Full Guide to 2025 UFL Season
Image via UFL
Welcome back to season two of the UFL!
I’m sure new fans are coming to give the league a shot after seeing they survived their first season. There might not be much the casual fan knows about this league. Use this guide to help show what happened in season one and what to expect in season two.
Here is the full guide to the 2025 UFL season:
2024 UFl Season Recap
Final 2024 XFL Conference Standings
St. Louis Battlehawks (7-3)
San Antonio Brahmas (7-3)
D.C. Defenders (4-6)
Arlington Renegades (3-7)
Final 2024 USFL Conference Standings
Birmingham Stallions (9-1)
Michigan Panthers (7-3)
Memphis Showboats (2-8)
Houston Roughnecks (1-9)
2024 UFL playoff Results
XFL Conference Championship Game: San Antonio Brahmas over St. Louis Battlehawks 25-15
USFL Conference Championship Game: Birmingham Stallions over Michigan Panthers 31-18
UFL Championship Game: Birmingham Stallions over San Antonio Brahmas 25-0
2024 UFL Offensive Player Stats Leaders
Passing Yards: Luis Perez, QB, Arlington Renegades (2,307)
Passing Touchdowns: Luis Perez, QB, Arlington Renegades (18)
Rushing Yards: Adrian Martinez, QB, Birmingham Stallions (528)
Rushing Touchdowns: Ricky Person Jr., RB, Birmingham Stallions (6)
Receiving Yards: Hakeem Butler, WR, St. Louis Battlehawks (652)
Receiving Touchdowns: Sal Cannella, TE, Arlington Renegades (6)
2024 UFL Defensive Player Stats Leaders
Tackles: Willie Harvey, LB, St. Louis Battlehawks (76)
Tackles For Loss: Breeland Speaks, EDGE, Michigan Panthers (13)
Sacks: Breeland Speaks, EDGE, Michigan Panthers (9.5)
Pass Deflections: Three-Way Tie at 8 (Markel Roby, DB, Houston Roughnecks; Kai Nacua, DB, Michigan Panthers; Ajene Harris, DB, Arlington Renegades)
Interceptions: Four-Way Tie at 3 (A.J. Thomas, DB, Birmingham Stallions; Markel Roby, DB, Houston Roughnecks; Kai Nacua, DB, Michigan Panthers; Kameron Kelly, DB, St. Louis Battlehawks)
2024 UFL Special Teams Player Stats Leaders
Field Goal Percentage: Matt Coghlin, K, Memphis Showboats (94%)
Kicking Points: Andre Szmyt, K, St. Louis Battlehawks (57)
Punting Net Yards Average: Marquette King, P, Arlington Renegades (36.7)
Punts Inside the 20-Yard Line Percentage: Colby Wadman, P, Birmingham Stallions (40.9%)
Kickoff Return Yards: Chris Rowland, WR, D.C. Defenders (1,218)
Punt Return Yards: Amari Rodgers, WR, Birmingham Stallions (283)
2024 UFL Team Stats Leaders
Total Offense Per Game: Birmingham Stallions (347.3)
Passing Yards Per Game: Arlington Renegades (227.5)
Rushing Yards Per Game: Birmingham Stallions (134.4)
Points Allowed Per Game: San Antonio Brahmas (14.7)
Yards Allowed Per Game: San Antonio Brahmas (256.7)
Total Sacks: San Antonio Brahmas (32)
Turnover Margin: Arlington Renegades & Birmingham Stallions tied (+5)
Kickoff Return Yards Per Return: St. Louis Battlehawks (27.6)
Punt Return Yards Per Return: St. Louis Battlehawks (14.1)
* All Stats via FOX Sports
New UFL Rules for 2025 Season
Kickoff Rule
The restraining lines and zones are now:
“(a) ‘Kicker’s Restraining Line’ – the restraining line for the kick by the kicking team shall be its 30-yard line for a kickoff or safety kick unless it is adjusted because of a distance penalty.
