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Fox Sports
28-05-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
2025 UFL MVP Power Rankings: Perez, Perkins, Ta'amu make up three-man race
Heading into the final week of regular-season play in the UFL , there are only three viable candidates for me to win MVP. All of these players have not only appeared in at least 70% of the regular-season games, but have proven their importance to their teams and presented consistent challenges for the league. Here's a look at my updated MVP rankings heading into Week 10: 3. Michigan Panthers QB Bryce Perkins Week 9 stat line: N/A Week 9 result: N/A Despite not playing the last two weeks, Perkins still ranks No. 3 in passing yards in the UFL with 1,342. With Perkins at QB, the Panthers looked like a championship-caliber franchise and one to reckon with the defending UFL champion Birmingham Stallions. While he's a long shot to win the MVP, there's an argument for his contention with Arlington Renegades QB Luis Perez for UFL Offensive Player of the Year. In just seven games, he's recorded 14 total TDs, second to DC Defenders QB Jordan Ta'amu. What Perkins might have been able to do statistically with two more games is debatable, but there's no doubt his contribution would've been positive. 2. Arlington Renegades QB Luis Perez Week 9 stat line: 20-of-30 for 206 passing yards, 2 TDs Week 9 result: 30-12 win over Memphis And after last week's performance, Perez became the only QB in the last five years to throw for at least 2,000 yards in three consecutive seasons. His 2,310 yards remains the record for passing in a 10-game season across the USFL, XFL and UFL. Had his team made the playoffs in 2025, Perez would've probably stood a chance to win UFL MVP. However, with a good outing this weekend, he should be a shoo-in for UFL Offensive Player of the Year. 1. DC Defenders QB Jordan Ta'amu Week 9 stat line: 14-of-22 for 240 passing yards, 2 TDs Week 9 result: 24-21 loss to Houston With Ta'amu at quarterback, the Defenders are just one of two teams to see their Week 1 starter play in every single game this season, and it has paid dividends. The Defenders have reached the playoffs for the first time in the UFL, boasting the league's leading passer (Ta'amu) and second-leading receiver (Chris Rowland). In a league where good quarterback play has been difficult to find week-in-and-week-out, Ta'amu's 2025 performance stands out. Even with a change in head coach, his consistency has been the largest reason the Defenders are one of the best teams in the sport. With 2,155 passing yards, Ta'amu has a chance to become the first UFL player to pass for more than 2,400 yards since spring professional football was reintroduced in the U.S. in 2020. He has also accounted for 19 total TDs. With two more passing TDs, he will break Luis Perez's record for passing TDs in a UFL season (18). 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? 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
Fox News
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
Luis Perez's head-scratching decision headlines UFL storylines from Week 8
With the Arlington Renegades trailing by three points and needing only a field goal to send the game into overtime, quarterback Luis Perez took matters into his own hands — with disastrous results. Instead of spiking the ball to set up a long field goal, Perez faked the spike and tried to connect on a quick out route to get a couple yards closer. However, DC Defenders cornerback Deandre Baker picked off the fluttering pass to seal a 33-30 victory and a spot in the postseason. "I thought we were just spiking the football and were going to kick the field goal," Arlington head coach Bob Stoops said. "And Luis thought he had the out route, so he threw it. It didn't work that way." Despite Perez's season-high 350 passing yards, the Renegades were eliminated from the playoffs for a second consecutive season after the critical turnover. Like last year, the Renegades struggled to get over the hump in close games. Now 3-5, all five losses for Arlington have been by a touchdown or less. The Renegades were 1-5 in one-score games last season. With the victory, the Defenders (6-2) were one of four teams to punch their ticket to the playoffs over the weekend, as the teams in the postseason have been decided with two weeks left in the regular season. On Saturday, St. Louis Battlehawks linebacker Travis Feeney forced Birmingham Stallions running back C.J. Marable to fumble with his team driving and 16 seconds left. Cornerback Myles Jones recovered it, and St. Louis held on for a 29-28 victory in front of 30,114 fans at The Dome at America's Center. St. Louis (6-2) clinched a