Steve Irvine’s Stallions Preview - Week 8
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - May 17, 2026
By Steve Irvine
COLUMBUS AVIATORS AT BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS
Kickoff day, kickoff time, site: Sunday, Noon, Protective Stadium
TV: FOX
Records: Birmingham (3-4); Columbus (2-5)
Coaches: AJ McCarron (Birmingham); Ted Ginn Jr. (Columbus).
THREE THINGS TO WATCH WHEN STALLIONS HAVE THE FOOTBALL
Will the Stallions rely on the running game to move the football? Offensive coordinator Tyler Siskey and head coach AJ McCarron have done what they can to create offensive balance. But it’s been the passing game that drives the Stallions offense through the first seven games. The Stallions average 224.4 yards per game through the air while throwing the ball 221 times and 75.5 yards per game on the ground while rushing it 153 times. On Sunday, though, they face a Columbus Aviators defense that is last in the UFL in rushing defense while allowing 122.4 yards per game and 13 rushing touchdowns. The Stallions talented running back trio of Anthony McFarland Jr, Tyrion Davis-Price and Snoop Conner might get a chance to do big things.
Can the Stallions play turnover free? The lone Birmingham turnover last week came on the second offensive snap. The week before the Stallions didn’t turn the ball over against Orlando. The Stallions won both of those games. Columbus is tied for last in the UFL in takeaways with one fumble recovery and four interceptions.
How many tackles will Columbus linebacker Tony Fields II have in Sunday’s game? Fields, a West Virginia, product has a UFL-high 54 tackles heading into this week’s games. He held a one-tackle lead over Birmingham linebackers Kyahva Tezino and Tae Crowder. Fields and Tezino have played in seven games while Crowder had his 1053 tackles in six games. Will there be a change at the top of the tackle leaders when the stats are updated on Monday?
THREE THINGS TO WATCH WHEN THE AVIATORS HAVE THE FOOTBALL
Can the Stallions defense limit the Columbus running success? No UFL team has run the ball better than the Aviators through the first seven weeks. The Aviators lead the lead with 138.9 rushing yards before game, partly because they commit to the run more than anybody else through the first seven games. Coming into this week, Columbus has 202 rushing attempts, which is the most in the UFL. Columbus has four players – John Lovett, former Birmingham Stallion Zaquandre White, quarterback Jalan McClendon and Toa Taua – in the top 10 individual rushers in the league. Birmingham is seventh in the league in rushing defense after allowing 106.9 yards per game.
Can the Aviators throw the ball if needed? Absolutely they can. Jalan McClendon is fourth in the UFL in passing. He’s completing 69.9 percent of his passes for 1,224 yards with eight touchdowns and four interceptions. Wide receiver Tay Martin is tied for second in the UFL in total catches with 35.
Will the timely defensive plays once again make a difference for Birmingham? The Stallions defense found a way to come up with big plays in each of the past two victories. It may be a timely sack or pass breakup. It may be a turnover or tackle on conversion down. Will that trend continue for a defense that has steadily improved.