As the UFL regular season barrels toward its dramatic conclusion, Week 9 delivered a mix of statement wins, playoff shakeups, and an upset that could echo into the postseason. Here’s a full breakdown of the league-defining action from across the weekend.

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Battlehawks 39, Brahmas 13 — St. Louis Sends a Message

The St. Louis Battlehawks made the most of their unexpected home game, thrashing the San Antonio Brahmas 39-13 at The Dome at America’s Center. Originally scheduled to be played in San Antonio, the matchup was relocated due to scheduling conflicts at the Alamodome — but the Battlehawks weren’t complaining.

St. Louis moved to 7-2, locking up at least a share of the XFL Conference lead. The defense set the tone early, highlighted by a game-changing 70-yard fumble return for a touchdown by cornerback Micah Abraham. The offense followed suit, scoring five total touchdowns — a season-high for the team — with quarterbacks Max Duggan and Brandon Silvers efficiently leading the charge.

For San Antonio (6-3), it was a humbling performance and a reminder that the road to the playoffs won’t be smooth. They’ll need a bounce-back effort in Week 10 to secure a postseason berth.

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Stallions 26, Panthers 22 — Birmingham Escapes Again

The Birmingham Stallions once again proved their mettle in close games, edging the Michigan Panthers 26-22 at Protective Stadium. The win improved the Stallions to 6-3 and sets up a déjà vu rematch between these two squads in the USFL Conference Championship.

Quarterback J’Mar Smith stepped up in a big way, throwing for 307 yards and two touchdowns. While it wasn’t the prettiest win of the season for Birmingham, it was enough to maintain their standing atop the USFL Conference.

The Panthers, also sitting at 6-3, will have one more regular-season test before facing the Stallions again with a title berth on the line.

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Renegades 30, Showboats 12 — Arlington Keeps Playoff Hopes Alive

The Arlington Renegades came into Week 9 needing a win to stay in the hunt — and delivered in dominant fashion. Their 30-12 victory over the Memphis Showboats at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium lifted them to 4-5 and gave them a real shot at a postseason spot heading into the final week.

Arlington looked sharp on both sides of the ball, building momentum at just the right time. Memphis, meanwhile, dropped to 1-8 and continues to struggle in what’s been a rough campaign.

The Renegades will now travel to San Antonio in Week 10 with everything on the line.

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Roughnecks 24, Defenders 21 — Houston Shakes Up the XFL

The Houston Roughnecks pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the season, stunning the D.C. Defenders 24-21 at Space City Financial Stadium. Houston improved to 4-5 and threw the XFL playoff race into chaos in the process.

D.C., now 6-3, found themselves trailing most of the game before mounting a late comeback attempt that ultimately fell short. The Defenders now face a win-or-go-home scenario in Week 10 against the Battlehawks — a rematch that could decide who claims the conference’s No. 1 seed.

For the Roughnecks, the win keeps hope alive in a packed playoff chase.

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What’s at Stake in Week 10

Everything.

The final week of the 2025 UFL regular season promises high drama and season-defining showdowns:

• Battlehawks at Defenders – Two 6-3 teams clash for the top seed in the XFL Conference. Stakes couldn’t be higher.
• Renegades at Brahmas – Arlington fights for its playoff life; San Antonio aims to prove Week 9 was a fluke.
• Stallions at Showboats – Birmingham looks to stay sharp before their championship rematch with the Panthers.

With postseason spots still up for grabs and conference titles hanging in the balance, Week 10 is shaping up to be one of the most thrilling finishes in UFL history.

image credit: 2C2K Photography from Houston, TX, USA, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons