Steve Irvine’s Stallions Preview - Week 9
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - May 23, 2026
By Steve Irvine
BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS AT COLUMBUS AVIATORS
Kickoff day, kickoff time, site: Saturday, 2 p.m., Historic Crew Stadium
TV: ABC
Records: Birmingham (4-4); Columbus (2-6)
Coaches: AJ McCarron (Birmingham); Ted Ginn Jr. (Columbus).
THREE THINGS TO WATCH WHEN STALLIONS HAVE THE FOOTBALL
Will the Aviators change the way they defend the Stallions offense? Stallions head coach AJ McCarron said in last week’s game the Aviators showed some different defensive coverages than they had used most of the season. Perhaps that contributed to an offense that produced just seven points. This time, though, there probably won’t be any secrets for teams playing each other for the second time in six days.
Can the Stallions play turnover free? Birmingham has just one turnover in each of the past two games. But the Stallions have also won the turnover battle in each of those games. Both of the turnovers were interceptions thrown by Dorian Thompson-Robinson and both came early in the game.
Can the Stallions find a way to run the football? Birmingham managed just 49 yards on 20 carries with a long rush of seven yards in last week’s win over the Aviators. The patchwork offensive line, which lost center Andrew Raym and guard Tyrese Robinson last week, needs to find some room for Tyrion Davis-Price and Snoop Conner to operate. Doing that would take some pressure of quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson and the running game.
THREE THINGS TO WATCH WHEN THE AVIATORS HAVE THE FOOTBALL
Can the Stallions defense limit the Columbus running success once again? The Stallions made the Aviators running game look pedestrian. Columbus managed 61 yards on 25 carries and didn’t have a rushing play longer than nine yards. They came into last week’s game as the leading rusher team in the UFL and left as second best in that category. Look for Columbus to try to establish the running game again on Saturday. Stopping them from doing that would be huge for the Stallions defense.
Will Jalen Morton get the start at quarterback for Columbus? Morton, who is a former Stallion, is listed as the No. 1 quarterback on the flip card. However, UFL teams haven’t also provided an accurate depth chart for the flip card. While it wouldn’t be surprising to see Morton get a chance to provide a spark, starter Jalan McClendon has not been terrible. Morton played sparingly against the Stallions last week. He rushed for 11 yards on two carries and did not attempt a pass.
Who will make the big defensive plays for the Stallions? Last week, it was linebacker Tae Crowder and cornerback Steven Gilmore coming up with interceptions. But that was just the start of big plays by a defense that sacked the quarterback five times and had 10 tackles for loss. That type of timely play making would make it difficult on the Columbus offense once again.