It's no secret that football MVP awards are mostly synonymous with the quarterback position.
Just look at the NFL, where a quarterback has been named the MVP in 12 straight seasons. How about the Heisman Memorial Trophy? Same story, as 12 of the past 15 recipients have been signal-callers. Even in spring football, where KaVontae Turpin was named MVP of the 2022 USFL season, then it was a pair of quarterbacks – Alex McGough (USFL) and Adrian Martinez (UFL) – who took home MVP honors after that.
Perhaps this is the year when we buck the trend, as the top standout performances in Week 1 of the 2025 UFL season belonged to the running backs. Jacob Saylors, Kalen Ballage and Jarveon Howard all had big rushing outputs in season-opening wins, but who sits atop the MVP ladder?
Here's a look at my first UFL MVP power rankings of the season:
[MORE: What is the UFL? Everything to know about the 2025 United Football League ]
5. Arlington Renegades QB Luis Perez
Week 1 stat line: 20 of 25 passing for 164 yards
Week 1 result: 33-9 win against San Antonio
No quarterback has more consistently shown himself capable of winning in spring professional football leagues in the United States than Perez, who was characteristically meticulous and mature behind center, even in Week 1.
Perez, who operates the offense like co-offensive coordinator Chuck Long, showed he was attuned to all aspects of the offense. Even while the running back room took center stage in the win, Perez quietly completed 20 of 25 passes for 164 yards.
The former Division II national champion is one of just two QBs in the UFL to lead his team to a league championship, and Arlington looks ready to mount a run at winning its first UFL title. (Alex McGough led
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