playoff berth with the victory and Arlington's loss. Even with the setback, the Stallions (5-3) also clinched a postseason berth because the Michigan Panthers (6-2) topped the Houston Roughnecks (3-5) on the road, 30-18. The UFL announced that no matter how teams finish, the USFL Conference title game will be held at Protective Stadium in Birmingham and the XFL Conference championship tilt will be held in St. Louis on June 8. Elsewhere, the Memphis Showboats (2-6) outlasted the San Antonio Brahmas (1-7) in overtime, 24-22. Here's a look at other storylines from Week 8: A frontrunner for 2025 UFL Offensive Player of the Year, Saylors finished with 118 rushing yards on 16 carries in Week 8 — including a 1-yard touchdown to tie the game late in the fourth quarter and a 2-yard run for the ensuing 1-point conversion that served as the winning score. Saylors now leads the league in rushing yards (466) and is tied for the league lead in rushing touchdowns (five) with two games left. The Battlehawks have the top rushing offense in the league, averaging 141 rushing yards a contest. St. Louis is now riding a four-game winning streak. "Birmingham's defense knew we were running the football," St. Louis head coach Anthony Becht said. "We knew we were running the football, and we just kept pounding it away. Ultimately, that was the difference in the football game. But just really proud of the way he (Saylors) played and what he brings to the table. "He's a captain. He's our best player honestly, and he lives up to those expectations. In the biggest games, in the biggest moments, you've got to show up, and he did." A late-game scratch, league MVP candidate Bryce Perkins did not play against the Roughnecks due to an ankle injury. Perkins was limited in practice during the week but fully participated Friday and was listed as probable for the game. However, Michigan head coach Mike Nolan had been rotating Perkins and second-stringer Etling earlier in the year, and the latter performed very well (14-for-22 passes for 167 passing yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions). "As I settled in and just got to see what the defense was doing, I kind of got into the rhythm of seeing the plays," Etling said. "I got into the rhythm of playing live football again. It's kind of just like old hat. I've been playing football for a long time, so it's no biggie once you get into a rhythm." Houston QB Jalan McClendon completed 30 of 50 passes for 316 yards and two touchdowns in the loss. However, he did throw a pick-six in the second half with the game still within reach; Michigan CB Keni Lovely returned it 55 yards for the score. The Ole Miss product is one of only two quarterbacks (Perez is the other) to start every game this season and continues to churn out prolific passing performances for the Defenders. Ta'amu finished 15-for-26 with 240 passing yards and two touchdowns in the win. He also ran for 24 yards and even caught a 9-yard touchdown pass from receiver Chris Rowland. Ta'amu leads the league in passing yards (1,990) and passing touchdowns (16). He's also No. 16 in the UFL in rushing yards (171). "I'm just excited for this opportunity to rewrite history," Ta'amu said about his team reaching the postseason. "The last two years it hurt, not winning those championships. We felt like in the locker room that we were the better team." While his team has struggled to get wins, the USC product has put together some highlight performances over the last two weeks. The latest highlight-reel catch was an acrobatic, one-handed grab for a 5-yard touchdown at the back of the end zone from Perez. Vaughns finished with three catches for 51 yards and two scores on eight targets. [MORE: Renegades WR Tyler Vaughns' one-handed TD highlights top UFL plays from Week 8] Over the last two games, Vaughns has 12 catches for 178 yards and three touchdowns. He's sixth in receptions (30), seventh in receiving yards (344) and tied for fourth in touchdown receptions (three) with two games left. FOX's Friday night game had a little bit of everything, including a blocked punt followed by a missed field goal. The two teams combined for five turnovers and 128 penalty yards. San Antonio tight end Steven Stilianos threw a 38-yard touchdown pass to Dee Anderson for a touchdown, while another player who usually has his hand on the ground — Memphis defensive tackle Josiah Bronson — reeled in a touchdown-saving interception. In the end, Memphis QB Troy Williams led his team to two straight two-point conversions in OT for the Showboats' second win this season. Jashaun Corbin finished with 25 carries for 145 rushing yards and a score for the Brahmas. 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!
