Matt Corral leads Birmingham Stallions to UFL Championship berth

Once again, a Michigan team had a substantial lead in a conference championship game only to lose on the road. This time, the Michigan Panthers had an 18-3 lead in the first half, but ultimately fell to the Stallions in Birmingham with a final score of 31-18. The official attendance for the game was reported as 10,287 by Mike Mitchell of SI.com.

During the game, former NFL quarterback Matt Corral, who was picked by the Carolina Panthers in the third round of the 2022 draft, replaced likely UFL MVP Adrian Martinez with the score 18-12 and led the Stallions to victory. Corral’s initial performance didn’t look promising, as his second pass was intercepted and followed by a third-quarter full of turnovers. Despite the rocky start, Corral completed nine of 11 passes for 120 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception.

The outcome of the game raises questions about who will start next Sunday in St. Louis for the Stallions, Martinez or Corral. The Stallions have now secured their third championship berth since the USFL returned in 2022, winning both titles in the reconstituted league. With a 10-1 record, the Stallions will head to St. Louis in eight days for the upcoming game.