Stallions Playoff picture comes into focus despite confusion from ufl

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - May 29, 2026

By Steve Irvine

The Birmingham Stallions learned this week that it will indeed take three steps this week to secure a spot in the upcoming UFL playoffs.

First things first, the Stallions (4-5) must win on Saturday afternoon in the regular season finale against the Houston Gamblers. The Stallions need help from outside on the other two steps. The DC Defenders (5-4) must beat the UFL leading Orlando Storm and the Columbus Aviators must pull off an upset over the Louisville Kings (5-4). Both of those games kick off on Sunday so the Stallions will be waiting for more than 24 hours once to find out their fate if they can beat Houston.

Until earlier this week, it appeared that a Birmingham win and a Louisville loss would be enough to get into the playoffs. However, on Tuesday the UFL released that Orlando, St. Louis and DC had already qualified for the playoffs, even though there could potentially be a three-way tie for the final two playoff spots. The first tiebreaker in a three-way tie is head-to-head competition between the teams. Louisville has two wins over DC and  a loss to Birmingham. The Stallions beat Louisville and lost to DC while the Defenders are 1-2 in that scenario. The UFL ruled that Louisville wins the three-way tiebreaker with a 2-1 record while DC gets the nod over Birmingham because of head-to-head competition.

AJ McCarron was asked during his weekly teleconference about getting any clarity about how the tiebreaker works. He paused for a moment before answering.

“Yeah, I'm gonna, we’ll see how this thing plays out,” McCarron said. “I'm just gonna stay quiet. I got a lot of people's futures in my hands and I'm not gonna say anything that takes a chance on anybody getting fired. So listen, whatever the league decides to do and how they do it, that's their choice and we'll roll with it. Might not always be happy about it, but listen, can't do anything at the same time. I put my hand up and take the blame. You know, had some losses of really close games. We've got to find a way to win those. So I'll take the blame, put it on me.”

No matter what, even if the tiebreaker format was changed from the beginning of the season, the Stallions certainly also need to look in the mirror if they miss the playoffs for the second time since the USFL and UFL came to Birmingham. The Stallions made the playoffs in two of the three seasons of the original USFL, which began in 1983, and are riding a four-season playoff streak since they returned in 2022. Obviously, that includes a pair of USFL championship rings in 2022 and 2023 and a UFL title in 2024.

Take care of business in early season losses to St. Louis and DC and hold on to the lead last week at Columbus and tiebreakers aren’t necessary to get Birmingham into the postseason.

“That’s where Coach AJ kind of just came in and told us, ‘Hey, we made our bed,’” said linebacker Kyahva Tezino. “That’s the way we made it. We can’t be (worrying) on the fact we lost. We had the whole situation in our favor but now this is the card that we’re dealt. So now, how are we going to make these cards a little bit better? I think it was a good job of how we all came in this week and rallied behind each other and just said, ‘Hey, if this is the last one, we’re gonna make it the best one.’ We’re gonna make it the fun one. We’re gonna go out here and win the game and at least finish strong. But if it isn’t (the last game) then this is a great way to start something to build off if we do get the opportunity in the playoffs.”

Having fun while getting work in has been part of the theme this week. The season has been a grind, partly because of the injuries that have changed the lineup weekly. McCarron said that 8 of the 11 players starting on offense in a second week loss to Houston are no longer with the team because of injuries or a trade. Nothing has come easily but McCarron said relish what could be their final opportunity as a team.

“Go have fun, go play,” McCarron said. “We don't know if this is our last week, but I told all my guys, I want them to have fun and play free. Like, don't worry about (anything). Just go have fun and play free. Enjoy the moment, it could be our last moment. We could keep going. But let's go have fun regardless. Play for each other and get a win.”