Fox Sports
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Luis Perez's head-scratching decision headlines UFL storylines from Week 8
With the Arlington Renegades trailing by three points and needing only a field goal to send the game into overtime, quarterback Luis Perez took matters into his own hands — with disastrous results. Instead of spiking the ball to set up a long field goal, Perez faked the spike and tried to connect on a quick out route to get a couple yards closer. However, DC Defenders cornerback Deandre Baker picked off the fluttering pass to seal a 33-30 victory and a spot in the postseason. "I thought we were just spiking the football and were going to kick the field goal," Arlington head coach Bob Stoops said. "And Luis thought he had the out route, so he threw it. It didn't work that way." Despite Perez's season-high 350 passing yards, the Renegades were eliminated from the playoffs for a second consecutive season after the critical turnover. Like last year, the Renegades struggled to get over the hump in close games. Now 3-5, all five losses for Arlington have been by a touchdown or less. The Renegades were 1-5 in one-score games last season. With the victory, the Defenders (6-2) were one of four teams to punch their ticket to the playoffs over the weekend, as the teams in the postseason have been decided with two weeks left in the regular season. On Saturday, St. Louis Battlehawks linebacker Travis Feeney forced Birmingham Stallions running back C.J. Marable to fumble with his team driving and 16 seconds left. Cornerback Myles Jones recovered it, and St. Louis held on for a 29-28 victory in front of 30,114 fans at The Dome at America's Center. St. Louis (6-2) clinched a playoff berth with the victory and Arlington's loss. Even with the setback, the Stallions (5-3) also clinched a postseason berth because the Michigan Panthers (6-2) topped the Houston Roughnecks (3-5) on the road, 30-18. The UFL announced that no matter how teams finish, the USFL Conference title game will be held at Protective Stadium in Birmingham and the XFL Conference championship tilt will be held in St. Louis on June 8. Elsewhere, the Memphis Showboats (2-6) outlasted the San Antonio Brahmas (1-7) in overtime, 24-22. Here's a look at other storylines from Week 8: Jacob Saylors grabs UFL rushing lead with 118-yard performance A frontrunner for 2025 UFL Offensive Player of the Year, Saylors finished with 118 rushing yards on 16 carries in Week 8 — including a 1-yard touchdown to tie the game late in the fourth quarter and a 2-yard run for the ensuing 1-point conversion that served as the winning score. Saylors now leads the league in rushing yards (466) and is tied for the league lead in rushing touchdowns (five) with two games left. The Battlehawks have the top rushing offense in the league, averaging 141 rushing yards a contest. St. Louis is now riding a four-game winning streak. "Birmingham's defense knew we were running the football," St. Louis head coach Anthony Becht said. "We knew we were running the football, and we just kept pounding it away. Ultimately, that was the difference in the football game. But just really proud of the way he (Saylors) played and what he brings to the table. "He's a captain. He's our best player honestly, and he lives up to those expectations. In the biggest games, in the biggest moments, you've got to show up, and he did." A late-game scratch, league MVP candidate Bryce Perkins did not play against the Roughnecks due to an ankle injury. Perkins was limited in practice during the week but fully participated Friday and was listed as probable for the game. However, Michigan head coach Mike Nolan had been rotating Perkins and second-stringer Etling earlier in the year, and the latter performed very well (14-for-22 passes for 167 passing yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions). "As I settled in and just got to see what the defense was doing, I kind of got into the rhythm of seeing the plays," Etling said. "I got into the rhythm of playing live football again. It's kind of just like old hat. I've been playing football for a long time, so it's no biggie once you get into a rhythm." Houston QB Jalan McClendon completed 30 of 50 passes for 316 yards and two touchdowns in the loss. However, he did throw a pick-six in the second half with the game still within reach; Michigan CB Keni Lovely returned it 55 yards for the score. Jordan Ta'amu solidifies frontrunner status for UFL MVP award The Ole Miss product is one of only two quarterbacks (Perez is the other) to start every game this season and continues to churn out prolific passing performances for the Defenders. Ta'amu finished 15-for-26 with 240 passing yards and two touchdowns in the win. He also ran for 24 yards and even caught a 9-yard touchdown pass from receiver Chris Rowland. Ta'amu leads the league in passing yards (1,990) and passing touchdowns (16). He's also No. 16 in the UFL in rushing yards (171). "I'm just excited for this opportunity to rewrite history," Ta'amu said about his team reaching the postseason. "The last two years it hurt, not winning those championships. We felt like in the locker room that we were the better team." While his team has struggled to get wins, the USC product has put together some highlight performances over the last two weeks. The