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Fox Sports
18-06-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
UFL Championship Game By The Numbers: Defenders win with near-perfect game
The 2025 UFL Championship Game was a thriller from start to finish. In the end, Jordan Ta'amu and the DC Defenders took down Offensive Player of the Year and regular-season MVP Bryce Perkins and the Michigan Panthers , 58-34. Here are the numbers to know after Saturday's tilt: 6: Shannon Harris was named interim head coach of the Defenders just six days before the first game of the regular season after Reggie Barlow accepted the head coaching position at Tennessee State. That didn't stop Harris from earning UFL Coach of the Year honors or winning the 2025 championship title. 11: The Defenders were nearly perfect on offense in Saturday's title game. They had 11 offensive drives and didn't punt once. They scored on their first 10 drives, as they put up eight touchdowns and two field goals before finishing the game kneeling on the final drive. Overall, the high-scoring game featured 23 drives and only had three punts. 46-6: The Panthers were leading 13-6 after the first quarter, but the game turned drastically in the second quarter when the Defenders rolled off 25 unanswered points. Following a Michigan score, DC then rolled off another 21 unanswered points, ultimately going on a 46-6 run from the start of the second quarter to the start of the fourth. 58: The Defenders provided plenty of offense in the title game, as their 58 points scored shattered the UFL record for most points in a single game (regular or postseason). The previous record was held by the Arlington Renegades, who put up 47 points in a regular-season game in 2024. 92: The 92 combined points between Michigan and DC also set a UFL single-game record, breaking the mark set just last week in the USFL Conference title game (73 points) between Michigan and the Birmingham Stallions. 168: Michigan receiver Malik Turner set a UFL single-game record with 168 receiving yards on 10 catches. He also became the first UFL player with three receiving touchdowns in a game. 190: While the Defenders had the top-ranked passing offense in the league during the regular season, their run game was a big part of their playoff success. After running for a season-high 187 yards on the ground vs. the St. Louis Battlehawks in the XFL Conference title game, the Defenders topped that mark with 190 yards on Saturday night. 338: While it came in a losing effort, regular-season MVP QB Bryce Perkins set season highs with 338 passing yards and four passing touchdowns on Saturday. Perkins was able to overcome a late-season ankle injury to help Michigan put up 44 points in the Panthers' USFL Conference title game win and 34 points in their UFL title game loss. 390: UFL Championship Game MVP Jordan Ta'amu set a UFL record with 390 passing yards. The former Ole Miss QB went 21 for 28 for 390 yards and four touchdowns en route to leading his team to the title. He finished the season with 22 touchdowns and only five interceptions over the course of his 11 starts during the season (regular and postseason). 1,014: The 2025 UFL Championship Game was the first game with over 1,000 yards of offense in league history. DC's 580 yards of offense was a single-team record and the game's combined 1,014 yards also set a new bar for the UFL. 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 DC Defenders Michigan Panthers recommended Get more from United Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Fox Sports
16-06-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Decision time for DC's Shannon Harris tops storylines from 2025 UFL season
Jordan Ta'amu had a simple request for the DC Defenders organization after an emphatic 58-34 win over the Michigan Panthers in the 2025 UFL Championship Game on Saturday — remove the interim tag for head coach Shannon Harris. "We're trying to take the tag off," Ta'amu said. That sentiment is certainly warranted, considering Harris led the Defenders to a UFL title in his first season after replacing then-head coach Reggie Barlow just a week before the season began. Barlow took the head coaching job at Tennessee State, and Defenders defensive coordinator Gregg Williams followed a week later; Williams' son Blake Williams took over as the defensive coordinator for the Defenders after his departure. Despite major changes to the Defenders' coaching staff, they still managed to finish the season on top, championship trophy in hand and with Harris earning UFL Coach of the Year honors. "He never blinked," tight end Briley Moore said about Harris. "He preached to really have us come together as one throughout the season, no matter what happened. It's because of that we were able to keep our poise last week and beat them (the St. Louis Battlehawks) at home. And this week not to flinch in a big game. Shout out to Coach (Harris)." Harris said it's "yet to be determined" whether he'll follow Barlow and Williams to Tennessee State or accept a potential offer to remain the head coach of the Defenders permanently and defend the UFL title. "We still have a lot of meetings to go, and we still have things to talk over … but these guys here, it would be hard to leave these guys," Harris said. Where Harris lands will be one of the top storylines to keep an eye on this offseason. Here's a look at the other big themes from Saturday's title game and the 2025 UFL season overall. Ta'amu's revenge game Moore said he texted