Alt-Football Digest’s UFL Week Six Power Rankings
It’s getting to be crunch time as the second half of the UFL season is underway. Teams will spend the next few weeks jockeying for playoff position. But only four teams will make it. And how do they rank after week six? For this, we turn to UFL journalism’s answer to nuclear scientists. We gathered six voters in honor of week six:
-Anthony Miller
-John Lewis
-Mike Mitchell
-Sam Just
-Greg Parks
The collective rankings are based on a scoring system that awards eight points for a first place vote, seven for second, so on and so forth. The team’s ranking the previous week can be found in parenthesis after their current ranking. These will be updated each week throughout the regular season. Comments from the panel will follow each team’s place in the rankings.
The rankings after week one can be found here.
Please share your own Power Rankings and comments below!
(4) Michigan Panthers (37 points - highest rank: 1 - lowest rank: 4)
“Not since P.J. Walker has a spring football quarterback caught the attention of everyone. Bryce Perkins played out of his mind and proved why he is the clear cut most valuable player in the UFL. Michigan's defense was great against the Defenders' offense in the second half as they proved to be ready to overthrow the Stallions for the USFL Conference and UFL titles.” (AM)
“The Panthers offense is on fire, and no one is running on that defense. There’s no stronger team right now heading down the stretch.” (JL)
“Michigan has the best individual player and overall team in the UFL. Finally, Panthers head coach Mike Nolan gave full rein to Bryce Perkins, who put forth a kingly performance against D.C. at home in front of the team's largest crowd since its return to the spring and Michigan in 2023. The Panthers are in a prime position to take over the USFL conference, but they must prove it by finally surpassing the Stallions. The spring's biggest star in a long time, Perkins, has many believing they can.” (MM)
“The Panthers were always a talented team, but rolling with Bryce Perkins has taken their offense to new heights. They currently sit second in total offense with 2,016 yards; Perkins is responsible for 1,320 of them. Keep in mind Danny Etling has seen snaps in five games and started week one. Their rushing attack has been formidable as well. Michigan's defense may not flash statistically but they are one of the most talented units in the league. This is a winning formula, now if only they could get some more fan support to truly take advantage of their home stadium.” (SJ)
“The most consistent team week-in, and week-out. They’ve got the league’s best QB, the best offensive line, the best running game, and probably the best defense. They seem a little under the radar, but perhaps not for much longer.” (GP)
2 (T2). St. Louis Battlehawks (36 points - highest rank: 1 - lowest rank: 2)
“Two good performances in a row for Max Duggan show the Battlehawks are right back in the UFL title picture. The defense was spectacular against Arlington as they harassed Renegades quarterback Luis Perez all game. If Duggan can protect the football and continue to run for the yards he has, St. Louis should be in prime position to be in the title game in front of their home fans.” (AM)
“They can win with flair and they can win ugly AND they have the best special teams unit in the league. The Battlehawks need to avoid overlooking Memphis this week before that home showdown with Birmingham.” (JL)
“It wasn't pretty, but Anthony Becht's bunch got a much-needed victory, avenging a loss to Arlington last month. Being swept by the Renegades would've significantly damaged St. Louis's chances of winning the XFL conference and even making the playoffs. The Battlehawks control their destiny, but they must show more consistency with an offense led by Max Duggan to create a path to a title. St. Louis can't afford to slip up in the final four weeks of the regular season. Half of their remaining games are away from the Dome.” (MM)
“Not much has changed at the top. St. Louis continues to find ways to win, and even though they lost two quarterbacks to long-term injuries, Jacob Saylors continues to buoy this offense with over 500 scrimmage yards and six touchdowns in six games. The defense and special teams have been a large part of the winning and this could carry them all the way to an eventual championship berth.” (SJ)
“Max Duggan is experiencing the inconsistency you normally see with a young QB working on his reps in real time. St. Louis’s defense is good and getting Hakeem Butler back has opened things up. The hope for the Battlehawks is Duggan gets more comfortable as he gets more playing time.” (GP)
3. (5) Birmingham Stallions (29 points - highest rank: 3 - lowest rank: 4)
“Four quarterbacks have taken the field for Birmingham, but in typical Skip Holtz style, he finds ways to win. The Stallions defense doesn't get enough credit as the front four is among the best in the UFL. It helps to have one of the most reliable kickers in the league as well, in Harrison Mevis.”
