Week 5 in the UFL didn’t just live up to the hype — it made history. From overtime heroics to dominant road wins, the 2025 playoff race just got a lot tighter.
Showboats Shock Stallions in UFL’s First Overtime Game
The Memphis Showboats, led by quarterback Dresser Winn, defeated the Birmingham Stallions 24-20 at Protective Stadium in Birmingham.
This marked the first overtime game in UFL history.
Williams made key plays late, and Memphis’ defense rose to the occasion in the extra frame, handing Birmingham a rare home loss and keeping the Showboats’ season alive.
🏈 Memphis improves to 1-4. Birmingham falls to 3-2.
Battlehawks Top Panthers Behind Manny Wilkins’ Strong Day
The St. Louis Battlehawks held off the Michigan Panthers 32-27 at The Dome at America’s Center.
Quarterback Max Duggan showed poise, leading St. Louis with efficient passing and critical drives down the stretch.
Michigan fought back with a late push but couldn’t overcome the Battlehawks’ early lead and home-field advantage.
🏈 St. Louis climbs to 3-2. Michigan drops to 3-2.
Defenders Stay Hot, Outlast Renegades in Shootout
The DC Defenders kept rolling with a 37-33 victory over the Arlington Renegades at Choctaw Stadium.
DC’s offense struck fast and often, and despite Arlington’s best efforts late in the game, the Defenders’ early cushion proved enough.
The win keeps DC firmly atop the XFL Conference standings.
🏈 DC improves to 4-1. Arlington slips to 3-2.
Roughnecks Dominate Brahmas with Big Road Win
The Houston Roughnecks silenced the crowd at the Alamodome with a 27-3 rout of the San Antonio Brahmas.
Houston’s defense suffocated San Antonio all game, while the Roughnecks’ offense steadily pulled away.
The Brahmas’ offense never got into rhythm, leading to their fourth loss of the season.
🏈 Houston improves to 2-3. San Antonio drops to 1-4.
Updated Standings After Week 5
XFL Conference
| Team | W | L | PCT |
|---|---|---|---|
| DC Defenders | 4 | 1 | .800 |
| Arlington Renegades | 3 | 2 | .600 |
| St. Louis Battlehawks | 3 | 2 | .600 |
| San Antonio Brahmas | 1 | 4 | .200 |
USFL Conference
| Team | W | L | PCT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham Stallions | 3 | 2 | .600 |
| Michigan Panthers | 3 | 2 | .600 |
| Houston Roughnecks | 2 | 3 | .400 |
| Memphis Showboats | 1 | 4 | .200 |
Final Word: Tight Races, High Stakes
As Week 5 wraps, the Defenders lead the league — but both conferences are jammed with contenders and potential spoilers.
With just a few games separating top seeds from bubble teams, Week 6 could bring even more chaos to the playoff chase.
image credit:2C2K Photography from Houston, TX, USA, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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