UFL playoff preview 2024: Stallions lead title hopefuls - ESPN

Can anyone stop the Birmingham Stallions? That's the big question heading into the inaugural United Football League playoffs, as coach Skip Holtz & Co. are hoping to add another championship trophy to their list of accolades.

The Stallions (9-1) have been the spring football standard since their reboot in 2022, winning back-to-back USFL titles in 2022 and 2023. They've carried over that dominance to the UFL, compiling a 15-game win streak (dating to last year) at one point. The Stallions will host the Michigan Panthers (7-3), who fell one point short of upsetting Birmingham in Week 10, in the USFL Conference championship game on Saturday (3 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC).

The XFL Conference championship game takes the stage Sunday (7 p.m. ET, Fox), as quarterback AJ McCarron leads the St. Louis Battlehawks (7-3) against the San Antonio Brahmas (7-3) and ageless coach Wade Phillips. Should St. Louis prevail, it will be the de facto host for the UFL championship game on June 16 at The Dome at America's Center. The Battlehawks got hosting rights for Sunday's game with a season-ending win over the Brahmas.

Time: 3 p.m. ET, Saturday
Site: Protective Stadium, Birmingham, Alabama
TV: ESPN/ABC
Line: Stallions -5, O/U 43

The Stallions have been the UFL trendsetters, winning their first eight games before falling to San Antonio in Week 9. Birmingham's league-best offense has been boosted by All-UFL quarterback Adrian Martinez, who seized the starting role early in the year. Not only has Martinez been effective through the air (1,750 yards, 15 touchdown passes), but he also led the UFL with 528 rushing yards and scored three TDs on the ground.

• Standings
• Scores and schedule
• Uniforms for every team
• Logos, coaches and players to know
• How