“The Stallions defense is carrying the MASH unit that is the Birmingham quarterback room. Skip Holtz keeps finding ways to get W’s.” (JL)
“At the going rate, Skip Holtz might be down to options E, F, and G at quarterback. It's a good thing that the Stallions' defense has been playing at an A level. The strength of Birmingham's team once again stymied a sluggish San Antonio offense, after blanking them in last year's UFL title game. The next three weeks are pivotal for Birmingham as they face off with a resurgent Roughnecks squad, before a trip to St. Louis, followed by an ultra-important game with Michigan in week nine. The Stallions' championship mettle will be tested. The team's offensive line must play better down the stretch to return to a fourth straight championship game, or at the bare minimum, keep Birmingham's QB room out of body casts.” (MM)
“I am becoming more and more convinced Skip Holtz belongs in the NFL as a head coach. He just continues to find ways to win despite injuries to key positions on a near weekly basis. This includes having carried six different quarterbacks with four players seeing the field. His coaching staff, his roster and even his front office have seen changes every season, but the result stays the same: the Stallions just keep winning. With Alex McGough coming back, they should hit their stride down the stretch.” (SJ)
“Somehow, the Stallions keep winning despite being on their third and fourth quarterback of the year. Their front four annihilated San Antonio’s offense line and run game. Never count out Skip Holtz and his gang.” (GP)
4. (1) D.C. Defenders (28 points - highest rank: 2 - lowest rank: 4)
“What was once a strength of the team turned into what looked like a video game simulation with D.C.'s defense struggling to contain Perkins. Missed tackle after missed tackle was tough to watch for a unit that had been so good all season. The offense stalled out late in the game, and the Defenders just couldn't get enough big plays. That shouldn't stop people from believing this is a playoff team.” (AM)
“Despite getting crushed at Michigan, the Defenders are still one of the best in the XFL Conference. They might take out some frustration on San Antonio this week.” (JL)
“The Defenders haven't been doing much defending the last few weeks. Blake Williams's defense has been doing a lot of bending, but on Sunday against the UFL's most dynamic player, Bryce Perkins, they finally broke. It wasn't just the defense that faltered. D.C.'s offense had a chance early on to set the tone but failed to convert in crucial situations. The team's reliance on the big play offensively and defensively caught up with them in week six. The Defenders' inability to get off the field defensively and sustain drives offensively with a non-existent ground attack could lead to the team's ultimate downfall. Entering week seven, it's challenging to foresee D.C. suddenly flipping the switch and overcoming their deficiencies. They might get to the playoffs by default, but D.C. doesn't look like a championship-worthy team. They got exposed against Michigan.” (MM)
“The chaos within the coaching staff this season has not slowed the D.C. Defenders. In fact, questions about how they would respond have since been replaced by those asking if Shannon Harris should be given the full-time position (assuming he foregoes joining Tennessee State). It certainly does not hurt that the Defenders have one of the top quarterbacks outside the NFL in Jordan Ta'amu, and one of the best rushing attacks in the league. However, it’s been the defense that has at times carried this team to victory. They are second in sacks,and turnovers, and lead the league in tackles for a loss. If the defense continues to force turnovers and punts this team should be one of the last two standing.” (SJ)
“Was D.C.’s strong defense to start the season a product of weak offensive play, or has the team really fallen off a cliff in that regard? The tackling against Michigan was terrible. They’re not going to win many more games if they can’t get players to the ground. Offensively, Jordan Ta’amu continues to push the ball down the field and Deon Jackson may have taken over the lead back job from Abram Smith.” (GP)
5. (T2) Arlington Renegades (19 points - highest rank: 5 - lowest rank: 6)
“The offensive struggles of the Renegades are head-scratching at best, as the weapons are there to succeed, but the constant offensive penalties have killed Arlington. The good news is the defense got back on track, holding the Battlehawks to just 12 points. It's a shame that their offense can't help them out right now.” (AM)
