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New York Times
11-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
College Football 26 video game Dynasty guide: Which type of team should you pick?
EA Sports College Football is back with another edition, and this time you don't have to wait 11 years in between releases. Of course, Dynasty mode is one of the first gameplay modes players will flock to. As you prepare to embark on a new year with the game, The Athletic is here to help you evaluate which path may be the best to take. Advertisement As with a lot in life, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. You might want to take the most difficult path. You might enjoy a fixer-upper. You might want to start from the ground up, or you might want something more established that's running smoothly. Whatever it may be, we have options for you. Two programs are making the jump to FBS this season: Missouri State and Delaware. Both will play in Conference USA this fall and are one-star programs in the game. Delaware has won at least eight games in each of the past three seasons, and its most recent FCS playoffs appearance came in 2023. Missouri State hasn't reached the FCS playoffs since 2021 but won eight games last season after posting back-to-back losing seasons in 2022 and 2023. With a few exceptions, making the jump to FBS is difficult, so be prepared and have some patience if you decide to coach at these programs. Kennesaw State is in Year 2 of its transition to FBS. It went 2-10 last year and would be a good choice this year. Time and history have demonstrated that these are incredibly difficult places to win at. Akron and Kent State are zero-star prestige programs in the game. The Zips have had two winning seasons in the past 20 years and haven't won more than four games in a season since 2017. The Golden Flashes are coming off an 0-12 season that followed a 1-11 campaign in 2023. Rice checks in as a one-star program. The Owls have appeared in bowl games in two of the past three seasons but haven't posted a winning record since 2014. This will be their third year in the AAC. One of the best sources of pride this game has to offer is turning around programs like these. So this journey is gratifying — if you can stomach some of the growing pains. Purdue is quite the rebuild after going 1-11 last season and losing the talented players it did have to the transfer portal. The Boilermakers have posted three winning seasons in the past 10 years. Meanwhile, Virginia has posted just three winning seasons since 2010. It has fallen on hard times of late, with only 11 victories over the past three years. Advertisement At least these programs are in conferences they're deeply familiar with. Stanford has no natural ties to the ACC, and life is a lot harder now for the prestigious academic institution because of name, image and likeness, revenue sharing and the transfer portal. The Cardinal have won three games in each of the last four seasons. These three programs have had some fun highs in the past but are now all two-star prestige programs, like San Diego State and San Jose State. Louisiana Tech has had some good moments in the past under Skip Holtz and Sonny Dykes but has struggled this decade. It hasn't won more than five games in a season since 2019. It's a one-star program in the game. Though all of these programs are going through hard times, they've shown they can win at a pretty good level with the right coach in place. That could be you if you go this route. If you're looking for a job that will get you the next job, these places might be good to go to. James Madison has a solid roster and is primed for a strong 2025, which (in theory) should make you popular in the coaching carousel. UNLV is in a similar position in the Mountain West, and Washington State has had several coaches who have been hired away this century. Curt Cignetti (JMU to Indiana), Barry Odom (UNLV to Purdue) and Jake Dickert (Washington State to Wake Forest) have all made this work in real life. Can you do it in the game? Real-life coaches are now in the game, and you can play as them. This could be an alternative to choosing a program based on upward mobility. Jon Sumrall has had an impressive start to his head coaching career at Troy and Tulane and should be an attractive candidate for P4 openings. Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham has been a head coach for only two seasons but took the Sun Devils to the College Football Playoff last season. He'll be desirable for SEC and Big Ten programs. Advertisement Bob Chesney has been successful everywhere he has coached and just won nine games in his first season at James Madison. Could he make a climb like Cignetti did? Jeff Monken might not be as young as some of these other coaches but has done well at Army and has been in the mix for other jobs in the past. Or you could choose a high-profile name like Eddie George, the head coach at Bowling Green, and see where that road ends up. Cincinnati, Kentucky and Wisconsin have had a tougher go at things because of realignment. The Bearcats have posted back-to-back losing seasons since joining the Big 12, though that might be more of a Scott Satterfield issue than a realignment one. Adding more strong programs to their conferences and getting rid of divisions did Kentucky and Wisconsin no favors. We know — West Virginia's surroundings aren't new, but it still feels out of sorts in the Big 12. It's trying to find its identity and has looked back to its glory days and hired Rich Rodriguez, the coach who spearheaded those, to help re-establish it. These programs have all been very, very good in the past. Maybe you can get them back there. Oregon has played for the national championship twice since 2010 and was the No. 1 seed in last year's playoffs before Ohio State blew it out in the Rose Bowl. It's had teams good enough to be in the mix for a national championship but hasn't broken through. Ole Miss has elevated itself under Lane Kiffin, but it went all in on last season and came up empty. The Rebels are still searching for their first playoff trip. Texas A&M has all the resources but has produced just two double-digit win campaigns in the past 30 years and has witnessed Texas join the SEC and establish itself as a power immediately. Advertisement These programs have had strong moments on the field and receive a lot of attention in the offseason but still haven't been able to reach the heights they aspire to. You could choose them and get one over the hump. We highlighted these same three programs in the same three spots last year, and not much has changed. Ohio State just won the national championship. Georgia won the SEC. There's a little more doubt about Alabama because it's coming off a 9-4 season, but it's still a strong program. This is the easiest path available, and it's not super rewarding, but if you're not into rebuilding and want to win at the highest levels, these are the schools for you. (Screenshots of College Football 26 courtesy of EA Sports)
Fox Sports
09-06-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
UFL Playoffs By The Numbers: Michigan RB Toa Taua dazzles with hat trick
The 2025 UFL postseason was thrilling, and just two teams remain — the Michigan Panthers and the DC Defenders . The Panthers took down the defending champion Birmingham Stallions in the USFL Conference Championship Game on Sunday, 44-29, followed by the Defenders pulling out a 36-18 win over the powerhouse St. Louis Battlehawks in the XFL Conference Championship Game. Here are the numbers to know ahead of the upcoming UFL title game on Saturday: 2: St. Louis finished the regular season with the best record in the league but saw its championship hopes dashed in the conference title game for the second consecutive season. Road teams went 2-for-2 this weekend. 3: After leading the league in rushing touchdowns in the regular season with six, Michigan RB Toa Taua kept it rolling in the playoffs with 85 rushing yards and a season-high three scores in the Panthers' double-digit win in Birmingham. 4: Birmingham's quest for a fourth consecutive spring football title under head coach Skip Holtz — Birmingham had won back-to-back USFL titles in 2022 and 2023 before taking the inaugural UFL crown last year — came to an end on Sunday. The loss also snapped a seven-game winning streak against Michigan that dated back to 2022. 5: The Defenders' defense dominated up front in the upset over the Battlehawks. The Defenders had five sacks and nine tackles for loss in the win, as head coach Blake Williams' group controlled the game from start to finish. 15: While it came in a losing effort, Battlehawks All-UFL linebacker Willie Harvey stuffed the stat sheet against the Defenders with 15 total tackles — the most by any player in a single game this season — and a sack. 24: The Panthers will take on the Defenders in the 2025 UFL Championship Game on Saturday. The two teams met in Week 6 of the regular season, with the Panthers handing the Defenders their worst loss of the year, 38-14, in Detroit. 44: The 44 points scored by Michigan were the most Birmingham has allowed in a UFL game and the second most it has allowed in four years of spring football; the defunct New Orleans Breakers scored 45 against the Stallions in 2023. 73: Michigan and Birmingham's 73 combined points is the most (regular or postseason) in a game in UFL history. 100: St. Louis' offense this season was predicated on its run game. It finished the regular season averaging a league-best 144 rushing yards per game. However, DC was the one team that figured out how to stop it, as it was the only team to hold the Battlehawks under 100 rushing yards in a game. What's more, the Defenders did it twice — in their Week 3 win in St. Louis and the playoff win on Sunday. 272: After sitting out the final three games of the regular season with an ankle injury, Panthers All-UFL QB Bryce Perkins showed no ill effects in the win over Birmingham. He completed 80% of his passes (20 of 25) and had 272 total yards of offense to go with two total touchdowns. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily ! FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience United Football League recommended Get more from United Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