Ta'amu on Friday after learning the UFL leader in passing touchdowns did not earn Offensive Player of the Year or MVP honors. "When you're holding up that trophy on that stage, I'm going to be chanting M-V-P," Moore said he texted Ta'amu. Moore's prediction became a reality, as Ta'amu let his play do the talking on Saturday, passing for 390 yards and four touchdowns in a runaway win over the Panthers. Ta'amu helped the Defenders score on their first 10 possessions. Over the postseason, the Defenders scored on a jaw-dropping 17 of their 21 possessions and averaged 47 points a game, winning by an average of 21 points per contest. The Defenders dominated on offense, scoring the most points in UFL history (58) against what had been a tough Panthers defense — and Ta'amu rightfully earned MVP honors for the championship game. "When playoff time hit, we told them, 'This is a different season,'" Harris said. "These guys were ready for that moment. The one thing we challenged each other on — from coaches to players and support staff — is that we are going to finish the drills. … We were not going to end this game and not be winners. That was the approach." Not earning UFL MVP or Offensive Player of the Year served as extra motivation for Ta'amu. "I told [my teammates] pregame that I [was] going to put my body on the line for them," Ta'amu said. "Bryce Perkins is a great quarterback and he deserved all the awards, but it just gave us a big chip on our shoulders to go out there and play even harder." Perkins puts up numbers in loss for Panthers While Michigan failed to earn a title, Perkins showed up for the Panthers. The Virginia product finished 60% of his passes (21 of 35) for 338 passing yards, four touchdowns and just one interception. His favorite target was Malik Turner, who totaled 10 receptions for 168 receiving yards and three scores. However, the one area Michigan struggled with was running the football, totaling just 104 yards on the ground. Perkins was limited by a balky ankle, rushing for just eight yards on four carries. It's all about the quarterback Scoring was up this postseason, with games averaging a combined score of 73.7 points during the playoffs this year compared to 38 combined points per game in the 2024 postseason. One of the reasons for improved production in the postseason was the play of Ta'amu and Perkins. Elsewhere, the Arlington Renegades had the UFL's regular-season passing leader in Luis Perez, but they still failed to make the playoffs for a second straight season. The Birmingham Stallions failed to defend their championship title because they had instability at the most important position on the field, using five different quarterbacks due to injury. Jalan McClendon emerging as the Houston Roughnecks' starter helped them improve from 1-9 in 2024 to 5-5 this season. He was helped by private QBs coach Jordan Palmer, who worked with various players during the offseason. "You've got to walk into Week 1 with your leading quarterback, having your guy in place," UFL head of football operations Daryl Johnston said. "Then, as you get into the season, if you want to get some reps for No. 2 or No. 3 with the way the [Collective Bargaining Agreement] is structured now, then that's an opportunity for you to develop that position. But you have to have your guy in place in Week 1, and I hope that's the lesson our teams learn this year." Travis Feeney named 2025 UFL Sportsman of the Year The Battlehawks' linebacker was awarded the first Sportsman of the Year award, which is given to a player who exemplifies exceptional leadership, integrity and commitment to making a difference both on the field and in the community. Feeney was selected by a panel of league and team executives, coaches and players from all eight teams. The Washington product donated his time participating in community events in the UFL's home base of Arlington, Texas and in St. Louis. Feeny volunteered his time as an advocate for CARE St. Louis Adoption Center, the Adaptive Training Foundation and is an ambassador for the American Cancer Society. "Over the last three years, no one embodies this award more than Travis," said Battlehawks head coach Anthony Becht. "His commitment on and off the field has been tremendous." Building local support remains a work in progress Building more fan interest in local markets — a stated goal by the league entering this season — remains a work in progress as the UFL heads into a third season. "We are looking at every way to reengage and look at our marketplace in each separate silo as we move forward," said UFL president and CEO Russ Brandon. "We're a great product. We know it's affordable. We're trying to activate as much as possible in each of these local markets, and we have a great plan in place, I believe, to do that." UFL co-owner Danny Garcia said the league's vision for the future remains what is best to ensure long-term growth. "What I want to see is … this league clicking in with its consumer, it's audience … [and] this league continuing to … be that opportunity for its athletes, where their performance here matters," she said. "Where they know their expressing their love of football and their incredible skill at football, and it is being appreciated, … enjoyed and … celebrated. "We really have so many of our ingredients put down and planted, that it's just about letting it breathe and grow." 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 ! FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience United Football League DC Defenders Michigan Panthers recommended Get more from United Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Fox Sports
