordinator at the University of Hawaiʻi.

In addition to his NFL and college background, Glanville has experience in alternative and spring football leagues. He previously worked as a defensive coordinator in the Canadian Football League and the XFL and served as head coach in The Spring League.

Glanville is also known for his involvement outside traditional football coaching. He competed for several years on the NASCAR racing circuit, and a video game bearing his name, Jerry Glanville’s Pigskin Footbrawl, was released for arcade and home consoles in the early 1990s.

Thanks for reading this week’s roundup!

(UFL)

The UFL’s bet on rookie coaches

The UFL brands itself as a league of opportunity and that’s not just about the players. This year, four of the eight coaches in the league have no head coaching experience on any level.

Birmingham Stallions head coach A.J. McCarron, Columbus Aviators head coach Ted Ginn, Jr, Louisville Kings head coach Chris Redman and St. Louis head coach Ricky Proehl will all make their debuts in week one of the UFL season.

For Birmingham Stallions head coach AJ McCarron, the learning curve has been immediate. He’s found that coaching in the UFL isn’t just about installing an offense or evaluating talent. He’s dealing with new stuff daily.

Roster movement, staffing adjustments, and league logistics shift every day. McCarron admits it’s a challenge, but one he embraces.

“Things change each and every day,” McCarron said. “You’ve got to be able to adapt as coaches. One day it might be one thing, the next day it’s another. That’s a challenge — but it’s also something that excites me.”

In Columbus, Ted Ginn Jr. enters his first head coaching role with football embedded deeply in his family history.

His father, a legendary high school coach at Cleveland’s Glenville High School, won state championships in 2022, 2023, and 2025. It was there that Ginn Jr. starred as a player before heading to Ohio State and then embarking on an NFL career that lasted more than a decade.

Now, father and son may be chasing success again — this time in professional football.

“Dad is very happy and it’s a great opportunity for me. It is a great opportunity for the family. He’ll be involved in in certain steps of the way, You always got to have your backbone with you at all times,” Ginn said.

Despite Ginn Jr.’s lack of head coaching experience, there’s confidence inside the Aviators’ locker room. Veteran quarterback Jalan McClendon pointed to Ginn’s NFL background, his exposure to elite offensive minds like Sean Payton, and his self-awareness about being new to the role.

For Chris Redman, head coach of the Louisville Kings, this job represents more than a career step. It’s a return home.

Redman grew up around the game. His father Bob Redman coached high school football for more than 40 years and is a Hall of Famer. Redman himself played at Louisville Male and the University of Louisville and later coached at the high school level following his NFL career.

When the Kings job opened, Redman says it was the right opportunity at the right time.

“There’s only a couple situations I would have done this,” Redman said. “This was the perfect situation.”

Not every rookie head coach is walking in blind.

In St. Louis, Ricky Proehl may be new to the head coach role, but he brings the most professional coaching experience of the group. A former NFL receiver, Proehl coached the Battlehawks’ wide receivers in 2023 and spent several seasons as an assistant with the Carolina Panthers.

His philosophy mirrors the league’s mission.

“I watched so many guys in training camp whose dreams fell apart — guys who could play but just needed an opportunity,” Proehl said.

That belief in development over pedigree is central to how the UFL sees itself.

But by the end of the 2026 season, there will be no ambiguity about what this experiment revealed — about leadership, adaptability, and whether opportunity truly breeds success at the professional level.

I posted a YouTube video about the rookie coaches. You can watch it here.

Two UFL rookies coaches face off in week one

Redman’s Kings and McCarron’s Stallions will open their inaugural UFL season in prime time, hosting Fox UFL Friday at Lynn Family Stadium on Friday, March 27, with an 8:00 p.m. kickoff.

Louisville’s schedule quickly ramps up. In Week 2, the Kings travel to face another new team, the Orlando Storm, coached by former Battlehawks head coach Anthony Becht. The following week brings a scheduling quirk, as the same two teams face off again—this time in Louisville—for another Friday night Fox broadcast.