USA Today
08-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
UFL playoff schedule: How to watch USFL, XFL conference championships in 2025
UFL playoff schedule: How to watch USFL, XFL conference championships in 2025 Show Caption Hide Caption Greg Olsen expresses excitement for upcoming Olympic flag football Former TE Greg Olsen is excited for some NFL players to showcase their skills in the upcoming 2028 Summer Olympics and the debut of flag football. Sports Seriously The 2025 UFL regular season has come to a close, which will begin the league's playoff sprint to a spring football championship. The UFL will host just three playoff games in 2025 before crowning its champion. Both of the league's conference championship games will be played on Sunday, June 8 before the two victors face off in the league championship game six days later. Here's what to know about the UFL's playoff schedule for 2025, including how to watch the USFL and XFL conference championship games. UFL playoff schedule 2025 Below is a complete look at the UFL playoff schedule for 2025: Sunday, June 8 USFL conference championship : Birmingham Stallions vs. Michigan Panthers, 3 p.m., ABC : Birmingham Stallions vs. Michigan Panthers, 3 p.m., ABC XFL conference championship: St. Louis Battlehawks vs. DC Defenders, 6 p.m., Fox Saturday, June 14 UFL championship game: USFL champion vs. XFL champion, 8 p.m., ABC USFL championship game time, TV channel, live stream Michigan Panthers (6-4) at Birmingham Stallions (7-3) Start time : 3 p.m. ET : 3 p.m. ET TV channel : ABC : ABC Live stream: Fubo | ESPN+ The Stallions have already beaten the Panthers twice this season and haven't yet lost to them since the 2024 USFL-XFL merger. That includes a 31-18 victory over Michigan in last year's USFL conference championship game. Can Birmingham repeat that history? It won't be as easy to do so in 2025, as Michigan's offense averaged a league-best 24.5 points per game. That said, the Stallions averaged 24.4 points per game and held the Panthers to two of their three lowest point totals of the season. If Skip Holtz's defense can once again contain Mike Nolan's offense, the Stallions could find themselves playing for a fourth consecutive spring football title. XFL championship game time, TV channel, live stream DC Defenders (6-4) at St. Louis Battlehawks (7-3) Start time : 6 p.m. ET : 6 p.m. ET TV channel : Fox : Fox Live stream: Fubo The Defenders and Battlehawks split their season series, with St. Louis winning the teams' most recent battle in Week 10. Both teams had already clinched playoff spots ahead of that matchup, however, so they rested some of their key players. Both teams sport quality offenses, as DC led the league in passing yards per game (246.5) while St. Louis led the league in rushing yards per game (144.4). The Battlehawks allowed a league-low 16.3 points per game last season, so they may be better positioned to slow down Jordan Ta'amu and the Defenders offense. St. Louis also has the best home-field advantage in the UFL, so playing at The Dome at America's Center should help Anthony Becht's team as it looks to make it to its first spring-league championship game. UFL championship game time, TV channel, live stream USFL champion vs. XFL champion Start time : 8 p.m. ET : 8 p.m. ET TV channel : ABC : ABC Live stream: Fubo | ESPN+ The winners of the USFL and XFL conference championship games will square off in the UFL championship game on Saturday, June 14. The game will be played at The Dome at America's Center in St. Louis, Missouri.
Fox News
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
J'Mar Smith rallying Stallions to comeback win tops UFL storylines from Week 7
The defending champions returned to their winning ways for a second week in a row, and a familiar face helped lead the Birmingham Stallions to a 33-25 comeback victory over the Houston Roughnecks in Week 7. Second-string quarterback J'Mar Smith replaced starter Case Cookus late in the fourth quarter after the Northern Arizona product took a big hit that resulted in an elbow injury to his throwing arm. [MORE: What is the UFL? Everything to know about the 2025 United Football League] Smith had not played in a game since 2023 and had retired from professional football. However, Smith was brought back a few weeks ago to serve as the team's emergency third-string quarterback after Alex McGough, Matt Corral and Andrew Peasley were all sidelined due to injuries. Smith played for Birmingham head coach Skip Holtz in college at Louisiana Tech and helped lead the Stallions to the USFL Championship Game in 2022. "I always wanted J'Mar on this roster," Holtz said. Birmingham trailed 25-6 in the first half but scored 27 unanswered points to earn the big win. Smith scored the game-winner, rolling to his right and scrambling to the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown when all his receivers were covered. Smith finished 3 of 5 for 63 yards in relief of Cookus. The 19-point comeback was