(b) ‘Kicking Team’s Restraining Line’ – the restraining line for the remaining 10 players of the kicking team shall be the receiving team’s 40-yard line.
(c) ‘Receiving Team’s Restraining Line’ – the restraining line for the receiving team shall be the receiving team’s 35-yard line.
(d) The ‘setup zone’ for the receiving team is the 5-yard area between the receiving team’s restraining line the 35-yard line and its 30-yard line.
(e) The ‘landing zone’ shall be the area from the receiving team’s 20-yard line extending to its goal line.”
Challenge Rule
If a UFL head coach wins their first challenge, they will be rewarded a second challenge. Reminder that all plays in the UFL can be challenged.
Replay Use
According to UFL NewsHub, replay can now be used to “Disqualification of a player” or “if a foul is called for intentional grounding and there is clear and obvious video evidence that the passer was out of the pocket area or not facing an imminent loss of yardage.”
2025 XFL Conference Teams
Arlington Renegades
Image via X @XFLRenegades
Head Coach: Bob Stoops (9-16 Overall Record, Fourth Season)
Team Records Year By Year: 2020 (2-3), 2023 (4-6), 2024 (3-7)
Postseason History: 2023 XFL League Champion
Key Returning Players: QB Luis Perez, WR Tyler Vaughns, TE Sal Cannella, OG Garrett McGhin, EDGE Will Clarke, LB Donald Payne, CB Ajene Harris, P Marquette King
New Players to Watch For: RB Kalen Ballage, OT Rickey Lee, DE Chris Odom, CB Jayden Price, K Lucas Havrisik
Arlington will remember last season. After starting with a 0-6 record, they seemed out of playoff contention early in the season. A nice run at the end of the year helped them salvage a disappointing 3-7 overall record. The .300 winning percentage is the worst in franchise history, as the team is looking for a rebound year.
Entering the 2025 season, the Renegades have one of the most explosive passing games in the league, led by spring football king Luis Perez, who led the UFL in passing yards (2,307) and passing touchdowns (18). Perez also has talented pass catchers in Sal Cannella and Tyler Vaughns ready to continue the success.
The defense lost top pass rushers in Jalen Redmond and Vic Beasley, but replaced them with two-time all-spring football league selection Chris Odom. Linebacker Donald Payne remains the heartbeat of a defense that struggled throughout the season.
With all the essential returning pieces and the newest additions ready to make an impact, the Renegades are poised for a bounce-back season and could surprise some with a playoff appearance.
San Antonio Brahmas
Image via X @XFLBrahmas
Head Coach: Wade Phillips (14-6 Overall Spring Football Record, 7-3 as Brahmas Head Coach, Third Overall Season)
Team Records Year By Year: 2023 (3-7), 2024 (7-3)
Postseason History: 2024 UFL Runner-Up
Key Returning Players: RB Anthony McFarland Jr., WR Marquez Stevenson, WR Jontre Kirklin, WR Justin Smith, DT Prince Emili, LB Tavante Beckett, LB Jordan Williams, S Jordan Mosley, CB Darius Phillips, P Brad Wing
New Players to Watch For: QB Kellen Mond, WR Greg Ward Jr., CB Greedy Williams
The one constant throughout the last two years in spring football is that Wade Phillips can coach great defenses and get his team into the postseason. Taking over a previous 3-7 Brahmas team in 2023, Phillips helped transform San Antonio into one of the top teams in the UFL with a 7-3 finish. They won the XFL Conference title, but an embarrassing loss in the UFL championship game last year against Birmingham has the team looking for revenge.
Offensively, this Brahmas unit will feature most of the essential pieces, led by running back Anthony McFarland Jr. and wide receivers Marquez Stevenson, Jontre Kirklin, and Justin Smith. The newest addition to the team is at quarterback with Kellen Mond taking over the starting job.
