Catching My Eye in the First Half: Best Games of the First 5 Weeks
- Tyler Doerr
- Feb 26, 2024
- 2 min read
With the schedule having been released on February 5th, we now know how each team’s path to the playoffs. These games stood out to me as must-watch UFL action.
1. Birmingham Stallions vs Arlington Renegades
Saturday, March 30th | 1:00 PM | Choctaw Stadium, Arlington, TX | FOX
What better way to bring in the UFL than matching the 2023 USFL and XFL champs? This matchup features the Birmingham Stallions, 17-3 since the birth of the USFL in 2022, and the Arlington Renegades, who went 4-6 but shocked the world and muscled their way into the XFL championship, defeating the DC Defenders, 35-26. With both teams returning a plethora of talent, this is sure to be a great matchup!
2. Memphis Showboats vs St. Louis Battlehawks
Saturday, April 20th | 12:30 PM | The Dome at America’s Center | ABC
This game graces my list because I am hoping there is some bad blood between these two teams. Both cities have proud football cultures and St. Louis is almost directly north of Memphis by 280 miles. If you tuned in during the 2023 XFL season, you know that The Dome will be rocking but can the Showboats pull off the victory behind enemy lines?
3. D.C. Defenders vs Birmingham Stallions
Saturday, April 20th | 7:00 PM | Protective Stadium, Birmingham, AL | FOX
The nightcap of Week 4 in the UFL, this game promises to be a doozy. These two teams finished with the best records in their respective leagues, D.C. at 9-1 and Birmingham at 8-2. Birmingham has won titles in each of their first two seasons, and they look to complete the trifecta in the inaugural season of the United Football League, D.C. wants to put a stop to it and get revenge for coming up short in last year’s XFL title game.
Let's Go, Defenders!
Many players are now used to teams systems so I’m expecting even better play for what I thought was an underrated season last year.