The Kings’ first road-heavy stretch includes:

• A Thursday night trip to Houston (streaming exclusively on the ESPN app)

• A Sunday afternoon matchup with the Dallas Renegades

• A Thursday night home game in Week 6 against the St. Louis Battlehawks, scheduled the weekend before the Kentucky Derby, with themed festivities planned

Perhaps the toughest test comes in Week 7, when Louisville travels to face the defending UFL champion DC Defenders, followed by a rematch the next week back at Lynn Family Stadium. The regular season closes with another meeting against Dallas before finishing on the road against the Columbus Aviators.

Across the league, the 2026 schedule presents notable storylines: DC opens with multiple road games, Birmingham doesn’t play at home until Week 4, and several former Battlehawks figures face their old teams in limited matchups. A Tuesday night game following the NCAA basketball championship also highlights the league’s willingness to experiment with timing.

Finally, the UFL is making a renewed push to turn game days into full-scale events. According to the league, fanfests and live music will be added around stadiums to create a more energetic, festival-style atmosphere—an effort to strengthen the in-stadium experience and build momentum for the league’s future.

The UFL has its own take on the six games to watch this season.

(Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports)

Louisville Kings lose Smith, Jr.

Redman and the Kings hyped Irv Smith, Jr. as the steal of the UFL draft, but a week later, it appears Smith will not suit up for Louisville.

No reason as of yet why the Kings and Smith parted ways. Smith is a former NFL draft pick who was expected to be a key offensive piece.

Pro Football Newsroom has more on the departure and the Kings additional signings.

Mevis reflects on time with L.A. Rams

Former Birmingham Stallions kicker Harrison Mevis was key in the Rams run to the NFC Championship game.

The “Thiccer Kicker” reflects on the late season run that nearly ended up in a Super Bowl appearance.

(MidlandTX.gov)

CoFL team has official home

The Midland City Council has unanimously approved a lease allowing the newly formed Tall City Black Gold of the Continental Football League to play at Astound Broadband Stadium for its first two seasons, according to the Midland Reporter-Telegram.

The agreement covers the 2026 and 2027 seasons, during which the Black Gold will host four home games each year. In addition to stadium access, the team will use the Scharbauer Sports Complex’s White and Blue auxiliary fields for practice sessions.

Under the terms of the lease, the team will pay a rental fee of $6,375 per game at the city-owned facility.

The Black Gold will compete in the CoFL’s South Division, joining other teams from San Angelo, San Antonio and Austin.

Thank you for reading and, if you haven’t already, consider subscribing and passing along this newsletter to others who may find it interesting!

UFL 2026 schedule released

The 2026 UFL schedule features some interesting matchups and some quirks.

You can see the full schedule on the UFL website here.

The Louisville Kings and Birmingham Stallions open the 2026 campaign at Louisville’s Lynn Family Stadium Friday night, March 27 on FOX.

DC is at St. Louis, Houston is at Dallas the following Saturday and the Orlando Storm and Columbus Aviators make their debuts Sunday night in primetime when the Aviators visit the Storm.

The Birmingham Stallions enter the season under a cloud of uncertainty. The offseason was filled with speculation — including thinly veiled talk about the team’s long-term future — and the schedule does them few favors early on. Birmingham won’t play its first home game at Protective Stadium until Week 4, opening the year with three straight road contests.

One of those early matchups carries some added intrigue, as former Battlehawks quarterback AJ McCarron now brings his Birmingham squad to St. Louis. It’s one of several scheduling quirks in 2026.

Former Battlehawks head coach Anthony Becht, now in Orlando, will face his old team just once — and that meeting won’t take place in St. Louis. At least in the regular season, there’s no homecoming on the calendar.

The league also is experimenting with when and how it presents its games. A notable example comes on Tuesday night, April 7, when St. Louis visits Dallas the night after the NCAA men’s basketball championship. Two weeks later, Louisville plays at Houston in a game you can see only on the ESPN app.