Last year’s number one defense is back with all the leading players in place from linebackers Tavante Beckett and Jordan Williams to play-making safety Jordan Mosley. Phillips even added another to the secondary in former Cleveland Browns second-round pick Greedy Williams, who can help stop the pass.
There’s not much that will be holding back this team from reaching their full potential as they are poised to make another run at the UFL championship. A quarterback that can be trusted by the team and fans will be a positive direction for this franchise.
St. Louis battlehawks
Image via X @XFLBattlehawks
Head Coach: Anthony Becht (14-6 Overall Record, Third Season)
Team Records Year By Year: 2020 (3-2), 2023 (7-3), 2024 (7-3)
Postseason History: 2024 XFL Conference Runner-Up
Key Returning Players: QB Manny Wilkins, RB Jacob Saylors, WR Hakeem Butler, WR Jahcour Pearson, OL Mike Panasiuk, OL Jaryd Jones-Smith, EDGE Pita Taumoepenu, LB Mike Rose, LB Willie Harvey, EDGE Travis Feeney, DB Cameron Kelly
New Players to Watch For: QB Max Duggan, WR Denzel Mims, DB Nate Meadors, DB Lukas Denis, K Rodrigo Blankenship
The St. Louis Battlehawks are the most successful spring football team that hasn’t made it to the championship game since 2020. Third-year head coach Anthony Becht has coached a well-oiled machine in the arch city as his team went 7-3 for the second straight season. In 2024, though, they made the postseason, but couldn’t seal the deal against the Brahmas in a 10-point loss at home.
Daryl Johnston stated that the Battlehawks had the best offseason in the league as they essentially retained all their top talent from a year ago except their starting quarterback A.J. McCarron. St. Louis will be rolling with Manny Wilkins and Max Duggan at quarterback until one of them runs with the job. Wilkins and Duggan are not short on talent with Hakeem Butler, Jahcour Pearson, and Denzel Mims leading the wide receivers, as well as one of the UFL’s top running backs, Jacob Saylors, returning to the backfield.
The defense is loaded in their front seven with Pita Taumoepenu and Travis Feeney coming off the edge and linebackers Willie Harvey and Mike Rose taking care of business in the middle. St. Louis’ secondary saw two new, but old, familiar faces from the 2023 squad back with Nate Meadors and Lukas Denis returning to spring football.
It all falls on the quarterback position as to how the season folds for the Battlehawks. They are loaded at nearly every position, so there’s no excuse for St. Louis not to be in the postseason once again.
D.C. Defenders
Image via X @XFLDefenders
Head Coach: Shannon Harris (Interim, First Season)
Team Records Year By Year: 2020 (3-2), 2023 (9-1), 2024 (4-6)
Postseason History: 2023 XFL League Runner-Up
Key Returning Players: QB Jordan Ta’amu, RB Abram Smith, WR Ty Scott, WR Chris Rowland, OL Michael Maietti, DE Malik Fisher, DE Davin Bellamy, LB Anthony Hines III, CB Deandre Baker, K Matt McCrane
New Players to Watch For: WR Jaydon Mickens, CB Bryce Thompson
After making the XFL league title game in 2023, the D.C. Defenders struggled to capture that same magic in 2024. Ultimately, injuries derailed what could have been a great season, starting with running back Abram Smith getting knocked out for the year in training camp. D.C. ended up finishing third in the XFL Conference with a 4-6 record and missing the postseason.
Shockwaves were sent through the UFL a week before the opening weekend when head coach Reggie Barlow left to take the Tennessee State job and quarterback coach Shannon Harris took over as interim head coach. The good news is Harris can continue to work with his veteran quarterback Jordan Ta’amu as they will have Smith back for this season after leading the XFL in rushing yards in 2023. Ty Scott and Chris Rowland give the Defenders solid pass catchers, but Rowland also gives them one of the UFL’s top returners.