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Five things to watch for in 2025 UFL Championship Game
And then there were two. It all comes down to this, as the DC Defenders take on the Michigan Panthers in the 2025 UFL Championship Game on Saturday evening at The Dome of America's Center in St. Louis. The Panthers handled the Defenders in the teams' singular meeting earlier this season — a 38-14 victory in Week 6. However, Michigan head coach Mike Nolan knows this time will be very different, with the 2025 title on the line. "They're a better football team, and I'd like to think we are a better football team too," Nolan said. "I think it will be a very good game. They are very explosive on offense. … We've got two really good offenses going to battle in this football game, and you've got two really good defenses as well, so I think it will be an entirely different game than the first one for all kinds of reasons. "It's a lot more meaningful, and I think their team has improved an awful lot since we played them last time. They were going through a lot of transitions with the coaching change in the middle of the season and things like that, and they were just adapting to the new things. … Right now, they're running on all cylinders. They're doing a real good job." Defenders head coach Shannon Harris recently earned UFL Coach of the Year honors for how he deftly handled the departure of former head coach Reggie Barlow and ex-defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, leading DC to a 6-4 regular-season record, a postseason berth and a spot in a spring football championship for the second time in three seasons. Harris and the Defenders throttled the St. Louis Battlehawks on their home turf last week, 38-16, in the XFL Conference title game. Their reward? Facing a Michigan squad that is peaking at just the right time after defeating the defending champion Birmingham Stallions on the road in the USFL Conference title game, 44-29, to advance. Here's a closer look at what to watch for in the 2025 UFL Championship Game. 1. How can the Panthers slow down Defenders QB Jordan Ta'amu? The engine of the Defenders' offense all season and the most impactful player in the UFL, Ta'amu will be tough to contain for a Michigan defense allowing 292 passing yards a contest — the fourth-worst mark in the regular season. Ta'amu finished first in passing touchdowns (17) and second in passing yards (2,153) during the regular season. He totaled 204 passing yards and a score in last week's win over the Battlehawks. If the Panthers want to win Saturday's title game, defensively they must limit the Defenders' explosive passing game led by Ta'amu. The Defenders have balance on offense, too. Deon Jackson ran for 110 yards and two scores on 21 carries last week. 2. How can the Defenders bottle up Michigan's running game? In the previous matchup between these two teams, the Panthers rolled up 213 yards on the ground on their way to a convincing victory at Ford Field. Toa Taua has been the catalyst for Michigan's running game. He finished the regular season sixth in the UFL with 356 yards and led the league with six rushing touchdowns. Taua kept it going in the postseason, picking up 85 rushing yards and three scores in Michigan's win over Birmingham. The Defenders have struggled to stop the run, however, allowing 118 rushing yards per contest in the regular season. They also allowed the second most rushing touchdowns (12) and the most yards per carry (4.8) in the UFL this year. 3. Who will win the turnover battle? One of the areas Michigan has struggled with this year is forcing turnovers. The Panthers finished with just 10 takeaways during the regular season — only the Memphis Showboats (2-8) had fewer during the year (five). The Defenders forced 16 turnovers and finished with a plus-5 turnover differential during the regular season, while the Panthers finished with a minus-2 turnover differential over that same span. The Panthers did win the turnover battle last week against the Stallions, however, coaxing three takeaways and losing a fumble. "In order to win a championship, you want to play a clean game," Nolan said. "It's very difficult for any team — this goes for DC or us — to win any game, especially a championship game if you're not playing a clean game." 4. Who is the X-factor for the Panthers? Quarterback Bryce Perkins, the 2025 UFL Offensive Player of the Year, finished second in passing touchdowns (nine) and completion percentage (69%) and fourth in passing yards (1,342) despite missing three games with an ankle injury. What makes Perkins difficult to contain is his ability to create chunk plays with his feet. Perkins finished with 269 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns for the Panthers during the regular season. Only the Battlehawks' Max Duggan rushed for more yards as a quarterback (299). Perkins rushed for 34 yards and a score last week. How the Defenders attack Perkins and his ability to run the ball will go a long way in deciding this game's outcome. 5. Who are the X-factors for the Defenders? The Defenders led the UFL in tackles for loss (59) and finished third with 22.0 sacks. One of the reasons for their success defensively has been the one-two pass-rushing punch of defensive ends Derek Roberson and Andre Mintz. The Defenders were the only team in the UFL with two players who finished with at least five sacks. Both Roberson and Mintze totaled 5.5 sacks each, while All-UFL performer defensive tackle Joe Wallace finished second in the league in tackles for loss (10) and totaled 4.5 sacks. The Defenders' front seven has the tough task of slowing down Michigan's running game and putting consistent pressure on Perkins in the passing game if they want to wear the crown this year. 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 ! FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience United Football League DC Defenders Michigan Panthers recommended Get more from United Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Fox Sports
