Week 8 of the United Football League‘s 2025 season set the matchups for the conference-championship games with two weekends still left in the regular season, and the league set where those games will be played.

In the UFL’s Week 8 games:

• With 160 yards of offense, the Memphis Showboats scored a 24-22 overtime victory against the San Antonio Brahmas on Friday night. In a matchup of one-win teams, Memphis quarterback Troy Williams was 5-of-11 for 36 yards, but he completed a 2-point conversion pass after the game’s first touchdown – a 43-yard interception return by cornerback Cameron Dantzler – and two 2-pointers in overtime. Brahmas running back Jashaun Corbin rushed for 143 yards and one touchdown on 25 carries, but San Antonio quarterback Kevin Hogan threw three interceptions.
• St. Louis running back Jacob Saylors rushed for 118 yards, including a 1-yard touchdown plunge and a 1-point conversion run with 3:03 remaining to set the final score, in the Battlehawks’ 29-28 victory over the Birmingham Stallions on Saturday. St. Louis overcame touchdown passes by Birmingham quarterback J’Mar Smith of 65 and 50 yards to Deon Cain and 47 yards to Cade Johnson. Battlehawks linebacker Callahan O’Reilly returned an interception 18 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter, and the Stallions lost a fumble at the St. Louis 38-yard line with 16 seconds to play.
• Houston quarterback Jalan McClendon threw for 316 yards and two touchdowns, but the Roughnecks lost to the Michigan Panthers 30-18 on Saturday. Starting for Bryce Perkins, Panthers QB Danny Etling threw three touchdown passes. Michigan came up with an interception, fumble recovery and two fourth-down stops in the second half, and the Panthers wide receiver Xavier Malone returned a punt 88 yards to the Houston 1-yard line.
• Cornerback Deandre Baker intercepted a pass at the DC 30-yard line on the game’s final play to seal the Defenders’ 33-30 victory over the Arlington Renegades on Sunday. Arlington QB Luis Perez threw for 350 yards and two touchdowns before the interception. DC quarterback Jordan Ta’amu threw for 240 yards and two touchdowns and caught a TD pass from wide receiver Chris Rowland. Running back Deon Jackson started the Defenders’ scoring with a 57-yard touchdown run.

The top two finishers in each conference will play in the postseason semifinals, with the winners of those games advancing to the UFL Championship Game on June 14 at the Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis.

Michigan’s victory sealed the postseason fate for three teams. It clinched playoff spots for the Panthers and the Stallions and eliminated the Roughnecks. Houston still could finish tied with Birmingham in the final standings, but the Stallions swept the two-game season series with the Roughnecks.

While Michigan has a one-game lead on Birmingham with two games to play, the Stallions are going to host the USFL Championship Game regardless of what happens during the next two weekends. The UFL announced on Saturday that the conference-title contest would be held at Protective Stadium on June 8 in Birmingham because of a scheduling conflict at the Panthers’ Ford Field.

DC and St. Louis are tied at the top of the XFL Conference at 6-2. The teams are scheduled to square off on May 30 in their regular-season finale. The Defenders defeated the Battlehawks 27-15 on April 15.

But none of that will determine where the XFL Conference Championship Game will be played. The UFL announced on Sunday that the XFL half of the league’s playoff bracket would be played on June 8 at the Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis because of a scheduling conflict at the Defenders’ Audi Field.

Nineteen players from Alabama high schools and colleges got on the field during Week 8 games:

Memphis Showboats 24, San Antonio Brahmas 22 (OT)

Dee Anderson (Alabama A&M) started at wide receiver for the Brahmas against the team that traded him to San Antonio during earlier this month. Anderson caught a 38-yard touchdown pass thrown by tight end Steven Stilianos as San Antonio cut Memphis’ lead to 11-6 with 3:52 left in the first half.

Isaiah Buggs (Alabama) started at defensive tackle for the Brahmas. Buggs made two tackles and recorded one sack.

Eric Garror (McGill-Toolen) started at cornerback for the Showboats. Garror made two tackles, broke up one pass and returned two punts for 46 yards.

Showboats wide receiver Eli Stove (Auburn) did not record any stats.

Showboats tight end Jay Jay Wilson (Auburn) had a 14-yard reception, lost a fumble and made two tackles.

St. Louis Battlehawks 29, Birmingham Stallions 28

Deonte Brown (Austin, Alabama) started at right guard for the Stallions.

Stallions cornerback Shyheim Carter (Alabama) did not record any stats.

Stallions long snapper William Mote (Spain Park) handled the snaps for four punts and three field goals.

Stallions guard Lachavious Simmons (Selma) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.

Stallions wide receiver Marlon Williams (McGill-Toolen) had two receptions for 24 yards, returned two kickoffs for 43 yards and made one tackle.

Michigan Panthers 30, Houston Roughnecks 18

Roughnecks middle linebacker Christopher Allen (Alabama) made two tackles.

Panthers offensive tackle Cam Carter (Minor) did not record any stats.

Panthers outside linebacker De’Gabriel Floyd (Alabama A&M) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.

Roughnecks cornerback Keenan Isaac (Midfield, Alabama State) was designated as a game-day inactive because of a shoulder injury.

Roughnecks center Avery Jones (Auburn) did not record any stats.

Garrett Marino (UAB) started at defensive tackle for the Panthers. Marino made five tackles and recorded one tackle for loss.

Roughnecks punter Mike Rivers (Troy) had a 48-yard punt returned 88 yards to the Houston 1-yard line.

Panthers defensive tackle Taylor Stallworth (Murphy) made two tackles.

DC Defenders 33, Arlington Renegades 30

Defenders long snapper/tight end Trae Barry (Spanish Fort, Jacksonville State) handled the snaps for four punts.

Defenders guard Gunner Britton (Auburn) did not record any stats.

Sal Cannella (Auburn) started at tight end for the Renegades. Cannella caught six passes for 64 yards and scored on a 1-point conversion reception with 3:54 remaining.

Tykeem Doss (Aliceville) started at left guard for the Defenders.

Defenders wide receiver Seth Williams (Paul Bryant, Auburn) was designated as a game-day inactive. Williams signed with DC on Tuesday.

In Week 9 of the UFL season (with all times Central):

• The Battlehawks (6-2) and Brahmas (1-7) play at 7 p.m. Friday at the Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis. FOX will televise the game.
• The Renegades (3-5) and Showboats (2-6) play at 11 a.m. Saturday at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee. ABC will televise the game.
• The Panthers (6-2) and Stallions (5-3) play at 2 p.m. Saturday at Protective Stadium in Birmingham. ABC will televise the game.
• The Defenders (6-2) and Roughnecks (3-5) play at 3 p.m. Sunday at TDECU Stadium in Houston. FOX will televise the game.

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.