Steve Irvine’s Stallions Preview
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - March 26, 2026
By Steve Irvine
BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS AT LOUISVILLE KINGS
Kickoff time, site: 7 p.m. Lynn Family Stadium, Louisville, Ky.
TV: Fox
Records: Birmingham (0-0); Louisville (0-0)
Coaches: AJ McCarron (Birmingham); Chris Redman (Louisville).
THREE THINGS TO WATCH WHEN STALLIONS HAVE THE FOOTBALL
How will Matt Corral start the season? This is the second time in three seasons that Corral started the first game of the season for the Stallions. But Adrian Martinez eventually won the job and went on to win UFL MVP honors while leading the Stallions to the UFL championship. Corral won the starting job during training camp and is poised to lead the offense run by offensive coordinator Tyler Siskey and McCarron. The strong armed Ole Miss graduate is one of the UFL’s top quarterbacks. Samford graduate Michael Hiers is listed as the No. 2 quarterback for the Stallions.
Can the Stallions offensive line win in the trenches? On paper, the Stallions have a stout group up front with tackles Mason Brooks and Armani Taylor-Prioleau serving as anchors. Winning the line of scrimmage will let the playmakers do their work.
Will the Stallions feature the run or the pass? Obviously, doing both is the chosen method to attack the Louisville defense. But the point is that Birmingham appears to be equipped to win with a heavy dose of running but also have the best wide receiving corps in the UFL.
THREE THINGS TO WATCH WHEN THE KINGS HAVE THE FOOTBALL
Can the Stallions keep Jason Bean from having a Superman night? The athletic Bean is a playmaker with his legs and his arm. He also has played in a game since he was a senior at Kansas in 2023. Bean was with the Indianapolis Colts practice squad in 2024 but didn’t play last season.
Who will be the defensive playmakers for the Stallions? It starts with linebackers Kyahva Tezino and Tae Crowder but the Stallions are loaded at every level.
Can the Stallions take away the running game? Louisville running back Benny Snell rushed for 3,873 yards and 48 touchdowns in three seasons at Kentucky. He played 60 games over four seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Now, he’s back in Kentucky and ready to lead the running game.