Spring football is back for a third consecutive year, and this time, the USFL and XFL won’t be competing against one another. Instead, they’ll be united, as the UFL plays its inaugural game.
The choice for participants in the spring-league opener was easy. The two-time reigning USFL champion Birmingham Stallions will face the reigning XFL champions, the Arlington Renegades.
The Stallions are led by head coach Skip Holtz, who has a 21-3 record in the regular and postseason over the past two years, and an offense headlined by newcomer Matt Corral at quarterback and running back CJ Marable. Birmingham’s steady offense is matched by a solid defense that should give Luis Perez and a hit-or-miss Arlington offense plenty of problems.
As mentioned, spring-league staple Perez is the starting quarterback for Bob Stoops’ team, but Arlington will rely more on its defense to carry the team. Former first-round pick Vic Beasley is expected to lead a solid pass rush in 2024, and if he can get pressure on Smith and Co., that may allow the Renegades to pull off an upset win to start the season.
The UFL is full of plenty of differences from the NFL game, so it will be fun for fans to see those in action for the first time Saturday.
The Sporting News is providing live updates of the Stallions vs. Renegades game that is kicking off the 2024 UFL season. Check out the best highlights and a rundown of the game below.
MORE: Watch UFL games live with Fubo (free trial)
Stallions vs. Renegades score
1
2
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4
Final
Stallions
3
8
8
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Renegades
3
8
3
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Stallions vs. Renegades live updates, highlights from UFL opener
(All times Eastern.)
3:48 p.m. — INTERCEPTION. After a couple of nice short passes, Luis Perez takes a shot downfield toward JaVonta Payton. Mark Gilbert undercuts the route and grabs it for his first interception of the year.
Gilbert led the USFL in interceptions last year with the Pittsburgh Maulers and had a fumble recovery on Arlington’s first drive of the game.
3:46 p.m. — Arlington starts its drive with a 9-yard completion to tight end Sal Cannella before backup quarterback Lindsay Scott comes in to run the ball out to the 40-yard line. They are starting to move the ball, needing two touchdowns to mount a comeback.
3:45 p.m. — The Renegades bring the ball back to the 25-yard line on the kickoff. They have 11:17 remaining to close the 13-point gap between themselves and the Stallions.
Score: Stallions 27, Renegades 14
3:40 p.m. — TOUCHDOWN. CJ Marable gets an easy score, running straight up the middle untouched for a 7-yard touchdown, his first of the season. The Stallions went for two from the 10-yard line after being flagged for a false start. The conversion was ruled originally to be no good, but a review showcased that the receiver got his feet down inbounds. That extends Birmingham’s lead to 13 points.
— UFL (@XFL2023) March 30, 2024
After review, the call on the field was reversed and the 2-point PAT for the Stallions is good 🙌 pic.twitter.com/xQB6FJTWCj
— UFL (@XFL2023) March 30, 2024
3:39 p.m. — Birmingham converts the first down. Matt Corral finds Ricky Person out of the backfield and gets to the 7-yard line. The Stallions are threatening to score again.
3:36 p.m. — The Stallions are poised to face a key third down that will decide whether they attempt a field goal or continue their potential touchdown drive. There’s a timeout on the field, however, as Renegades defensive lineman Jalen Redmond was injured on a Ricky Person run.
3:35 p.m. — Matt Corral is starting to heat up. On a third-and-5, he finds Binjamin Victor for a 20-yard gain. That puts the Stallions at the 20-yard line with 13 minutes remaining in regulation.
3:33 p.m. — Deon Cain returns another kickoff to midfield for the Stallions. He has enjoyed a solid performance as both a pass-catcher and return man.
End of third quarter: Stallions 19, Renegades 14
3:28 p.m. — FIELD GOAL. The Renegades lose five yards on their next three plays combined and settle for a 45-yard field goal attempt. Taylor Russolino hooks it just inside the right upright to cut Birmingham’s lead to five as the third quarter ends.
Nice first down from Luis Perez to J.P. Payton 👏 pic.twitter.com/2JKRXhPSoJ
— Arlington Renegades (@XFLRenegades) March 30, 2024
3:26 p.m. — Perez comes right back to hit JaVonta Payton for a 16-yard gain over the middle of the field. The Renegades are now in field goal range at the 22-yard line.
