UFL Week 3 power rankings: Panthers make big jump; Stallions remain No. 1

The UFL’s onside kick alternative is working.

In fact, a team has overcome a double-digit deficit inside the final three minutes of a game for the second time in two weeks because of it. Following a touchdown in the fourth quarter of a game when the other team is trailing, the scoring team can opt to go for a fourth-and-12 scrimmage play from the minus 28-yard line to retain possession of the ball rather than attempting an onside kick.

The rule has made the last four minutes of a UFL game truly exciting in a sport where teams that hold the lead during that time routinely sit on the ball and run out the clock — and teams that are trailing need a series of unlikely events to occur for them to feel they can win a game that they're behind by two scores late in the contest.

Just 5% of onside kicks are recovered in the NFL. A fourth-and-20 alternative was considered before ultimately being nixed by NFL rules makers this year. However, since the NFL has adopted the XFL’s rule for kickoffs, there’s hope that the NFL will see the success of the UFL’s onside kick alternative as an exciting pop at the end of regulation football games.

Meanwhile, UFL kickers are continuing to crush it.

Michigan Panthers kicker Jake Bates has become a breakout star with two made field goals of 62 yards or more through Week 3. He's perfect (5 of 5) on the season, and the rest of the league's place kickers are also performing very well.

Seven kickers have combined to make 39 of 43 (90.1%) field goals. What's more, they went 18 for 18 through the first 11 games this season. DC Defenders kicker Matt McCrane has made three field goals of 50 yards or more with a long of 58, followed by the Memphis Showboats' Matt Coghlin, who has made two field goals of 50