latest highlight-reel catch was an acrobatic, one-handed grab for a 5-yard touchdown at the back of the end zone from Perez. Vaughns finished with three catches for 51 yards and two scores on eight targets. [MORE: Renegades WR Tyler Vaughns' one-handed TD highlights top UFL plays from Week 8] Over the last two games, Vaughns has 12 catches for 178 yards and three touchdowns. He's sixth in receptions (30), seventh in receiving yards (344) and tied for fourth in touchdown receptions (three) with two games left. FOX's Friday night game had a little bit of everything, including a blocked punt followed by a missed field goal. The two teams combined for five turnovers and 128 penalty yards. San Antonio tight end Steven Stilianos threw a 38-yard touchdown pass to Dee Anderson for a touchdown, while another player who usually has his hand on the ground — Memphis defensive tackle Josiah Bronson — reeled in a touchdown-saving interception. In the end, Memphis QB Troy Williams led his team to two straight two-point conversions in OT for the Showboats' second win this season. Jashaun Corbin finished with 25 carries for 145 rushing yards and a score for the Brahmas. 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 recommended Get more from United Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Fox Sports
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
UFL Week 6 By The Numbers: Chris Rowland, Bryce Perkins show off in Defenders-Panthers
Week 6 of the 2025 UFL season was complete with statement wins and down-to-the-wire thrillers. The St. Louis Battlehawks , Houston Roughnecks , Michigan Panthers and Birmingham Stallions came out with wins, while the Arlington Renegades , Memphis Showboats , DC Defenders and San Antonio Brahmas came up short. [MORE: What is the UFL? Everything to know about the 2025 United Football League ] Here are the numbers to know after Week 6. 3: St. Louis wide receiver Hakeem Butler now has three catches in three games played this season, and all three receptions have gone for touchdowns. Butler caught a 30-yard touchdown from Max Duggan in St. Louis' 12-6 win over Arlington in Week 6. The reigning UFL Offensive Player of the Year is averaging 51 yards on his three touchdown catches this year. 4: Six weeks through the season, the defending champion Stallions have already played four different quarterbacks. Alex McGough, Matt Corral and Case Cookus have all started games this season for the Stallions, while Andrew Peasley saw time off the bench on Sunday. Peasley completed five of eight passes for 79 yards, but he, unfortunately, also fell victim to the quarterback curse as he suffered a knee injury in the game. Birmingham still managed to beat San Antonio, 26-3, and sit tied atop its conference at 4-2 on the year. 40: Leading 14-13 in the third quarter, Houston's Andrew Marsh sacked Memphis quarterback Dresser Winn, forcing a fumble that was picked up by teammate T.J. Franklin and returned 40 yards for a TD. The Roughnecks held on to get a 21-20 victory, giving them three wins in their last four games as they now sit one game back of a playoff spot in the USFL Conference. 71: Early in the season, DC looked like it had the best defense in the league. It led the league in sacks and held its first three opponents to 15 points or fewer. However, things have not gone well over the last two games. After allowing 33 points to Arlington in Week 5, DC struggled with Bryce Perkins and Michigan's offense in Week 6, allowing a season-worst 38 points in a loss to the Panthers. 140: San Antonio's offense has really struggled over the last two games as it's been held to three points in each of those outings. The Brahmas have now gone over 140 minutes of game time without scoring a touchdown. The last time they reached the end zone was in the third quarter of their Week 4 win over the Defenders. 144: DC's Chris Rowland set a UFL single-game high for the season with 144 receiving yards against Michigan. Rowland caught nine passes on the day, including a 65-yard touchdown as the Defenders tried to stage a comeback. Rowland now leads the UFL in receiving this season. 264: Michigan QB Bryce Perkins put on a Houdini act in the Panthers' 38-14 win over the Defenders. Perkins escaped the rush time and time again, providing several highlight plays during the game. He finished with 264 total yards (76 rushing) and three total touchdowns to put himself firmly in the MVP conversation. 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
Fox News
29-04-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
Jordan Ta'amu's 300-yard performance highlights UFL Week 5 storylines
