Through the first two weeks of the inaugural United Football League season, the Birmingham Stallions have looked every bit like the juggernaut many expected coming off back-to-back USFL championships. They’ve raced out to a 2-0 start, outscoring opponents by a combined 54-27 behind their innovative dual-quarterback system.

But are the Stallions actually a legitimate UFL title contender? Or have they simply taken advantage of a soft opening schedule? Week 3 provides the first major litmus test.

Birmingham heads on the road Saturday night for a primetime matchup against the 1-1 Memphis Showboats on FOX. It’s a potential South division championship game preview and easily the toughest game the Stallions have faced so far.

The Showboats boast one of the top passing attacks in the UFL, led by gunslinger Case Cookus airing it out. They’ll provide the first elite challenge for Birmingham’s opportunistic defense that has forced six turnovers already.

If the Stallions can go into Memphis and handle their business against a likely playoff contender, it will be their first signature win of the season. One that proves their 2-0 start is nowhere near a mirage against subpar competition.

An unblemished 3-0 record with a quality road win would immediately stamp Birmingham as the frontrunner to win the South division and a viable threat to make a run at the UFL championship.

On the flip side, a loss in Memphis could raise doubts about whether this Stallions squad is actually on the same level as their USFL dynasty predecessors from the last two years. It may prove their hot start was more a product of a weak opening schedule than any sign of true UFL dominance.

Much will depend on whether the dual-quarterback tandem of Adrian Martinez and Matt Corral can continue thriving against an elite defense like Memphis’. The two QBs have been nearly flawless so far, accounting for 8 total touchdowns against just 2 turnovers. But they’ve yet to face a defense as lockdown as the Showboats.

The same applies to Birmingham’s defense against Memphis’ high-powered aerial attack led by Cookus. Can the Stallions’ ballhawking secondary actually hang with the UFL’s premier passing game?

Those questions linger for now surrounding the legitimacy of Birmingham’s undefeated start. But a statement win under the bright lights in Memphis could immediately silence any skeptics and reaffirm the Stallions’ championship pedigree.

For a team with back-to-back USFL titles already under its belt, expectations are understandably sky-high out of the gates in the UFL’s maiden season. Now it’s up to Birmingham to go out and prove its first two games are just an opening salvo in what could be another championship campaign.

Memphis will gladly play the role of spoiler and potential reality check for the UFL’s new alpha dog. This Saturday night provides arguably the biggest regular season game of the young UFL season to date, with serious championship picture implications already starting to take shape.