The UFL’s opening weekend came in hot with dominant debuts, a record-breaking run, and one of the biggest upsets spring football has ever seen. Week 1 delivered four games and four very different statements—from a breakout performance in St. Louis to a historic sprint in Arlington.
Let’s run through everything that went down in the first full slate of the 2025 UFL season.
🔵 Battlehawks 31, Roughnecks 6
📍 Manny Wilkins Jr. takes flight in dominant debut.
There’s a new name to know in the UFL quarterback ranks: Manny Wilkins Jr.
The St. Louis Battlehawks’ signal caller made his presence felt early and often in a 31–6 demolition of the Houston Roughnecks. Wilkins was dynamic both through the air and on the ground, leading multiple scoring drives with surgical execution and smooth command of the offense.
St. Louis looked fast, physical, and fully in sync, while the Roughnecks were completely overwhelmed on both sides of the ball.
🔥 Player Spotlight: Manny Wilkins Jr.
- Accurate passing, smart reads, and mobile enough to extend plays
- Gave the Battlehawks an identity and swagger on offense
Key Takeaways:
- Battlehawks are playing like contenders from the jump
- Houston’s defense couldn’t keep up with Wilkins Jr.’s tempo
- This was the most lopsided game of the weekend
🔴 DC Defenders 18, Birmingham Stallions 11
📍 Coaching chaos turns into a statement win.
Shannon Harris had one week to prepare for the league’s defending champs. That’s all he needed.
The DC Defenders pulled off the upset of the week, stunning the Birmingham Stallions behind a smothering defense, a sharp outing from Jordan Ta’amu, and a perfect day from kicker Matt McCrane.
The story, though, was the defense: 7 sacks, 1 interception, and relentless pressure on Birmingham QB Alex McGough, who was rattled all night long.
Key Takeaways:
- DC’s defense looked like a championship unit
- Stallions had no answer for DC’s front seven
- Harris may have saved DC’s season before it even began
🔷 Arlington Renegades 33, San Antonio Brahmas 9
📍 Kalen Ballage breaks records as Renegades roll.
Talk about setting the tone.
Kalen Ballage didn’t just lead the Arlington Renegades to victory—he made UFL history, breaking off a 77-yard touchdown run, the longest in league history.
The Renegades dominated San Antonio from the trenches out, with Ballage pacing a ground game that bulldozed the Brahmas all afternoon. Arlington’s defense played with edge, forcing mistakes and maintaining total control.
🔥 Player Spotlight: Kalen Ballage
- 77-yard TD run = longest rush in UFL history
- Set the tone early and never looked back
Key Takeaways:
- Arlington looks like a team that wants to punish opponents physically
- Ballage gives them true home-run ability out of the backfield
- Brahmas struggled to keep composure and never found rhythm
⚫ Michigan Panthers 18, Memphis Showboats 16
📍 Second most competitive game of the weekend ends in Michigan’s favor.
The only game decided by a single possession came down to a handful of clutch plays, and the Panthers made just enough of them. Michigan edged out Memphis 18-16 in a gritty, back-and-forth contest.
QB play was solid on both sides, but the Panthers’ defense showed up when it mattered—delivering key stops in the fourth quarter and keeping Memphis out of field goal range during the final drive.
Key Takeaways:
- Panthers showed toughness and late-game poise
- Memphis had moments but lacked finish
- This one felt like a playoff preview, even in Week 1
🏈 Week 1 Standings
| Team | Record | Notable Win |
|---|---|---|
| Battlehawks | 1-0 | 31-6 over Roughnecks |
| Defenders | 1-0 | Shocking upset of Stallions |
| Renegades | 1-0 | Ballage-led blowout of Brahmas |
| Panthers | 1-0 | Gritty win over Showboats |
| Stallions | 0-1 | Struggled offensively in loss to DC |
| Showboats | 0-1 | Came close, but couldn’t close |
| Brahmas | 0-1 | Couldn’t match Renegades’ intensity |
| Roughnecks | 0-1 | Outplayed in all phases vs. STL |
🔥 Players of the Week
- Offense: Kalen Ballage (Renegades) – 77-yard TD, set UFL rushing record
- Defense: Kyle Phillips (Defenders) – Key sacks, constant pressure
- QB Spotlight: Manny Wilkins Jr. (Battlehawks) – Commanding debut
- Special Teams: Matt McCrane (Defenders) – 3-for-3, including a 53-yarder
- Coach: Shannon Harris (Defenders) – One week in, one statement win
⚠️ What to Watch in Week 2
- Can the Defenders keep the pressure up and go 2-0 under Harris?
- Will Ballage stay hot and chase the UFL rushing title?
- Can the Stallions and Roughnecks bounce back from embarrassing losses?
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