At the midpoint of the 2025 UFL season, DC Defenders QB Jordan Ta'amu has emerged as the league's best player. Ta'amu continued his impressive play over the weekend, leading his team back from a 15-point second-half deficit to pull off a 37-33 comeback win over the Arlington Renegades on Sunday. [MORE: What is the UFL? Everything to know about the 2025 United Football League] Ta'amu threw for a league-high 308 passing yards and ran for 37 more and a score. With his effort, Ta'amu helped lead the Defenders to the biggest come-from-behind victory in UFL history. The Ole Miss product leads the league in passing yards (1,213) and passing touchdowns (nine). "That's amazing," Ta'amu said after the game. "I love making history." The Defenders rebounded from a shocking Week 4 loss to the San Antonio Brahmas (1-4) and improved to a league-best 4-1 on the year with the win. Meanwhile, Arlington dropped to 3-2, even with star defensive back Ajene Harris posting six combined tackles, an interception and a forced fumble. In other action, the Memphis Showboats (1-4) earned their first victory of the season, 24-20, in overtime against the defending champion Birmingham Stallions (3-2) on Friday. Elsewhere, the St. Louis Battlehawks (3-2) narrowly held off the Michigan Panthers (3-2) on Saturday, 32-27. Closing things out, the Houston Roughnecks (2-3) took care of business against the Brahmas (1-4) on Sunday, 27-3. Here's a look at other storylines from Week 5: In his first game back since Week 1 after dealing with a lingering hamstring issue, Butler showed why he's the reigning UFL Offensive Player of the Year. The big-bodied receiver accounted for two long touchdowns for St. Louis — one for 67 yards and the other on a reverse pass from fellow wideout Blake Jackson for 57 yards — as the Battlehawks held on for the 32-27 win in front of 30,406 boisterous fans at The Dome at America's Center. "It was fun just to be out there," Butler said after the game. "I was more ecstatic about the blocking and just being out there hitting guys than even catching the ball." Making his first start in place of an injured Manny Wilkins, QB Max Duggan went 9-for-12 for 124 passing yards and one touchdown. Duggan also rumbled for a team-high 70 rushing yards and two scores. Michigan running back Toa Taua totaled 74 yards and two touchdowns in the loss, while Panthers QB Bryce Perkins continued his impressive play, completing 21 of 25 passes for 235 yards and two touchdowns. Butler's big plays were part of a larger trend of UFL offenses creating explosive plays over the weekend. The eight teams combined for a league-high 59 plays of 20-plus yards in Week 5. Those numbers included 10 touchdowns of at least 20 yards. [MORE: Isiah Hennie's kick-six, Battlehawks' trick play top best plays from UFL Week 5] Scoring continues to climb, too. After averaging a combined 40.5 points in Week 4, games in Week 5 averaged a combined total of 50.8 points per contest. Offenses appear to have caught up with the defenses as we enter the second half of the season. It took extra time to get it done, but Memphis interim head coach Jim Turner led his team to their first victory, a 24-20 victory on Friday night over Birmingham. In his first start, Winn finished 17-for-29 for 235 yards — highlighted by a monster 78-yard touchdown to Dee Anderson on the opening drive — and no interceptions. The big play for the Showboats was a 108-yard touchdown return on a missed 63-yard field goal by Birmingham kicker Harrison Mevis at the end of the first half, which gave Memphis a 17-3 lead heading into halftime. The Stallions outscored the Showboats 17-3 in the second half to force overtime. However, Birmingham failed to convert on either of its two-point attempts in extra time, while Memphis had two successful two-point conversions. Making his first start of the season for the Stallions, QB Case Cookus completed 15 of 33 passes for 145 yards, two touchdown passes and an interception. After a three-game winning streak, Birmingham lost its second game of the season this week at home to the previously winless Showboats. Last season, the Stallions lost just one game all year on their way to a third consecutive spring football championship title. Birmingham had lost just four games over the past three years entering the 2025 UFL campaign. However, it appears other teams have caught up to the talent-filled roster Birmingham head coach Skip Holtz has put together. Injuries and sloppy play have also plagued the Stallions, which are tied for the league lead in giveaways (nine) and are third in the league with 38 accepted penalties for 290 yards. "I think there's a lot more parity, but we've also had 10 starters miss a game," Holtz said. "We're on our third quarterback after four games. There's not any continuity. I feel like every week we're starting over again. There's all these distractions … My frustration is not that we lost, you know what I mean? "It's not, 'Well, everybody's catching up.' We've got to get some consistency going, and that's probably been the difference between this team and teams in years past." Curtis Johnson has officially put together his first two-game winning streak as a head coach in the UFL. After going 1-9 last season and losing their first three games of this year, the Roughnecks improved to 2-3 with a convincing road victory over the Brahmas. With San Antonio's offense struggling, local product Kellen Mond was replaced at quarterback by backup Jarrett Guarantano in the third quarter. Guarantano didn't fare much better, completing 6 of 15 passes for 29 yards. However, Houston QB Jalan McClendon had another solid performance, going 22-for-32 passes for 171 yards. Defensively, the Roughnecks held the Brahmas to 118 total yards in their home opener. "We're in striking distance to achieving our goal," Johnson said. "And I think we've definitely shot some momentum (in our team). It's not just winning, but it's how we won it. It was pretty convincing today." 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!