the largest in UFL history. "Just getting back out there was the main thing for me," Smith said. "It [has] been a long time coming. I know the offense pretty well. Me and Coach Holtz have been together for a while, so it's just knowing what he wants, going out there and executing." With the win, the Stallions (5-2) remain tied atop the USFL Conference with the Michigan Panthers (5-2), who narrowly defeated the Arlington Renegades (3-4) at Choctaw Stadium, 25-24. The DC Defenders (5-2) held off the San Antonio Brahmas (1-6) in the opening game of the weekend, 32-24, while the St. Louis Battlehawks (5-2) closed things out with a 19-9 road victory over the Memphis Showboats (1-6). The Brahmas and the Showboats have been eliminated from playoff consideration. Here's a look at other storylines from Week 7: The top rushing team in the UFL a year ago, the Stallions struggled to get things going on the ground through the first half of this season. However, Birmingham found a rhythm running the football against the Roughnecks, finishing with 142 rushing yards as a team. Ricky Person Jr. led Birmingham with 60 yards on the ground and a score. "I'm really proud of the way we ran the ball today," Holtz said. "I thought both tailbacks ran the ball hard and did some good things on offense." And because the Stallions scored more than 30 points for the first time this season, Holtz said he'll make good on a bet with his wife Jennifer and shave the beard he's been growing since the start of the year. Duggan had his best game since taking over for an injured Manny Wilkins in Week 5. The TCU product completed 15 of 23 passes for a total of 158 yards, including a 13-yard touchdown pass to Jacour Peason on a corner route. Duggan also ran for a game-high 57 yards and a score. However, the Battlehawks were led by their defense. St. Louis has given up just one touchdown in two games and held the Showboats' offense to 4.2 yards per play. "On defense, we've been just relentless," St. Louis pass rusher Travis Feeney said. "A bend but don't break mentality. … At the end of the day, our defense has to beat the other team's defense, and that's the biggest thing." Winners of three straight, the Battlehawks will face another tough test when they host the Stallions at The Dome at America's Center on Saturday (4 p.m. ET on FOX and the FOX Sports app). QB Jordan Ta'amu had another big day, completing 19 of 24 passes for 278 yards, three scores and no interceptions. Those numbers include a 76-yard touchdown strike to his former teammate at Ole Miss in receiver Braylon Sanders. Ta'amu remains the league leader in passing yards (1,750) and passing touchdowns (14) through Week 7. However, the momentum-changing play came on defense for the Defenders when linebacker Anthony Hines picked up a fumble by San Antonio QB Kevin Hogan after he ran into left tackle Willie Tyler while trying to evade pressure. Hines corralled the loose ball and returned it 51 yards to tie the game at 12-all to end the half. Hines finished with nine tackles, while teammate defensive tackle Joe Wallace contributed six tackles and two sacks. With San Antonio running back Anthony McFarland out due to a shoulder injury, his replacement Jashaun Corbin put in some work, finishing with 109 rushing yards on nine carries — including a stunning 57-yard touchdown run. With a handful of family and friends in attendence, Taua delivered on Mother's Day weekend. The Nevada product tied the game on a 1-yard plunge as time expired and then won the game on another grinding run from two yards out for the one-point conversion and the victory. Taua finished with 70 scrimmage yards. QB Bryce Perkins also had another big day, totaling 231 passing yards and 68 rushing yards. "I'm just proud to be a part of these moments … and for the guys trusting me and having faith," Taua said. "There's never a dull moment in the game. We all looked at each other and said we're going to get another [opportunity] here, and we're going to capitalize. Just be ready. "It's one of those moments where you look at everyone in the huddle and say, 'Let's go win this ball game.'" Arlington QB Luis Perez threw for a league-high 314 passing yards in the loss. Tyler Vaughns finished with a game-high 127 receiving yards on nine receptions and a touchdown. Rams Pro Bowl receiver Nacua was at Choctaw Stadium to watch his older brothers play over the weekend. Michigan safety Kai Nacua finished with a tackle and a pass breakup, while brother Samson Nacua totaled 35 kick return yards, although he did have a fumble. "I would say the two words would be love and competitiveness, for sure," Puka Nacua said when asked to describe what it was like growing up in the Nacua household. "I think competitiveness came first — we were fighting … to see who was going to be the best football player, the best basketball player. And then my mom was our head coach and the general manager. She made sure there was love at the dinner table, so we had the perfect balance of both." Eric D. Williams has reported on the NFL for more than a decade, covering the Los Angeles Rams for Sports Illustrated, the Los Angeles Chargers for ESPN and the Seattle Seahawks for the Tacoma News Tribune. Follow him at @eric_d_williams. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