Nice first down from Luis Perez to J.P. Payton 👏 pic.twitter.com/2JKRXhPSoJ
— Arlington Renegades (@XFLRenegades) March 30, 2024
3:25 p.m. — Luis Perez took a downfield shot on first-and-10 from the 38-yard line. Tyler Vaughns was open on a post route, but Perez underthrew it. That allowed Birmingham’s defense to break it up.
3:24 p.m. — The first two plays of Arlington’s drive go to De’Veon Smith. The running back powers forward a short run and then catches a swing pass for a first down.
3:22 p.m. — The Renegades return the post-touchdown kickoff to the 35-yard line, but Elijah Sullivan is called for a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty. That puts Arlington at midfield with five minutes left in the third quarter.
3:20 p.m. — The Stallions were always a second-half and two-minute drill team during their USFL days. It seems like they are trending toward being proficient in those two areas as well.
Score: Stallions 19, Arlington 11
3:17 p.m. — TOUCHDOWN. Ricky Person finishes an impressive drive with an outside run on second-and-goal. Birmingham goes for two after the score and Matt Corral finds Gary Jennings on the run to make it an eight-point game.
— UFL (@XFL2023) March 30, 2024
3:14 p.m. — Big play for the Stallions: Corral completes a dump-off to Ricky Person on the sideline and he goes for about 20 yards. Corral draws a roughing the passer penalty on the play and now, Birmingham is at the Arlington 5-yard line with a first-and-goal opportunity.
43-yard connection between @corral_matt and @RickyPersonJr!#UFL2024 | #GiddyUp 🐎 pic.twitter.com/Zc2vqqafXE
— B2B CHAMPIONSTALLIONS 🏆🏆 (@USFLStallions) March 30, 2024
3:13 p.m. — The Stallions start their second drive of the second half with a 13-yard run up the middle by CJ Marable. On the next play, he is tackled for a gain of just one yard.
3:09 p.m. — The Renegades gain just three yards on the next two plays. They punt on fourth-and-27 and the Stallions return Marquette King’s punt from their own 20 to their own 40-yard line.
3:06 p.m — Birmingham’s defense steps up and sacks Luis Perez for a loss of five on first down. Then, they draw a 15-yard penalty on second down to force Arlington into a second-and-30.
perez going nowhere 😤 pic.twitter.com/u54gtLbkeS
— B2B CHAMPIONSTALLIONS 🏆🏆 (@USFLStallions) March 30, 2024
3:05 p.m. — Arlington narrowly avoids going three-and-out after the punt. Perez completes a dart over the middle of the field and the receiver just gets the ball to the 35-yard line for a first down.
3 p.m. — The Stallions stall out after one first down, as the Renegades bring down Matt Corral after a short scramble on third-and-10. Birmingham punts the ball back to Arlington and the ball rolls into the end zone for a touchback.
Defense coming out strong to start the second half 💪 pic.twitter.com/ZKCb0MPrI4
— Arlington Renegades (@XFLRenegades) March 30, 2024
2:58 p.m. — Matt Corral finds former Packers draft pick Amari Rodgers with a pass after tossing an incompletion on his first play of the half. That gives the Stallions a first down.
2:55 p.m. — The teams are coming out for the second half. The Stallion start the half with the ball and start with the ball just beyond their own 30-yard line.
2:50 p.m. — The Stallions are running the ball better than the Renegades, outgaining them 113 to 44 in the opening half. But will Birmingham be able to continue doing that if leading rusher Adrian Martinez (three carries, 52 yards) can’t return after injuring his foot? Only time will tell.
2:44 p.m. — Luis Perez was the most impressive quarterback in the first half of the UFL opener. He completed 9 of 11 passes for 111 yards and a touchdown.
Comparatively, Birmingham’s tandem went a combined 6 of 16 for 109 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. Corral had a nice, 39-yard touchdown throw to close the half though, so that could help spark him for the second half.
Halftime: Stallions 11, Renegades 11
2:42 p.m. — The Stallions squib the ball to the Renegades, who pick it up and run the three remaining seconds in the half off the clock. It’ll be 11-all entering the second half.
Score: Stallions 11, Renegades 11
2:38 p.m. — TOUCHDOWN. The Stallions do it again! Matt Corral finds Deon Cain downfield after a double move for a 39-yard touchdown connection. Birmingham goes for two after the score and succeeds after a strong mid-air effort from Ricky Person.