One encouraging development is the league’s renewed emphasis on the overall game-day experience. Anyone who has attended UFL games in the past knows the atmosphere outside the stadium has often been minimal. According to the league’s schedule announcement, that’s set to change in 2026, with fan fests and live musical acts planned around games to make these games more of an event.

Former Birmingham Stallion takes team to NFC Championship

The Thiccer Kicker is in the spotlight after a game-winning field goal to send his Los Angeles Rams to Sunday’s NFC Championship.

Harrison Mevis drilled a 42-yard, game-winning field goal in overtime, lifting the Los Angeles Rams to a 20-17 victory over the Chicago Bears and into this weekend’s matchup at Seattle.

After the game, the former Birmingham Stallions kicker Mevis summed up his moment with laid-back confidence: “Shoot, that’s why we do it … Preferably this guy [Matthew Stafford] gets in the end zone, but if it has to come down to me, I’ll be ready for my moment.”.

Mevis was another kicker flying under the radar, but now he is a headline grabber and, with it, puts the UFL front and center as a league of opportunity.

DiNucci aiming for Super Bowl ring

Former Seattle Sea Dragon Ben DiNucci could make an appearance in the Super Bowl. Yes, a lot of dominoes would have to fall for that to happen, but the one-tie Denver Bronco is back with his old NFL team.

When starter Bo Nix broke his ankle at the end of the AFC Divisional win over Buffalo and ruled out for the remainder of the postseason, DiNucci got the call.

He was signed to the practice squad and is expected to be QB3 in Sunday’s AFC Championship game when the Broncos host the New England Patriots.

(FOX Sports)

“McGoat” retires from football

One of the all-time spring football standout quarterbacks is reportedly calling it a career.

Former Birmingham Stallions signal caller Alex McGough is retiring, according to Pro Football Newsroom’s James Larsen.

UFL News Hub’s Pat Rifino chronicles McGough’s career.

A few alt-football videos to share this week:

Columbus Aviators quarterback Jalan McClendon joined the Around the UFL panel (including me this week).

Here are some of McClendon’s top plays from 2025 from the UFL YouTube channel.

My latest video features Louisville Kings head coach Chris Redman and Birmingham Stallions head coach A.J. McCarron talking about their QB rooms.

Thanks for reading this late edition of the Alt-Football Roundup!

(UFL.com)

UFL teams fill up rosters ahead of 2026 kickoff

After days of allocations, protections and two rounds of drafts, the 2026 UFL rosters are taking shape.

Here are some interesting building blocks for each of the eight teams:

Birmingham Stallions

• Matt Corral (QB) – Corral previously played for the Stallions, signed a contract with the Michigan Panthers, and then found himself back in Birmingham when the Panthers shut their doors. If Corral can stay healthy, he’s a top QB in the UFL>

• Laviska Shenault Jr. (WR) – Shenault was a second-round pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2020 after recovering from a knee injury at Colorado and building a dynamic highlight reel. Shenault spent time with Jacksonville, Carolina, Seattle, LA Chargers and Buffalo over six seasons and his road back to the league begins in Birmingham. He’s one to watch.

• Rodrigo Blankenship (K) – New Birmingham head coach A.J. McCarron stole the kicker from his former team, the St. Louis Battlehawks. The 2025 All-UFL selection should have been getting calls from NFL teams all season long with the kicking issues happening there, but he’s back in the UFL.

Columbus Aviators

• Clayton Tune (QB) – Tune started the final regular season game for the Green Bay Packers in 2025 and now has the chance to start 10 games with the Columbus Aviators in 2026. He’ll have some major competition with UFL experienced quarterbacks Jalen McClendon and Jalen Morton in camp.

• Amari Rodgers (WR) – Another former Packer (and son of Baltimore Ravens assistant coach Tee Martin) spent two seasons with the Birmingham Stallions before announcing his retirement in January 2026 in protest of the upcoming UFL changes, but was chosen in day one of the draft. We’ll see if he had a change of heart.

