The UFL is kicking off 2026 looking completely different. Nearly every team has a new head coach. The Michigan Panthers, San Antonio Brahmas, and Memphis Showboats are gone, replaced by the Columbus Aviators, Orlando Storm, and Louisville Kings. There was major roster turnover league-wide.
The DC Defenders look to defend their title as UFL Champion as we enter the next chapter of the UFL.
Crown Holder ?: DC Defenders
The DC Defenders finished the season as UFL Champions and were the Crown Holder since snatching it from the Battlehawks in the XFL Division Championship.Court Jester ?: Orlando Storm
The Orlando Storm begin the season as “Court Jester” by right, having inherited the remnants of the San Antonio Brahmas, who finished the season with a 5-game losing streak last year.
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 Defender (2025 record: 6-3, Reigning UFL Champion)?
Week 1 Opponent: vs. St. Louis Battlehawks
The DC Defenders got hot at the right time last season and finished the year as UFL Champions. The defeated St. Louis on the road 36-18 in the XFL Final before dropping 58 points on the Michigan Panthers in the Championship to win 58-34. DC is the only UFL team to have the same head coach (Shannon Harris) they had last season and had the least roster turnover, and should benefit from that stability.
DC’s spot at the top could be challenged if trends from last regular season rise up again. DC only had a +1 point differential despite being in a division with a team that finished -138. Jordan Ta’amu was excellent in the playoffs for DC, but they may require more consistency throughout the regular season this year.
2. St. Louis Battlehawks (2025 record: 8-2)
Week 1 Opponent: vs. DC Defenders
The St. Louis Battlehawks would have been a clear number 1 team last season if not for such an abysmal passing game. The Battlehawks will be coached now by Ricky Proehl, who may add a spark to the passing game with his 15+ years of experience as an NFL receiver. Brandon Silvers and Harrison Frost are in competition for the starting quarterback position.
With many roster changes, it may be difficult to replicate the 2025 success with much turnover on the offensive line and RB Jacob Saylors now with the Detroit Lions. St. Louis does have returning their talented duo of edge rushers in Pita Taumoepenu and Travis Feeney.
3. Birmingham Stallions (2025 record: 7-3)
Week 1 Opponent: vs. Louisville Kings
A new era begins for the Birmingham Stallions, who will now be coached by A.J. McCarron. Skip Holtz left big shoes to fill after the Stallions won 3 championships in 4 seasons and are coming off a 7-3 season. At quarterback, Matt Corral is very dangerous and will look to bounce back from a down year interrupted by injuries. Corral has the tools to win league MVP and the potential of possibly improving an NFL team if he can tighten up a few aspects of his game this season.
4. Dallas Renegades (2025 record: 5-5)
Week 1 Opponent: vs. Houston Gamblers
The Dallas Renegades are under a new head coach, Rick Neuheisel, as they rebrand from the Arlington Renegades. The Renegades did make some questionable decisions in final roster cuts, particularly at the guard position, releasing Jake Burton, who had the 2nd highest pass blocking grade from PFF last season, and Abdul Beachum, who had the 5th highest among guards. Beachum had the highest pass block grade among guards in 2025.
QB Luis Perez has had the best passing grade in each of the last 2 seasons from PFF. Perez has shown in the past a high capability to make plays under pressure.
The Renegades were the most snake-bitten team over the last 2 seasons, playing a lot of good football but struggling to have that transfer into the win column. I look forward to seeing what they will look like this season.
5. Columbus Aviators (2025 record: 6-4)
Week 1 Opponent: vs. Orlando Storm
The Columbus Aviators are a new franchise that inherits the bones of the Michigan Panthers, who made it to the UFL Championship last season. The UFL parted ways with Panthers Head Coach Mike Nolan, and the Aviators will be coached by Ted Guinn.
The team boasts a strong running back room of Toa Taua, John Lovett, and Zaquandre White. However, it is hard to imagine the offense being as good without MVP QB Bryce Perkins, who is now a Winnipeg Blue Bomber. Jalen McClendon is a likely candidate to be the starting quarterback this season for the Aviators after playing for Houston last year.
Look to DE Kenny Willekes and DT Walter Palmore to anchor the defensive line.
6. Houston Gamblers (2025 record: 5-5)
Week 1 Opponent: vs. Dallas Renegades
Houston finishing the year 5-5 last year was a story of triumph. Houston was 3-5 with 2 games left to play and won at home against DC 24-21 and then won 19-12 against Michigan to close out the season. Defeating the 2 teams who ended up in the Championship was a positive way to close out the season for a team that’s had a lot of struggles over the last 2 seasons.
Houston is now under head coach Kevin Sumlin. The starting quarterback is unclear at this time as the team is signeing Taulia Tagovailia and releasing Donovan Smith per PFN's James Larsen. The team also has Hunter Dekkers and Nolan Henderson on the roster, who showed a lot of promise on the team in their brief playing time last year at quarterback.
7. Orlando Storm (2025 record: 1-9)?
Week 1 Opponent: vs. Columbus Aviators
The Orlando Storm inherited the roster of the San Antonio Brahmas, but are the least recognizable roster compared to their 2025 counterpart. Each team was allowed to protect up to 12 players ahead of the UFL Draft, and the Storm elected to only protect 6 players. The St. Louis Battlehawks had a great rushing game under Anthony Becht, who is the head coach of the Storm. Expect a big year from RB Jashuan Corbin. The Storm are expected to have either Dorian Thompson-Robinson or Jack Plummer starting at quarterback.
The defense is revamped after the Brahmas allowed the most points last season. Returning LB Tavante Beckett and Safety Nate Meadors, who played for the Battlehawks last season, are a couple of players to keep an eye on.
8. Louisville Kings (2025 record: 2-8)
Week 1 Opponent: vs. Birmingham Stallions
I don’t know what to expect from the Louisville team. Putting the Louisville Kings last is not fair, given that we don’t know what to expect from this new franchise, which is composed of the remnants of the Memphis Showboats. The Showboats had the lowest overall team grade from Pro Football Focus in large part due to low passing grades. The team has a quarterback room in which all 3 passers are new to the UFL. Jason Bean is the expected starting quarterback on this Chris Redman-coached team.
Expect major shakeups to these week 0 Power Rankings after week 1.