— UFL (@XFL2023) March 30, 2024
2:37 p.m. — Ricky Person runs up the middle on fourth-and-1 for a gain of a couple of yards. The Stallions call timeout with nine seconds left. They will run one more play and then bring the kicker on the field.
2:36 p.m. — Corral throws a deep shot toward both Victor and Sternberger and Victor knocks it to the ground. It’s fourth-and-1, and the Stallions are going for it.
2:35 p.m. — On second-and-1, Corral overthrows Binjamin Victor while on the move. It’s third-and-1 with 20 seconds left. Skip Holtz says the Stallions need three yards for a field goal attempt.
2:33 p.m. — Corral runs up the middle on his first snap back in. He slides down for a gain of nine and forces the Stallions to burn a timeout with 25 seconds left in the half.
2:32 p.m. — Martinez runs up the middle of the field for a big gain toward midfield. The quarterback comes up injured on the play, however, forcing Birmingham to call its first timeout with 40 seconds on the clock. Matt Corral is now back in the game at quarterback.
2:31 p.m. — Marlon Williams makes a 12-yard catch after a Martinez sack to get a first down. The clock is still ticking down.
2:28 p.m. — Lorenzo Burns makes a nice defensive play to break up a pass on a third-and-2 to force Arlington into their first punt of the day. Amari Rodgers returns it to the 15-yard line and Birmingham will have 1:20 left to score before halftime. The Stallions have three timeouts.
Two-minute warning: Renegades 11, Stallions 3
2:24 p.m. — The Renegades pick up a first down after a 9-yard pass from Luis Perez to tight end Seth Green and a short run by Leddie Brown. That brings us to the 2-minute warning with Arlington still leading by eight.
2:19 p.m. — INTERCEPTION. Martinez overthrows his target Gary Jennings and Arlington’s Duron Lowe picks off the high pass. Jennings brings him down in the end-zone giving the Renegades the ball at their own 20-yard line on a touchback.
— Arlington Renegades (@XFLRenegades) March 30, 2024
2:16 p.m. — Martinez continues to run the ball well (two rushes, 31 yards). He then fires a nice pass to Deon Cain on third-and-10 for a first down and his first completion of the day. The Stallions are in business at the Renegades’ 20-yard line.
2:12 p.m. — Adrian Martinez is at quarterback for the Stallions. Birmingham is running the ball up the middle with him and picked up 25 yards on his first three snaps, including one that saw him run up the middle. His mobility should jumpstart the Stallions’ running game.
first down run from @MartinezTheQB!#UFL2024 | #GiddyUp 🐎 pic.twitter.com/foUglSpNk3
— B2B CHAMPIONSTALLIONS 🏆🏆 (@USFLStallions) March 30, 2024
Score: Renegades 11, Stallions 3
2:06 p.m. — TOUCHDOWN. Luis Perez finds Isaiah Winstead down the middle of the field for a 51-yard touchdown. The Renegades go for two after their score — there is no option to kick for one point — from the 5-yard line. Lindsay Scott, the team’s most mobile quarterback, finds Isaiah Winstead open. The conversion is good and the Renegades take an 8-point lead.
THE FIRST TD IN UFL HISTORY BELONGS TO THE RENEGADES
What a pass and what a catch by Luis Perez and Isaiah Winstead 🔥 pic.twitter.com/8tGSe8oJuU
— UFL (@XFL2023) March 30, 2024
2:04 p.m. — Leddie Brown continues to look good for the Renegades. He takes a third-and-inches carry up the middle for a solid gain give Arlington a first down.
Leddie Brown pressed the spin button 🎮 pic.twitter.com/nlsoDop3qV
— Arlington Renegades (@XFLRenegades) March 30, 2024
2:01 p.m. — The Renegades get the ball back but only return the ball out to the 27-yard line. They’ll look to answer Birmingham as Luis Perez (5-for-5, 38 yards) looks to remain perfect.
Score: Stallions 3, Renegades 3
1:57 p.m. — FIELD GOAL. Matt Corral throws the ball away on third down after trying to scramble forward and find a player open in the end zone. Brandon Aubrey’s replacement, Chris Blewitt, comes on to attempt a 27-yard field goal. He makes it, tying the game at three.
1:56 p.m. — A delay of game penalty knocks the Stallions back to the 9-yard line. It’s still third-and-goal.
1:55 p.m. — The Stallions inch their way toward the end zone with a couple of C.J. Marable runs. They are now facing a third-and-goal from the 4-yard line as their drive continues.
