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 | 3 | 4 | Final | |
| Stallions | — | — | — | — | — |
| Renegades | — | — | — | — | — |
Stallions vs. Renegades live updates, highlights from XFL opener
(All times Eastern.)
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 |
