Week 5 of the UFL season blew up the previous order of the power rankings. Every single game in week 5 was won by the lower-ranking team, including the 8th-ranked Memphis Showboats defeating the top-ranked Birmingham Stallions.
The Crown Holder and the Court Jester
- Crown Holder 👑: Houston Roughnecks
Houston snatched the crown away from the San Antonio Brahmas, who held the crown for 1 week. The Roughnecks hand-delivered a 27-3 beatdown in San Antonio. - Court Jester 🃏: Birmingham Stallions
Birmingham became the new Court Jester after a shocking 24-20 home loss to the previously winless Memphis Showboats, relinquishing Memphis’s hold on the title.
If a team defeats the Crown Holder, they steal the Crown and become the new Crown Holder. If a team loses to the Court Jester, they become the new Court Jester, freeing the previous holder.
1. DC Defenders (4-1)
Previous rank: #4
- Week 5 Result: Defeated Arlington Renegades 37-33 on the road
- Week 6 Opponent: at Michigan Panthers
- Week 5 Synopsis: The Defenders outlasted Arlington in a 37-33 shootout, amassing 389 total yards, including 308 passing from Jordan Ta’amu. Their 4-5 red zone efficiency and five sacks kept them in control, despite two turnovers.
- High Point: DC’s pass rush amassing 5 sacks and frequently getting pressure on Luis Perez. The pass rush seemed to become more effective as the game went on.
- Low Point: Giving up 27 points in the first half; however, this was remedied by only giving up 6 in the second.
- Reason for Rank Change: DC surged three spots after a high-octane road win over a strong Arlington team. DC was the only team among the top 4 ranked teams in the power rankings heading into week 5 to win and now holds the best record in the UFL.
2. St. Louis Battlehawks (3-2)
Previous rank: #6
- Week 5 Result: Defeated Michigan Panthers 32-27 at home
- Week 6 Opponent: vs Arlington Renegades
- Week 5 Synopsis: St. Louis edged Michigan in a 32-27 thriller, totaling 295 yards and converting 2-3 red zone chances. Max Duggan stepped up in relief, completing 9 of his 12 passes for 124 yards and a touchdown, with 70 rushing yards and 2 rushing touchdowns.
- High Point: Kameron Kelly’s late first-half interception that he returned from the Battlehawks’ own 33 and returned to Michigan’s 30 ultimately led to a touchdown and changed the landscape of the game.
- Low Point: Allowing 294 passing yards exposed vulnerabilities in the secondary.
- Reason for Rank Change: The Battlehawks climbed four spots with a resilient home win over Michigan.
3. Michigan Panthers (3-2)
Previous rank: #2
- Week 5 Result: Lost to St. Louis Battlehawks 32-27 on the road
- Week 6 Opponent: vs DC Defenders
- Week 5 Synopsis: Michigan dropped a close 32-27 game to St. Louis, despite 400 total yards and a 3-3 red zone performance. Bryce Perkins threw for 294 yards, but 10 penalties and a late defensive lapse hurt.
- High Point: Bryce Perkins completed 21 of his 25 passes for 235 yards and 2 touchdowns, with Siaosi Mariner generating 111 receiving yards.
- Low Point: Ten penalties and allowing 32 points both seemed uncharacteristically high for the Panthers..
- Reason for Rank Change: Michigan fell one spot after a road loss to St. Louis.
4. Birmingham Stallions (3-2) 🃏
Previous rank: #1
- Week 5 Result: Lost to Memphis Showboats 24-20 at home
- Week 6 Opponent: vs San Antonio Brahmas
- Week 5 Synopsis: Birmingham suffered a shocking 24-20 home loss to Memphis, managing 274 yards and struggling with 7-15 third-down conversions. Their defense allowed 235 passing yards. Birmingham’s pass protection seemed to struggle with frequent pressure coming around the right side of the offensive line.
- High Point: A 148-yard rushing effort kept them in the game, with 83 coming from quarterback Case Cookus.
- Low Point: A 45.5% completion percentage was not good enough. With Birmingham being on their 3rd starting quarterback this season, it was peculiar that they would only hand the ball to their running backs 16 times compared to the 33 pass attempts.
- Reason for Rank Change: Birmingham dropped 3 spots after losing at home to the previously winless Memphis Showboats.
5. Arlington Renegades (3-2)
Previous rank: #3
- Week 5 Result: Lost to DC Defenders 37-33 at home
- Week 6 Opponent: at St. Louis Battlehawks
- Week 5 Synopsis: Arlington fell short in a 37-33 slugfest, gaining 356 yards with 268 coming through the air from Luis Perez. Ajene Harris’s late interception kept them in it, but defensive lapses proved costly.
- High Point: Ajene Harris had 8 targets come his way but only 17 yards and 3 receptions from it. He had 2 interceptions, counting one on a 2-point conversion.
- Low Point: Eight penalties and two turnovers disrupted their rhythm.
- Reason for Rank Change: Arlington fell two spots as the DC Defenders defeated them to jump them in the rankings.
6. Houston Roughnecks (2-3)👑
Previous rank: #7
- Week 5 Result: Defeated San Antonio Brahmas 27-3 on the road
- Week 6 Opponent: vs Memphis Showboats
- Week 5 Synopsis: Houston dominated San Antonio 27-3, holding the Brahmas to just 118 yards and generating two turnovers. A balanced 273-yard attack and four sacks highlighted their control.
- High Point: Outpacing San Antonio in yards, 273-118.
- Low Point: A third-quarter interception in Houston’s own zone put San Antonio back in the driver’s seat when down by 18, but Houston held them to a field goal.
- Reason for Rank Change: Houston rose two spots after a dominant road win over San Antonio.
7. Memphis Showboats (1-4)
Previous rank: #8
- Week 5 Result: Defeated Birmingham Stallions 24-20 on the road
- Week 6 Opponent: at Houston Roughnecks
- Week 5 Synopsis: Memphis winning in Birmingham after their 0-4 start felt like a miracle. Memphis pulled off a 24-20 upset over Birmingham, their first win, with 323 yards and zero turnovers. Their defense sacked Birmingham three times and held firm late. The pass rush made things uncomfortable for Case Cookus in Birmingham’s backfield
- High Point: Dresser Winn’s 78-yard pass to Dee Anderson early in the game set the tone early and put Birmingham off balance.
- Low Point: After a much-needed big win, it’s hard to say anything negative about Memphis. A 0-2 red zone performance limited their scoring, as well as going 4-12 on third downs.
- Reason for Rank Change: Memphis jumped up a spot after a stunning road upset over Birmingham.
8. San Antonio Brahmas (1-4)
Previous rank: #5
- Week 5 Result: Lost to Houston Roughnecks 27-3 at home
- Week 6 Opponent: at Birmingham
- Week 5 Synopsis: The Brahmas collapsed at home, mustering just 118 yards, including 64 passing, in a 27-3 rout by Houston. Two turnovers and a 1-10 third-down performance underscored their struggles.
- High Point: Jalen Elliott catching a deflected pass for an interception that he returned to Houston’s 22-yard line put San Antonio in position to get points on the board in the third quarter and try to make a game of it. Unfortunately, the field goal from the opportunity would be the only score for the Brahmas.
- Low Point: 118 yards of total offense is a losing recipe. It is peculiar that the Brahmas did not run the ball more, with how ineffective the passing game was.
- Reason for Rank Change: San Antonio dropped to the bottom after a beatdown at home against Houston, undermining their Week 4 momentum.