End of first quarter: Renegades 3, Stallions 0
1:51 p.m. — Corral follows Marable’s runs with a quarterback run up the middle to get the first down at the Arlington 10-yard line. That brings the first quarter to an end with Birmingham threatening to score.
that’s our qb1!#UFL2024 | #GiddyUp 🐎pic.twitter.com/BJqmzKUb57
— B2B CHAMPIONSTALLIONS 🏆🏆 (@USFLStallions) March 30, 2024
.@corral_matt with the wheels! 👀 pic.twitter.com/Ls75ds1RpV
— B2B CHAMPIONSTALLIONS 🏆🏆 (@USFLStallions) March 30, 2024
1:50 p.m. — C.J. Marable is starting to get things going. The running back plunges up the middle for 14 yards and a second first down before gaining four on his next carry.
1:49 p.m. — Corral tosses an incompletion and runs for zero yards on the first two plays of Birmingham’s drive before finding Binjamin Victor for an 11-yard gain. That puts the Stallions in scoring range.
1:46 p.m. — The Stallions get the ball back after a kickoff and Deon Cain returns the ball to midfield. Birmingham will now look to answer Arlington’s score.
Score: Renegades 3, Stallions 0
1:44 p.m. — FIELD GOAL. After a false start knocked the Renegades back five yards, Luis Perez found Deontay Burnett for a three-yard gain. They settle for a field goal on fourth-and-3 and kicker Taylor Russolino nails a 38-yard kick to give the Renegades a 3-0 lead — and the UFL’s first-ever points.
The first points in UFL history belong to @tgrussolino 🙌 pic.twitter.com/v4zmQpBexY
— Arlington Renegades (@XFLRenegades) March 30, 2024
1:41 p.m. — Leddie Brown is starting to get Arlington’s running game going. He gains nine total yards on back-to-back carries to set up a third-and-1 opportunity for the Renegades.
1:39 p.m. — The Renegades continue to matriculate the ball down the field. Perez completes another pass to Deontay Burnett on a third-and-3 to convert another first down. The ball is on the Birmingham 26-yard line, so Arlington may get the game’s first points.
1:36 p.m. — Brock Huard interviewed Colorado coach Deion Sanders on the sideline between plays as he takes in the UFL opener. Here’s what he said he’s enjoying about the “hungry” players compete on the field.
“These young men are hungry, they’re thirsty… they can play man.”
Coach Prime is loving what he’s seeing in the UFL 💪 pic.twitter.com/XD6BOxzGKr
— UFL (@XFL2023) March 30, 2024
1:34 p.m. — A couple of Renegades runs go nowhere to start the game, but Perez feathers a downfield pass to Deontay Burnett for a nice game. That gives Arlington a first down, but offensive lineman Chris Owens — an Alabama product is down and receiving medical attention.
1:29 p.m. — INTERCEPTION. After a 2-yard run by C.J. Marable, Corral attempted a screen pass to Deon Cain. The big-bodied receiver couldn’t catch it and deflected it into the hands of waiting Arlington defender, Darren Evans. The Renegades take over just shy of midfield at the 41-yard line.
PICKED!@uknwdee gets us the ball back 😤 pic.twitter.com/hCaDQDk5Nr
— Arlington Renegades (@XFLRenegades) March 30, 2024
1:27 p.m. — Corral completes another pass to Sternberger on third down. He fires a laser in front of the Arlington defender to gain about 15 yards. The Stallions have the ball on the Renegades 42-yard line, first-and-10.
1:26 p.m. — Matt Corral’s first pass as a Stallion is a dump-off to Jace Sternberger. The tight end, who starred for Birmingham last year, runs for about 20 yards after the catch, giving the Stallions their first, first-down of 2024.
Jace Sternberger for 18 yards 👉 pic.twitter.com/P3twKn0j1j
— B2B CHAMPIONSTALLIONS 🏆🏆 (@USFLStallions) March 30, 2024
1:23 p.m. — FUMBLE. On third-and-3, Perez faded back to pass, but he was hit from behind by defensive tackle Carlos Davis while trying to throw. He fumbles the ball and Mark Gilbert picks it up, denying the Renegades a chance to score the UFL’s first points on their first possession.
— B2B CHAMPIONSTALLIONS 🏆🏆 (@USFLStallions) March 30, 2024
1:22 p.m. — The Renegades are now relying on De’Veon Smith to move the pile at running back. He gets a couple of carries for seven yards to set up a third-and-3.