Defensively, D.C. has important pieces returning with top pass rusher Malik Fisher back as he and Davin Bellamy look to continue their tag team on the line. Defenders' leading tackler from a season ago, Anthony Hines III, remains as the commander of the linebackers. The secondary is getting a boost with Bryce Thompson joining the unit as Deandre Baker returns at corner.
There may be many people shrugging their shoulders about whether the Defenders will be good this year or not. They are the league’s most prominent mystery as there is potential for them to either go 7-3 or 3-7 with the talent on the roster. It will be Harris’s job to rally the team together and have them performing.
2025 USFL Conference Teams
Michigan panthers
Image via X @USFLPanthers
Head Coach: Mike Nolan (11-9 Overall Record, Third Season)
Team Records Year By Year: 2022 (2-8), 2023 (4-6), 2024 (7-3)
Postseason History: 2023 USFL North Division Runner-Up, 2024 USFL Conference Runner-Up
Key Returning Players: QB Bryce Perkins, QB Danny Etling, RB Matthew Colburn II, WR Marcus Simms, OL Noah Johnson, DE Breeland Speaks, LB Frank Ginda, LB Noah Dawkins, S Kai Nacua
New Players to Watch For: DB Arnold Tarpley, K B.T. Potter, P Seth Vernon
Two years in a row, Mike Nolan has led the Panthers to the postseason after going 2-8 in 2022 with Jeff Fisher. Last season was the best-looking Michigan team fans have seen, as the team went 7-3 and made it to the USFL Conference championship game. Early in the game, the Panthers had an 18-3 lead that quickly evaporated, resulting in a 31-18 win for the Stallions.
Michigan had a revolving door at quarterback, with a league-high four players appearing throughout the season. Bryce Perkins and Danny Etling are back as they will be handling the snaps. Key offensive players in running back Matthew Colburn II and wide receiver Marcus Simms should give this team the balanced attack they had a season ago.
The strength of this team is through their defense, with UFL sack leader Breeland Speaks back for another season in the UFL. Frank Ginda and Noah Dawkins are tackling machines. Safety Kai Nacua is a playmaker who can easily flip the game with a turnover.
Birmingham will command all the attention for winning three straight seasons, but the Panthers gave them the most headaches in the season. Michigan could be a dark horse team to win the league title thanks to a solid defense and a ground-and-pound rushing attack.
Houston Roughnecks
Image via X @XFLRoughnecks
Head Coach: Curtis Johnson (6-14 Overall Record, Third Season)
Team Records Year By Year: 2022 (3-7 as Gamblers), 2023 (5-5 as Gamblers), 2024 (1-9 as Roughnecks)
Postseason History: None
Key Returning Players: QB Nolan Henderson, RB Kirk Merritt, WR Justin Hall, OL Avery Gennesy, DL Glen Logan, LB Marvin Moody Jr., DB Markel Roby
New Players to Watch For: QB Anthony Brown, TE Cam Sutton, OL Zach Banner, DL Darrius Moragne, LB Drew Lewis, CB Damon Arnette, K Chris Blewitt
It’s season three in the Curtis Johnson era as head coach, but the UFL brought in new general manager Will Lewis to dismantle the roster and repair it after the team had a league-worst 1-9 record in 2024. Dating back to 2022 as the Gamblers, this Houston team has yet to make it to the postseason. The 2023 Houston Roughnecks team in the XFL, which made the playoffs, does not count since the Gamblers were transferred to the Roughnecks as part of the XFL-USFL merger in 2024, following the UFL's dissolution.
The quarterback was lacking last season, despite the presence of a young signal-caller, Nolan Henderson, who showed some promise. Veteran quarterback Anthony Brown joins spring football and looks to play the part of a starter. Brown will have talent around him with wide receiver Justin Hall back after his NFL stint, as well as running back Kirk Merritt, who recovered from his season-ending injury a year ago.
Houston’s most important piece on defense is Markel Roby returning after leading the league in interceptions in 2024. They do get a new corner to add to the mix with former first-round pick Damon Arnette joining the UFL.