“The Renegades’ loss at St. Louis was a big step back for a team that looked as if it would challenge for a spot in the playoffs. Arlington is not out of it yet, but they can’t afford to be their own worst enemy with penalties and turnovers.” (JL)
“This was another one-score loss for an Arlington team that has made a habit of finding ways to lose games in pivotal moments the last two seasons. The Renegades are now 1-6 in games decided by one score since last season. Bob Stoops's team had a chance to steal one in St. Louis; had they done so, the Renegades would've put themselves two games ahead of the Battlehawks after sweeping them with four weeks left to play. Instead, Arlington is on the outside looking in with two crucial season-deciding games coming up against Michigan and DC.” (MM)
“Arlington has slipped three spots for me given the way they have lost winnable games to the Defenders and Battlehawks. They have also failed to score over 12 points on offense three times this season. With one of the most veteran staffs and rosters, expectations are reasonably high for the team but they have fallen short on several occasions this season. They need to find a way to produce more explosive plays on offense, even if it means incorporating more packages for Luke Lehnen, who can add a run threat at quarterback.” (SJ)
“Will the real Arlington Renegades please stand up? More so than perhaps any team, Arlington is the hardest to get a read on. Their offense and defense seem to ebb-and-flow week to week. They now find themselves a game out of a playoff spot in the XFL Conference with just four weeks remaining.” (GP)
6. (6) Houston Roughnecks (16 points - highest rank: 5 - lowest rank: 6)
“I did not have the Roughnecks going 3-3 to start the season on my bingo card. Quarterback Jalan McClendon continues to shine in this offense, and head coach Curtis Johnson has proven the doubters wrong by winning three of their last four games. It is worth noting, though, that the three wins are against the two worst teams in the UFL, so don't read too much into it.” (AM)
“The Roughnecks defense is the story so far with an incredible turnaround. The question is: Can they sustain this for the rest of the season? I’m not hopeful with a remaining schedule that includes Birmingham, D.C. and two match-ups with Michigan.” (JL)
“If it weren't for Bryce Perkins, Jalan McClendon would be the quarterback garnering the most praise in this UFL season. McClendon, a designated third-string quarterback since his journey into spring pro football started in 2020, showed briefly in Vegas two years ago and certainly now in Houston that he deserves QB1 status. The Roughnecks, winners of three of their last four, are relevant again, thanks to McClendon's stabilization of the team's offense, improved line play helmed by veteran Tom Cable, and a steady defense. It's been a fun turnaround story for Houston after being the league's laughingstock. But it could all come crashing down in the last four weeks of the regular season. No team has a rougher road ahead than the Roughnecks in May: They play at Birmingham in a pivotal game this weekend with playoff ramifications, then square off with Michigan twice in three weeks, with a home game against D.C. sandwiched in between. As a result, the flavor of the moment could get stale quickly.” (MM)
“Houston has been trending upwards since inserting Jalan McClendon at quarterback. Houston was my bottom team prior to the season and remained there for the first three weeks of the year. However once they inserted McClendon everything changed. He has so far been the most efficient passer, finding ways to extend drives without having to take big risks. In the three games that he did not appear, Houston managed just 33 points and never topped 18 in a single game. Since he took over, the team has scored 64 points in basically two and three quarters of games. Scoring output has nearly doubled.” (SJ)
“Make that three win in their last four games for Curtis’s Johnson’s squad, even if two of those wins have come against Memphis. The Roughnecks have largely eliminated a lot of the errors that plagued them last year and early this season, but make no mistake, QB Jalan McClendon has energized this offense and brought a lot to the table since taking over at QB.” (GP)
7. (7) Memphis Showboats (10 points)
All five voters had Memphis seventh.
