RJ Younger
FOX Sports activities Nationwide School Soccer Analyst
Week 9 of the 2025 UFL season featured some slender wins, dominating performances and one stunning upset.
The St. Louis Battlehawks took sole possession atop the XFL Convention with a 39-13 win over the struggling San Antonio Brahmas, marking the crew’s league-leading fifth consecutive win.
The Birmingham Stallions snagged a 26-22 victory over the visiting Michigan Panthers on Saturday in what was a preview of the USFL Convention title sport, whereas the Arlington Renegades received again on observe with a 30-12 victory over the Memphis Showboats in a weather-delayed sport.
Within the closing sport of the weekend, the Houston Roughnecks shocked the DC Defenders in a last-minute thriller, 24-21.
[MORE: What is the UFL? Everything to know about the 2025 United Football League]
That stated, this is a take a look at my up to date UFL Energy Rankings following Week 9:
Present odds to win 2025 title: N/A
Jashaun Corbin continued to be the shining gentle in an in any other case darkish season for the Brahmas, who had been clobbered by the Battlehawks. He rushed for 85 yards on 14 rushes, which was simply 19 yards wanting what San Antonio was in a position to amass with Kellen Mond at quarterback. The previous Texas A&M signal-caller completed 14-for-26 for 103 yards, whereas the San Antonio protection didn’t do a lot to maintain the offense within the sport.
In complete, the Brahmas’ protection gave up greater than 400 yards, together with 169 yards on the bottom.
Present odds to win 2025 title: N/A
In a principally forgettable season for Memphis, the Showboat quarterbacks E.J. Perry and Dresser Winn performed a principally forgettable sport towards Arlington final week. Neither threw for greater than 100 yards — 89 and 83, respectively — and neither received a lot assist from a dashing assault that accrued simply 42 yards on 20 rushes.
Although the Renegades dedicated 11 penalties for 96 yards, the Showboats may do little to nothing to reap the benefits of these alternatives.
Present odds to win 2025 title: N/A
Head coach Curtis Johnson has performed a exceptional job conserving his crew composed and engaged this season with many ups and downs, and a win towards one of the best crew within the UFL is actually candy. It will function proof of what Houston can do in 2026, particularly if it is in a position to return the duo of QB Jalan McClendon and WR Justin Corridor.
McClendon accomplished 21 of 30 passes for 232 yards, together with 10 for 126 yards to Corridor, who’s the Roughnecks’ finest offensive weapon. Houston can safe its first non-losing season with a win this weekend.
Present odds to win 2025 title: N/A
In a sport about satisfaction, the Renegades confirmed what they could’ve been able to had one or two performs gone their method previous to Week 9 and earned them the prospect to play within the postseason. Because it stands, an 18-point shellacking of the Showboats should do.
QB Luis Perez accomplished 20 of 30 passes for 206 yards with two touchdowns, and wideout Tyler Vaughns loved an impressive day with eight catches for 107 yards and a rating. The Arlington protection additionally recorded 5 sacks, two pressured fumbles and an interception to assist the Renegades earn an opportunity to complete this season and not using a dropping file.
Present odds to win 2025 title: +470
Regardless of QBs Jordan Ta’amu and Mike DiLiello combining to finish 31 of 51 passes for 371 yards, the Defenders fell to the Roughnecks in the one upset of the weekend. Two fumbles contributed to their woes, but it surely appeared Houston discovered itself enjoying for its satisfaction at a second when DC knew it was already enjoying postseason soccer.
Nevertheless, no crew ought to be ok with accepting a loss to an opponent it is aware of it ought to beat. That would be the message interim head coach Shannon Harris delivers his crew with postseason soccer simply over per week away.
Present odds to win 2025 title: +185
With out Bryce Perkins, former LSU quarterback Danny Etling earned one other probability to begin. He ended the sport finishing 22 of 39 go makes an attempt for 239 yards with two touchdowns. And whereas the Panthers’ rushers pushed the bottom sport tally to over 100 yards, their protection couldn’t get off the sector.
Of 13 third-down makes an attempt by the Stallions, the Panthers allowed 11 conversions and didn’t file a single takeaway.
Present odds to win 2025 title: +280
In a sport that served to determine which crew would have home-field benefit within the USFL Convention Championship Sport, the Stallions discovered a method to defeat what had been a red-hot Panthers crew.
J’Mar Smith’s play has given head coach Skip Holtz a strong starter at quarterback, a place that has seen extra rotations than a 50-yard spiral. Smith went 22-for-31 for 307 yards with two touchdowns towards a stingy protection. Not solely did Smith unfold the ball round to 10 totally different receivers, however he additionally made certain the offense transformed 11 of 13 third downs within the largest sport of the common season.
Present odds to win 2025 title: +195
The Battlehawks had the posh of figuring out they play for the XFL Convention title in two weeks, and there have been indicators that they’re nonetheless getting higher this late within the season. Whereas Max Duggan and Brandon Silvers every noticed vital time behind heart, the offense by no means confirmed it was out of sync, with the duo combining to finish 19 of 27 passes for 233 yards and the offense averaging higher than six yards per play.
The consequence was the sort of efficiency that head coach Anthony Becht knew his membership was able to all season, as St. Louis tries to win its first XFL Convention title with one of the best home-field benefit in spring professional soccer.
RJ Younger is a nationwide faculty soccer author and analyst for FOX Sports activities. Comply with him at @RJ_Young.
Need nice tales delivered proper to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports activities account, comply with leagues, groups and gamers to obtain a customized e-newsletter each day!
United Soccer League
Get extra from United Soccer League Comply with your favorites to get details about video games, information and extra
Support Greater and Subscribe to view content
This is premium stuff. Subscribe to read the entire article.