1:20 p.m. — Luis Perez completes his first pass of the game to Tyler Vaughns. He comes back on the next play and completes a short one to Deontay Burnett for a first down!
1:18 p.m. — Arlington brought the kickoff back beyond midfield, and a facemask penalty on the Stallions gives the Renegades an extra 15 yards. Arlington and Luis Perez open the season from the Birmingham 33-yard line, already in scoring range.
45-yard kickoff return for @onee3_ to get things started! 😤#RaisinHell pic.twitter.com/NmYe17Ioq0
— Arlington Renegades (@XFLRenegades) March 30, 2024
1:17 p.m. — Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson just addressed the crowd and thanked the UFL fans for showing up in Arlington. Kickoff is now imminent, with the Renegades getting the ball first.
1:12 p.m. — The national anthem just finished. The two teams are getting ready to take the field now!
1 p.m. — It’s almost time for kickoff in Arlington. Tracy Morgan is introducing the UFL in its opening video as the song “Hooked on a Feeling” by Blue Swede blares over highlights of the league’s players.
12:50 p.m. — Deion Sanders is in attendance for the Stallions vs. Renegades game. He is in town to see his daughter, Shelomi Sanders, and the Colorado Buffaloes take on Caitlin Clark’s Iowa Hawkeyes in Sweet 16 action for the 2024 NCAA Tournament.
Coach Prime showing our guys some love pregame 🙌🔥 @DeionSanders pic.twitter.com/Jf3JUtPIeo
— Arlington Renegades (@XFLRenegades) March 30, 2024
12:30 p.m. — Spring-league veteran Luis Perez is getting ready to lead the Renegades into battle. The 29-year-old starred for the USFL’s New Jersey Generals in 2022 before jumping to the XFL with the Vegas Vipers in 2023. He eventually landed with the Renegades that season and helped Arlington peak at the right time to win the XFL title.
Luis Perez getting locked in ahead of kickoff 🔒@XFLRenegades pic.twitter.com/CXkZ0pz2qk
— UFL (@XFL2023) March 30, 2024
12:10 p.m. — For the third time in as many seasons, the Stallions are opening with a new starting quarterback. This year, former Ole Miss star Matt Corral will lead their offense, per James Larsen of Pro Football Network.
Confirmed: Matt Corral will be QB1 for the Birmingham Stallions in their #UFL Opener on Saturday.
Backing him up will be Adrian Martinez at the QB2 spot. J’Mar Smith will be inactive at QB3. The @USFLStallions are expected to utilize a 2-QB system against Arlington. pic.twitter.com/zu2Fmr3qYo
— James Larsen (@JamesLarsenPFN) March 29, 2024
Corral was a third-round pick by the Panthers in the 2022 NFL Draft and spent time with the Patriots after his release ahead of the 2023 NFL season. J’Mar Smith — who started Week 1 for the Stallions last year before being relegated to backup work behind league MVP Alex McGough — will be the third-string quarterback with former Kansas State quarterback Adrian Martinez backing up Corral.
Stallions vs. Renegades start time
Kickoff: 1 p.m. ET | 10 a.m. PT
The Birmingham Stallions and Arlington Renegades will meet at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday to open the 2024 UFL season. The teams will do battle at Choctaw Stadium in Arlington, Texas, which is set to be the main UFL hub for 2024.
What channel is Stallions vs. Renegades on today?
TV channel: Fox
Live stream: Fubo
The Stallions vs. Renegades game will air on Fox, which will carry both of Saturday’s UFL games. The contests can be streamed live using Fubo, which comes with a free trial. Cord-cutters and cable subscribers alike will be able to watch all UFL games during the 2024 season with Fubo.
UFL schedule Week 1
Saturday, March 30
Matchup
Time (ET)
TV/Live stream
Tickets
Birmingham Stallions at Arlington Renegades
1 p.m.
Fox, Fubo
Buy now
St. Louis Battlehawks at Michigan Panthers
4 p.m.
Fox, Fubo
Buy now
Sunday, March 31
Matchup
Time (ET)
TV/Live stream
Tickets
D.C. Defenders at San Antonio Brahmas
Noon
ESPN, Fubo
Buy now
Memphis Showboats at Houston Roughnecks
3 p.m.
ESPN, Fubo
Buy now
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