• Israel Mukuamu (CB) – Mukuamu started off his college career playing in all 13 games as a true freshman and built an NFL resume from there. After four seasons with the Dallas Cowboys and a year with the Carolina Panthers (mostly on the practice squad), he’s looking to get more on tape on head coach Ted Ginn, Jr.’s Aviators squad. The 6’4 DB will be a tough matchup for the competition.

Dallas Renegades

• Luis Perez (QB) – No brainer choice for an intriguing return. The Spring King is one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in spring football history. The 31-year-old will be key for head coach Rick Neuheisel’s attempt to bring the Renegades back to its old XFL Championship form.

• Denzel Mims (WR) – A former NFL second-round pick and former Battlehawk, Mims brings elite physical traits and red-zone upside if he regains form.

• Isaiah Spiller (RB) – Spiller is a physical player whose power-running style made him a standout at Texas A&M. The fourth round pick of the Chargers in 2022 never quite got the chance to shine on the pro level, but that changes in 2026 if all goes well in Dallas.

DC Defenders

• Jordan Ta’amu (QB) – No more waiting until the 11th hour to see if he’s coming back this time, Ta’amu is hoping to help head coach Shannon Harris run it back to back-to-back UFL Championships.

• Abram Smith (RB) – Smith led the XFL in rushing in 2023 and sat out 2024 with an ACL injury. Deon Jackson led the Defenders in rushing in 2025 but Smith was able to return to log 285 yards and a touchdown. Interesting that Smith was not protected by DC, but drafted in the first round to return to the Defenders.

• Lewis Cine (S) – A former first-round pick by the Minnesota Vikings in 2022, his NFL career took a hit when he fractured his leg in his rookie season. Cine does have a Super Bowl ring. He was signed off the Buffalo Bills practice squad by the Philadelphia Eagles a month before they won the Super Bowl in 2025. Cine was waived this past August and looks to get back on the NFL track on one of the most talented teams in the UFL.

Houston Gamblers

• Hunter Dekkers (QB) – Former New Orleans Saints backup QB Hunter Dekkers had a chance to sign a futures/reserve deal with the Saints but opted to get reps in the UFL.

• Shaka Toney (EDGE) – Toney signed a contract with the Battlehawks in June 2025 but was poached by Gamblers head coach Kevin Sumlin on day one of the 2026 draft. Also, prepare yourself for lots of references this coming season about Toney being a “Gambler” as he was suspended from the NFL in 2022 for betting on games when he was with the Washington Commanders but was reinstated in 2024.

• Monaray Baldwin (WR) – Baldwin rolled the dice (I mean, he’s a Gambler after all) and declared for the 2025 NFL Draft coming out of Baylor, but went undrafted. He signed with the Miami Dolphins as a undrafted free agent, but never caught on and was waived in August. We’ll see if he has pro potential with Houston.

Louisville Kings

• Jason Bean (QB) – The former Kansas quarterback and 2024 first round pick by the Memphis Showboats is finally ready to suit up for a UFL team. Bean was with the Indianapolis Colts in 2024 and was one of the last roster cuts in 2025. With his league allocation to Louisville, it’ll be interesting to see his potential with former pro quarterback Chris Redman as his head coach.

• Lynn Bowden Jr. (WR) – I thought Bowden would help DC win a championship last season when he was signed to the team. He never made it to or through training camp, and DC was able to win a title without him. Bowden is an all-around athlete and a University of Kentucky legend after moving from wide receiver to emergency quarterback and leading UK to a bowl win in 2019, winning Belk Bowl MVP honors in the process. Bowden can impact games as a receiver, runner, and offensive chess piece.

• Benny Snell (RB) – Another UK legend is set to suit up for the Louisville Kings. Benny Snell logged three straight 1,000-yard seasons at UK before becoming a fourth round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2019. After four seasons in Pittsburgh, Snell signed the Detroit Lions in 2023 but was released in the preseason. If he’s anywhere near his UK form, he can be a beast on the UFL level.