UFL schedule Week 3: What games are on today? TV channel, live stream, more
USA TODAY and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article. Pricing and availability subject to change. Two weeks into the 2025 UFL season, fans of the spring football league are starting to learn which teams are true title contenders. At present, there are three 2-0 teams in the league. All three are in the XFL conference, as the St. Louis Battlehawks, Arlington Renegades and DC Defenders are all off to hot starts. Meanwhile, the Birmingham Stallions beat the Michigan Panthers in Week 2 to even their records at 1-1 and prove Skip Holtz's squad is still the class of the USFL conference. Week 3 should further establish who the title favorites are in each conference. The Renegades and Stallions will kickstart the week with an interconference clash while the Battlehawks and Defenders will face off to close the week and determine which of them will improve to 3-0 on the season. Here's what to know about the UFL's Week 3 schedule and how to watch all four matchups. Once again, there will be one UFL game on Friday night, one on Saturday and two on Sunday. Below is a look at the spring league's full Week 3 schedule. (All times Eastern.) Arlington Renegades at Birmingham Stallions, 8 p.m., Fox Houston Roughnecks at Memphis Showboats, 2:30 p.m., ESPN/ESPN+ San Antonio Brahmas at Michigan Panthers, Noon, ABC/ESPN+ DC Defenders at St. Louis Battlehawks, 3 p.m., ABC/ESPN+ UFL SCHEDULE 2025: Dates, times, TV channel, more for every spring football game Start time: 8 p.m. ET TV channel: Fox Live stream: Fubo The Stallions are looking for back-to-back Friday night wins after their defense carried them to a 21-12 road win over the Michigan Panthers in Week 2. Birmingham will be without quarterback Alex McGough, who was injured early in its win over Michigan, so Matt Corral figures to get the start after going 18 of 29 for 198 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in relief of McGough. Meanwhile, Luis Perez – who leads the UFL in passing yards through two weeks (375) – will look to enjoy another efficient outing. Arlington has averaged 141.5 rushing yards per game thanks to the three-headed monster of Kalen Ballage, Dae Dae Hunter and De'Veon Smith, so the Renegades will look to use that trio to tire out a strong Birmingham stop unit. Start time: 2:30 p.m. ET TV channel: ESPN Live stream: Fubo, ESPN+ Two of the UFL's three winless teams will do battle in Week 3 with one poised to get its first win of the season. Houston remains the UFL's most offensively challenged team, as it has only generated 15 points through two weeks. Memphis hasn't been much better, notching 24, but both teams kept their Week 2 matchups within five points thanks to strong defensive showings. E.J. Perry (205 passing yards) and Jonathan Adams (nine receptions, 128 yards) started to show strong chemistry in Memphis' loss to the Defenders. Unless Anthony Brown or Nolan Henderson can match that feat for Houston, the Showboats will probably have the advantage in this one. UFL CONTRACTS: Players to open season without CBA, appeal to 'The Rock' for help Start time: Noon ET TV channel: ABC Live stream: Fubo, ESPN+ Last year, the Brahmas sported one of the best defenses in the UFL. This year, they are allowing a league-high 29.5 points per game while their offense has logged just nine points in each of their two losses. The Brahmas still have a solid running game – their 108.5 rushing yards per game ranks second in the UFL – but unless Kellen Mond can improve his efficiency, their offense figures to be inconsistent. As such, Wade Phillips will need to turn San Antonio's defense around to become a true playoff contender. As for the Panthers, they are coming off a loss to the Stallions and are dealing with a key injury to their best pass rusher, Breeland Speaks. Nonetheless, the Panthers sport a rock-solid defense that should give the Brahmas fits. If Bryce Perkins can continue to perform well at quarterback, Michigan should be able to stave off San Antonio at Ford Field. Start time: 3 p.m. ET TV channel: ABC Live stream: Fubo, ESPN+ This potential XFL conference championship preview is the marquee showdown of UFL Week 3. The Defenders shocked the UFL world by beating the Stallions in Week 1 with a stellar defensive showing and continued to perform at a high level against the Showboats. The Battlehawks have arguably been more impressive, averaging 28.5 points per game while allowing just 7.5 and seeing Manny Wilkins emerge as a quality replacement for AJ McCarron. The key to this game will be whether DC can stop St. Louis' running game. The Battlehawks have averaged a league-high 217.5 rushing yards per game behind Wilkins, Jacob Saylors and Jarveon Howard. The Defenders are allowing 112.5 rushing yards per game. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: UFL schedule Week 3: What games are on today?
