Just three weeks are remaining in the UFL‘s inaugural season. While both playoff contenders from the USFL Conference have been decided, the XFL Conference is wide open. Who faces off in the Week 8 UFL Schedule?
In Week 7, the St. Louis Battlehawks gave everything they had to take down Birmingham, but the Stallions remained undefeated. Meanwhile, the Michigan Panthers grabbed another win over the DC Defenders to secure a playoff berth.
The Defenders’ loss complicates their road to the postseason as the San Antonio Brahmas defeated the Houston Roughnecks, pushing them into a tie for first place with St. Louis. Will the Battlehawks punch their playoff ticket this week, or will the Defenders keep their hopes alive in their matchup?
Here are all the Week 8 UFL schedule matchups, including start times, channels, and more.
Who Goes Head-to-Head in the Week 8 UFL Schedule?
Week 8’s action starts in Detroit, as the Memphis Showboats head to Ford Field to take on the Michigan Panthers at 4 p.m. ET. Then, on Saturday night, the Houston Roughnecks head to Protective Stadium to take on the Birmingham Stallions.
Sunday’s UFL action starts at noon when the DC Defenders head to Gateway City to take on the St. Louis Battlehawks. Finally, the Week 8 games conclude with a showdown between the Arlington Renegades and San Antonio Brahmas in The Alamodome at 4 p.m. ET.
Here’s a look at the Week 8 UFL Schedule.
Memphis Showboats at Michigan Panthers
- Date: Saturday, May 18, 2024
- Start time: 4 p.m. ET
- Channel: Fox
Week 8 begins in Michigan as the Panthers host the Showboats for the second matchup of their season series. While the Panthers are looking ahead to the postseason, the Showboats are ready for their season to end. Officially eliminated from playoff contention, Memphis has gone winless since its Week 1 win.
The Panthers will continue to turn to the three-headed rushing monster of Matt Colburn, Marcus Simms, and Wes Hills. The dominance of the rushing attack has allowed Michigan some leeway with its QB situation. Danny Etling is still day-to-day with a hand injury. If he can’t go, expect another Bryce Perkins and Brian Lewerke combo.
The Panthers still have a chance to steal the first overall seed from the Stallions but will need some help from the rest of the league to have a chance. The Showboats can only play spoiler at this point.
Houston Roughnecks at Birmingham Stallions
- Date: Saturday, May 18, 2024
- Start time: 8 p.m. ET
- Channel: ESPN2
Saturday’s nightcap sees the Roughnecks taking on the undefeated Stallions in Birmingham.
The Roughnecks have been forced to shuffle QBs quite a bit. After Week 1 QB Jarrett Guarantano got the nod in Week 7, he was forced back out of the game after suffering another hand injury. Fans will likely see Reid Sinnett under center if Guarantano can’t play.
The Stallions enter Week 8 after taking down St. Louis in one of the season’s most thrilling games. Despite a challenge, Birmingham took down the red-hot Battlehawks on the arm and legs of quarterback Adrian Martinez. The Stallions finished with 358 yards of offense against Houston in Week 5. Can they repeat the performance?
DC Defenders at St. Louis Battlehawks
- Date: Sunday, May 19, 2024
- Start time: Noon ET
- Channel: ABC
Sunday’s Week 8 action starts at noon ET as the DC Defenders head to The Dome at America’s Center to take on the Battlehawks. This matchup is the only game this week with any real stakes on the line.
While the Defenders still have a path to a postseason berth, their chances are not likely. Meanwhile, the Battlehawks are tied for first place in the XFL Conference with the Brahmas.
While St. Louis had its five-game winning streak snapped, it was broken by the UFL’s best team. The Battlehawks need a win to secure a playoff berth, but they may not have QB AJ McCarron at their disposal.
McCarron took several massive hits against the Stallions and suffered an ankle injury. The Stallions will likely turn to Brandon Silvers or Manny Wilkins if McCarron can’t go.
Arlington Renegades at San Antonio Brahmas
- Date: Sunday, May 19, 2024
- Start time: 4 p.m. ET
- Channel: Fox
The final game of the Week 8 UFL Schedule sees the Renegades heading to San Antonio to take on the Brahmas at 4 p.m. ET.
The Renegades finally got their first win of the season over the Showboats last week, but any chance of a playoff berth ended long ago. However, the Brahmas, like the Battlehawks, are in win-and-in mode.
While his play has been disappointing lately, Brahmas HC Wade Phillips is riding with QB Quinten Dormady as the starter against the Renegades. They’ll continue to lean on RB John Lovett, who leads the UFL in rushing yards and has amassed the second-most rushing touchdowns (five).
The Renegades season has not gone as planned, but it’s not due to a lack of offense. QB Luis Perez continues to perform as one of the best signal-callers in the league. Can he put together more impressive performances to take down some playoff contenders?