Orlando Storm

• Dorian Thompson-Robinson (QB) – DTR is in the UFL after a standout UCLA career but an NFL career that saw him start just five games for the Cleveland Browns over two seasons. His mobility and experience in complex offenses make him one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in the league. I really like this allocation, especially under head coach Anthony Becht.

• Marquez Stevenson (WR) – The one-time San Antonio Brahma is a versatile weapon. Stevenson is a former NFL return specialist that adds speed and explosive special-teams value.

• Jasheen Davis (EDGE) – Davis was an UDFA with the New Orleans Saints in 2025 and started to shine in training camp. With NFL game reps, Davis provides Orlando a pass rusher who can win one-on-one consistently.

St. Louis Battlehawks

• Michael Pratt (QB) – The Battlehawks are known for their quarterback play, so it’ll be interesting to see who takes snaps in game one under new head coach Ricky Proehl. One of the allocated QBs for St. Louis is Michael Pratt, who was a highly productive college starter at Tulane and looks to jump start his pro career that has been limited to practice squad spots with Green Bay and Tampa Bay in 2024.

• Hakeem Butler (WR) – Whoever is taking the snaps in 2026, that QB will have a weapon. Hakeem Butler returns to the Battlehawks and his size and red-zone dominance make him a matchup nightmare.

Neil Farrell (DT) – Let’s give some love to the lineman. Neil Farrell is an NFL-tested interior defender, can anchor the run defense and collapses pockets up the middle. Plus, he has a Super Bowl ring (and recorded a tackle in the game) with the 2023 Kansas City Chiefs.

Some UFL assistant coaches named

We’re finding out about some staffing in the UFL, although Birmingham Stallions head coach A.J. McCarron said earlier this week he was unable to announce his staff until February, although Tyler Siskey will soon be officially announced as the Stallions’ offensive coordinator after he revealed that on a podcast earlier this month.

Louisville Kings head coach Chris Redman said in his draft day news conference Steve Logan will be his offensive coordinator and Jamie Sharper will be the defensive coordinator.

James Larsen of Pro Football Newsroom reports former Tampa Bay/Memphis USFL head coach Todd Haley will be the OC in Columbus with former Carolina Panther Captain Munnerlyn acting as DC.

More to come shortly (and before February) I’m guessing.

(Dallas Morning News)

Perez added to CFL negotiation list

The Canadian Football League has eyes on Dallas quarterback Luis Perez, but he may not even know it. Or want to go.

The Montreal Alouettes added Perez to the negotiation list, according to this article from 3 Down Nation.

The negotiation list is just the first step for teams to try to claim the rights to players, so nothing is set in stone until either a contract is signed or if the talks progress enough that a contract offer is offered and rejected.

Moore retires after six decades in football

Imagine having a job you love so much you stay in it for more than sixty years. Legendary coach Tom Moore did just that before announcing his retirement from the game last week.

Moore is known for his work with Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning from 1998 through 2008 and probably less known for his one year in the World Football League as the offensive coordinator of the New York Stars in 1974, but it is part of an incredible resume.

Zach Barnett runs down Moore’s full body of work in this article at Football Scoop.

(John Lewis Sports)

Kaw could really be the law in Missouri

This is one of my favorite stories of the new year. With the Kansas City Chief’s planned move from Arrowhead Stadium in Missouri to a new home in Kansas, a Missouri State Senator presented a resolution to strip the Chiefs of their designation as the state’s official team and replace them with the St. Louis Battlehawks.

(Still from YouTube)

AAF “legacy” lives on

The Alliance of American Football died a quick death after eight weeks in 2019, but some players are still going strong.

UFL News Hub’s Pat Rifino has a list of those survivors and their earnings.

(UTEP)

Pardee stays in Texas, but at UTEP

I was really hoping the UFL would keep Payton Pardee in the coaching ranks for the 2026 season, but the former San Antonio Brahmas head coach is opting for the college ranks as the tight ends coach at UTEP.

Thanks for reading the Alt-Football Roundup! More to come as the we get closer to kickoff of the UFL season and every other potential spring/summer league out there.