The Birmingham Stallions’ path to a fourth straight championship runs through a familiar rival.
Just weeks after beating the Michigan Panthers in a tough 26–22 game, they are set to play again. But this time, the USFL Championship and a trip to the UFL Championship are on the line.
First, let’s take a look at how we got here.
2025 Season
The Stallions finished one game (and a tiebreaker) ahead of the Panthers. However, they both come into the playoffs with slightly different recent results.
Birmingham Stallions
The Stallions enter the playoffs on something of a roll. They’ve won 4 out of their last 5, with the only loss being a 1-point game with the XFL Conference Champion St. Luis Battlehawks.
Their season was up and down due to being forced to play 5 different QBs. Thankfully, J’Mar Smith’s play in the last several weeks has seemingly put those issues in the rearview mirror.
Michigan Panthers
The Michigan Panthers limped into the playoffs on the heels of two straight losses. But, they played better than their record would indicate (6–4).
If you excluded their week 10 loss to the Roughnecks, where they played a lot of backups, they only lost to two playoff teams.
The Panthers also hold a huge win over D.C., another playoff team.
Keys to The Game
In the playoffs, everything is magnified. One mistake could be the difference between going to the championship and being sent home early.
Here are three keys to the game to keep an eye on.
QB Play
On one side, J’Mar Smith has been getting better week by week. That includes a 306-yard passing day in his last matchup against the Panthers.
For Michigan, the question remains who will be under center. Will it be Danny Etling, Bryce Perkins, or both?
Normally, I would say that Perkins is the better option if healthy. But Etling played well two weeks ago against the Birmingham Stallions.
- 23–39
- 235
- 2 td, 0 int
If both are healthy, it will be a tough decision. But, regardless of who plays, they need to deliver for Michigan to have a chance.
Whichever team gets more from their QB will have a great chance of winning the game.
Kicking
Kicking is the one area where Birmingham has a clear advantage on paper.
B.T. Potter is 11–16 this season, which includes a worrying 5–10 from 40+.
Harrison Mevis, on the other hand, is 20–21 and perfect from under 60.
If it’s a close gam, the kicking edge very well could be the difference.
It is worth noting that games aren’t played on paper or based on past results. Potter might step up, or Mevis might misstep. Anything can happen; that’s why we play the games.
Health
Both teams are banged up after 10 games with no bye weeks. But, it’s the playoffs, so guys will play even if they aren’t 100%.
The big question for Michigan is Bryce Perkins. He’s been practicing in a limited capacity. I assume he will try to play, but how close is he to 100%?
The Birmingham Stallions have several potential injury concerns.
A.J. Thomas missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday with a foot issue. He’s the Stallions’ second-leading tackler and one of their top guys in coverage.
Bradlee Anae is back practicing fully, which is good news for the Stallions. He’s the heart of the front seven, so getting him close to 100% would be big.
Running Back Ricky Person Jr. missed the last game against Michigan, and the rushing attack struggled without him. He’s currently limited by ankle and elbow issues. Person missing the game would be a big loss since balance is one of the keys to the Stallions’ offensive success.
Game Information
Date and Time: June 08, 3:00 PM ET
Location: Protective Stadium, Birmingham, AL
TV Broadcast: abc
Betting Odds Per DraftKings (June 5th:)
Spread: Stallions -1.5
Moneyline: Stallions -120, Panthers+100
Over/Under: 46.5