To put it bluntly, the expectations are low for the Roughnecks despite adding a lot of new talent to the team. Johnson could be on the hot seat to turn it around in his third season and get Houston to the postseason. Will Brown be enough to turn around the offense?
Memphis Showboats
Image via X @USFLShowboats
Head Coach: Jim Turner (Interim, First Season)
Team Records Year By Year: 2023 (5-5), 2024 (2-8)
Postseason History: None
Key Returning Players: QB Troy Williams, WR Jonathan Adams, TE Jay Jay Wilson, OL Alec Lindstrom, DL John Atkins Sr., DB Kyree Woods, DB Nehemiah Shelton, K Matt Coghlin
New Players to Watch For: QB EJ Perry, RB Deneric Prince, WR Kai Locksley, TE Ryan Izzo, OL O’Shea Dugas, DT Boogie Roberts, LB Obi Melifonwu, LB Zeke Vandenburgh, CB Cameron Dantzler (IR), CB Mark Gilbert, DB Eli Walker, DB Tenny Adewusi
Last season under John DeFilippo was rough, to say the least. The only wins were game one against the Houston Roughnecks and the last game of the year against Houston once again. Some of the team’s significant problems included the defense struggling against the pass and the offense letting the quarterbacks get beat up.
New head coach Ken Whisenhunt and general manager Jim Monos significantly reconstructed the roster. The defense has all-new talent and new defensive coordinator Jarren Horton brought some of his guys from the Pittsburgh Maulers days, including Boogie Roberts, Mark Gilbert, and Eli Walker.
Offensively, E.J. Perry and Troy Williams have been battling for the starting QB job throughout training camp. Wide receiver Daewood Davis is currently not on the roster but could return this season after suffering an injury he is still recovering from when he played with the Carolina Panthers in training camp. The backfield is wholly overhauled, with Deneric Prince poised to be the leading running back.
Unfortunately for Memphis, Whisenhunt stepped away from the team less than a week before the beginning of the season, leaving offensive line coach Jim Turner as interim head coach. A new play-caller on offense and a team focused on reshaping the culture are now left with more questions than answers entering the 2025 season.
Birmingham Stallions
Image via X @USFLStallions
Head Coach: Skip Holtz (26-4 Overall Record, Fourth Season)
Team Records Year By Year: 2022 (9-1), 2023 (8-2), 2024 (9-1)
Postseason History: 2022 USFL League Champion, 2023 USFL League Champion, 2024 UFL League Champion
Key Returning Players: QB Matt Corral, RB Ricky Person Jr., RB C.J. Marable, WR Deon Cain, TE Jace Sternberger, OL Cole Schneider, DL Carlos Davis, LB Kyahva Tezino, LB DeMarquis Gates, DB A.J. Thomas, DB Kenny Robinson Jr., P Colby Wadman
New Players to Watch For: QB Alex McGough, TE La’Michael Pettaway, OL Jarron Jones, DL Myjai Sanders, LB Tae Crowder, DB Mario Goodrich, K Harrison Mevis
Three straight league championships make it easy for the Stallions to be early favorites to win it all a fourth consecutive season in 2025. Birmingham has won at least eight games in the last three years and has never lost in the postseason at 6-0. Last season ended with a 9-1 record and winning the UFL title in dominating fashion, 25-0 over San Antonio.
There are plenty of returning players on the roster who will help the team, but the new players are equally impressive. Quarterback Alex McGough isn’t technically new, as he is back for his second stint with Birmingham, but he gives the team a veteran who knows Skip Holtz’s system. On defense, watch for linebacker Tae Crowder and defensive back Mario Goodrich to help the unit.
Birmingham seems poised to win another league title as they have the most stability among all the UFL teams. Holtz will be one of, if not already, the greatest head coaches in spring football history and one more championship would put him in a whole other level in professional football.