02-06-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
2025 UFL Power Rankings: Battlehawks enter postseason on top
With the 2025 UFL regular season coming to an end, only one of three Texas teams will finish with a losing record, while the defending UFL champion Birmingham Stallions are rounding into playoff form. Meanwhile, the St. Louis Battlehawks, winners of six straight heading into the postseason, look every bit as capable of winning their first spring league title. That said, here's a look at my updated UFL Power Rankings following Week 10: 8. San Antonio Brahmas (1-9) Current odds to win 2025 title: N/A Jashaun Corbin ended the season with the UFL rushing title after picking up 55 yards on 10 rushes in the final week of the season. But that's about all the Brahmas will take with them in a season where former head coach Wade Phillips stepped down and Payton Pardee was thrust into the interim head coaching role. The Brahmas, who made the UFL title game a year ago, will enter this offseason looking to rebuild into a team capable of playing in the 2026 postseason. 7. Memphis Showboats (2-8) Current odds to win 2025 title: N/A Not unlike the Brahmas, the Showboats dealt with head coach Ken Whisenhunt stepping down before a third of the season was finished. 6. Houston Roughnecks (5-5) Current odds to win 2025 title: N/A CJ Johnson should be a candidate for UFL Coach of the Year. The Roughnecks won four of their last six games this season. Johnson's decision to play and then stay with QB Jalan McClendon was one of the biggest reasons why the Roughnecks get to go into the offseason without a losing record. 5. Arlington Renegades (5-5) Current odds to win 2025 title: N/A After completing 26 of 32 passes for 283 yards in the Renegades' Week 10 win over the Brahmas, Luis Perez won the UFL passing title with 2,298 yards while completing more than 70% of his passes this season. He has been the most consistent QB in the league, and he has shown himself to be one of the two best QBs in the league over the past three weeks. The Renegades scored 20 points in the second quarter and held that advantage until the Brahmas scored their final points of the season in the fourth quarter. 4. DC Defenders (6-4) Current odds to win 2025 title: +450 In a sloppy-field, rain-delayed final game of the season and with presumptive MVP Jordan Ta'amu on the sideline, the Defenders' offense looked like a shell of itself. Even so, backup QB Mike DiLiello accounted for 202 total yards and a touchdown against the regular-season XFL Conference champion Battlehawks. As this game acted as a preliminary for the XFL Conference Championship Game, no one was expected to show much. Interim coach Shannon Harris didn't want to jeopardize the health of his star player before the postseason, and that's understandable. But that also means the Defenders bring a two-game losing streak with them to St. Louis. 3. Michigan Panthers (6-4) Current odds to win 2025 title: +255 Without QB Bryce Perkins, the Panthers missed the kind of playmaking that led to them qualifying for the USFL Conference Championship Game. Backups Danny Etling and Rocky Lombardi completed just 13 of 30 passes for 124 yards with two interceptions. The Panthers take a two-game losing streak into the postseason against the defending UFL and three-time spring football league champion Stallions. 2. Birmingham Stallions (7-3) Current odds to win 2025 title: +235 Behind two pick-sixes from linebacker Tae Crowder, the Stallions left no doubt about how they're rounding into form right when they need to with two games left to play for a possible fourth consecutive spring football championship. After playing five different quarterbacks in a 10-week season, Skip Holtz looks to have found his postseason starter in J'Mar Smith, who finished 13-of-17 for 127 yards with a touchdown in a Week 10 win over Memphis. The Stallions have won four of their last five, with their only loss coming by a single point to the Battlehawks. 1. St. Louis Battlehawks (8-2) Current odds to win 2025 title: +200 The Battlehawks cemented their position as the best team in the regular season in 2025 with a workmanlike win against the second-best team in the XFL Conference and their starting quarterback, Max Duggan, on the bench. Quarterback Brandon Silvers needed to attempt just eight passes in the win, while the Battlehawk defense held the Defenders to just two points in the first three quarters of their final home game. With the XFL and UFL championship games taking place in St. Louis, the Battlehawks would benefit from home field advantage for the entirety of the playoffs. All they have to do is win. RJ Young is a national college football writer and analyst for FOX Sports. Follow him at @RJ_Young . Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? 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