Steve Irvine’s Stallions vs STORM Preview

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - May 3, 2026

By Steve Irvine

BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS AT ORLANDO STORM

Kickoff day, kickoff time, site: Sunday, 3 p.m., Inter & Co Stadium, Orlando

TV: Fox

Records: Birmingham (1-4); Orlando (4-1)

Coaches: AJ McCarron (Birmingham); Anthony Becht (DC).

THREE THINGS TO WATCH WHEN STALLIONS HAVE THE FOOTBALL

1. Will the Orlando Storm’s familiarity with Dorian Thompson-Robinson limit the Stallions quarterback’s effectiveness? The Storm’s coaching staff certainly should know Thompson-Robinson’s capabilities. But the dual threat quarterback is running a different offense with different personnel than he was while practicing with the Storm during training camp and the first four weeks of the regular season. Thompson-Robinson played well in his Stallions debut, accounting for 354 yards in offense and three touchdowns. Now the task is doing that against a Storm defense that shut the Stallions out less than two weeks ago.

2. Can the Stallions offense finish their opportunities in this meeting with the Storm? Birmingham didn’t create a ton of scoring opportunities in the shutout loss to the Storm at Protective Stadium. But, truthfully, had enough opportunities to score enough to win the game. Finish those opportunities and the outcome could be different on Sunday.

3. Will the running game be a factor on Sunday? No UFL defense played better against the run the first half of the season than the Storm. Orlando allows 77 rushing yards per game and has allowed just three rushing touchdowns over the first five weeks. The Stallions have running back talent but are seventh in the UFL with 71 rushing yards per game. Perhaps the inclusion of a true running threat at quarterback can get the running game moving or maybe will take more of a commitment to that aspect of the offense. Louisville is the only UFL team with less rushing attempts than the 104 that Birmingham has in five games.    

THREE THINGS TO WATCH WHEN THE STORM HAS THE FOOTBALL

1. Will defensive communication problems lead to big plays for Orlando? Big yardage plays have been part of the problem for the Stallions secondary at times this season. Busted coverages played a critical role in last week’s loss to the DC Defenders. Orlando has one of the top chunk yardage threats in the UFL in KJ Hamler. He missed the first meeting between the two teams. If he plays on Sunday, then poor communication with turn into six points if Hamler gets the football in his hands.

2. What happens in the red zone? Orlando had just one touchdown in four red zone appearances when the teams played at Protective Stadium. The Stallions defensive effort in the red zone kept them in the game while the offense sputtered. For the season, the Stallions allow opponents to score touchdowns just 39 percent of the time while in the red zone.

3. Can the Stallions find a way to make turnovers hurt the Storm? Orlando rarely turns the ball over. Quarterback Jack Plummer has just one interception in 50 pass attempts. The Storm has lost just one fumble through the first five games. That type of ball protection is a big reason the Storm is 4-1. The Stallions have done a good job of creating takeaways with five interceptions and five fumble recoveries. Doing that on Sunday would be huge.