“The Showboats made things enjoyable against Houston and have shown that Dresser Winn should be the quarterback, but his two turnovers and a lack of efficiency near the red zone doomed Memphis in a one-point loss on Saturday. Memphis has shown signs of improvement as the defense keeps the team in games, but the changes made were too little, too late for the Showboats.” (AM)
“You have to wonder what would have been if Dresser Winn and Wes Hills had both been on the field the whole season.” (JL)
“The Showboats have shown up the last two weeks, but their narrow loss to Houston in Week 6 eliminated any hope of a potential late-season turnaround with Dresser Winn at quarterback. Memphis's offense under Winn has been competent, but the defense hasn't done enough to get Memphis out of cellar status. The most meaningful game for Memphis might be its showdown with San Antonio in Week 9, which could determine who picks first in all off-season UFL drafts, provided that the UFL's potential new expansion teams in 2026 don't get carte blanche. Otherwise, it's essentially spoiler mode for the Showboats in May.” (MM)
“The Memphis Showboats lost four straight to open the season, scoring 12 points or less in three of those games. Then came a 24-20 win in week five over my #3 team. The following week they lost 21-20 to a Houston team that seems to be headed in the right direction. Those games had one major change in common: Dresser Winn. Memphis seems to have found their quarterback in Winn after putting up 469 total yards in 2 games. Things would only get better if they can find a consistent rushing attack. Currently they are holding down the lowest rushing total as a team. The defense also needs to step up and start taking the ball away. They are last in turnovers as well. If Memphis can keep Winn hot, and find even minor improvements in these areas, they could climb these rankings quickly.” (SJ)
“Another hard-luck loss for the Showboats to the Roughnecks. The team is playing well, only to have little to show for it. Dresser Winn has made Memphis more competitive, though there’s still work to do on defense. The difference in the game was the scoop-and-score by Houston’s defense.” (GP)
8. (8) San Antonio Brahmas (5 points)
All five voters had San Antonio in eighth.
“Another poor showing by the Brahmas' offense, as Kevin Hogan, the starting quarterback, didn't spark much. It's a shame since interim head coach Payton Pardee is so easy to root for, but a lack of offense and the continuous struggles of the defense have almost knocked San Antonio out of playoff contention.” (AM)
“The Fiesta San Antonio ended last week, as did the Brahmas’ season.” (JL)
“The Brahmas' exciting week four victory in DC over the then-unbeaten Defenders feels like a mirage. It might be the last time San Antonio wins a game this season. It's been a challenging road for the Brahmas since they were blanked in the UFL championship game last year. The Brahmas fell apart in that game, bickering on the sidelines with player efforts in question. Then came the turbulence of 2025, offensive coordinator A.J. Smith parting ways with the team, then the legendary Wade Phillips's unfortunate exit due to health concerns. Payton Pardee has valiantly tried to hold it all together, but unlike the Defenders, who also lost key staff members, he's had to shoulder too much of the burden. Pardee is the team's head coach, offensive coordinator, and special teams coach. The Brahmas' defense is not what it was a year ago with Phillips, and the team's offense, despite having an impressive group of playmakers, hasn't produced. You lose your best mind on defense and offense, and what you get after six games is a 1-5 record.” (MM)
“For as much as D.C. has weathered the storm, San Antonio has looked lost with all of the staff changes. Peyton Pardee went from calling an offense at the professional level for the first time to being a head coach for the first time in the span of a week, and it has not been pretty. Then they attempted to bring coaches in midseason, and it looked like they had found a spark...at first. After a 24-18 victory over D.C., they have since lost both games by double digits, scoring just three points in each game. This team looks like it needs a bottom to top rebuild to be competitive at this point.” (SJ)
“The Brahmas have been struck by bad luck all season, capped off by Jontre Kirklin’s wide-open drop before halftime that could’ve changed the trajectory of the game against Birmingham. Alas, it was more of the same from the Brahmas’ stagnating offense, which has failed to kick into gear for two full games now. It appears as it’s simply been too much, too soon for interim head coach Payton Pardee. Even worse: They still have three home games left on the schedule. We’ll see who shows up for those.” (GP)