The Birmingham Stallions opened their 2026 UFL season with a 15-13 victory on the road, holding off the Louisville Kings at Lynn Family Stadium. A crowd of 14,034 was on hand to watch the Kings, playing in their UFL franchise opener, fall just short.
Birmingham, in A.J. McCarron’s coaching debut, managed to withstand a furious second half Louisville rally by staging one of their own to secure the win.
STALLIONS DRAW FIRST BLOOD
Birmingham’s Dyontae Johnson intercepted a deflected Jason Bean pass, putting the Stallions offense in excellent field position. Later on in the drive, Snoop Conner ran it in from six yards out and the Stallions led early 6-0.
PLACEKICKING WOES PLAGUE STALLIONS ALL NIGHT
Jonathan Garibay, making his Stallions debut, missed the point after attempt, his first of two on the night, and the Birmingham lead remained at six points.
KINGS ANSWER QUICKLY
Louisville was quick to respond. Jason Bean connected with Lucky Jackson for a touchdown, and after a successful PAT the Kings took the lead 7-6 heading into the second quarter.
GARIBAY 50 YARD FIELD GOAL ATTEMPT BLOCKED
Birmingham quarterback Matt Corral led the Stallions downfield before the drive stalled, and McCarron called on Garibay to attempt a potential go ahead field goal. The 50 yard attempt was blocked by Jobiah Bronson, and the Kings 7-6 lead remained intact.
STALLIONS REGAIN THE LEAD
After forcing a Kings punt on the ensuing drive, Birmingham marched deep into Louisville territory before the Kings defense stiffened. This time, Garibay’s 31 yard field goal split the uprights, and the Stallions regained the lead 9-7.
Bean drove the Louisville offense downfield all the way to the Birmingham two yard line, but Kyahva Tezino punched the ball loose from Ian Wheeler just before reaching paydirt. Birmingham recovered and the Stallions headed into the locker room leading 9-7 at the half.
LOUISVILLE REGAINS THE LEAD 10-9
Bean found Tarik Black downfield for a 44 yard strike on Louisville’s first possession of the second half but the drive stalled on the Birmingham 20, and Tanner Brown’s 37 yard field goal put the Kings on top 10-9. Later on in the fourth quarter, Louisville drove all the way to the Birmingham three yard line, and Chris Redman opted to take the points instead of going for it on fourth down, and Brown came on to convert on a 20 yard field goal to increase the Kings lead to 13-9 with less than nine minutes remaining in the game.
CORRAL COMES THROUGH IN THE CLUTCH
Matt Corral drove the Birmingham offense downfield on the ensuing possession. Needing a touchdown, the 13 play 66 yard drive was culminated with a Justyn Ross touchdown reception from Corral, and the Stallions led again 15-13.
Needing only a successful point after try to force the Kings to score a touchdown to win the game or do no worse than going into overtime should Louisville manage to convert a field goal attempt and force an overtime, Garibay’s point after attempt bounced off the left upright, and the Stallions clung to a precarious two point lead.
BIRMINGHAM DEFENSE COMES UP BIG
Louisville, now needing only a field goal to win late, had excellent field position and over a minute to get close enough to try. It was not to be. Jason Bean’s pass sailed high and into the waiting arms of Birmingham’s Hudson Clark, and the Stallions survived, hanging on for a 15-13 win.
BY THE NUMBERS
Although Matt Corral had a solid night guiding the Stallion offense, the star of the evening for Birmingham was Jaydon Mickens, who hauled in nine receptions for 103 yards. For Louisville, despite the late interception, Jason Bean accounted for 247 yards in the air.