Protective Stadium — Birmingham Stallions ended its 2025 season with a 7-4 record. (Pat Byington / Bham Now)

The Birmingham Stallions Championship title streak ended at 3 today, with a 44-29 loss to the Michigan Panthers.

For the first time since spring football returned to the Magic City in 2022, the Horsemen are not playing in a Championship game.

The old adage, it is difficult to win three games in a season against the same opponent proved true.

Slow start dooms Stallions

UFL Football — Birmingham Stallions lose to the Michigan Panthers 44-29. (Pat Byington / Bham Now)

The three-time champs started slowly spotting the felines from Detroit 14-0 by the middle of the 2nd quarter.

The game went back and forth from that point on. Stallions coach Skip Holtz even made a bold decision by benching starting QB JMar Smith after he threw a pick six that gave the Panthers a 21-6 lead.

Former Ole Miss QB Matt Corral came in and hit Stallions star WR Deon Cain for a 65 yard catch and run setting up a score to make the game 21-14 at halftime.

In the second half, it looked like the Panthers were about to put away the game when they jumped out to a 34-17 lead from a 75-yard TD pass from their QB Byrce Perkins to Malik Turner.

The Stallions mounted a furious comeback in the fourth quarter notching two TDs to bring the game within five points at 34-29. The Panthers then responded with a drive and TD of their own, putting the game of reach at 41-29. Before the two minute warning they added a field goal.

A challenging season

UFL — Birmingham Stallions Head Coach Skip Holtz. (Pat Byington / Bham Now)

At the post-game press conference Head Coach Skip Holtz told the media he was very proud of this team and what they overcame. The injury riddled 2025 edition of the Stallions played 5 different quarterbacks in 11 games.

“I’m as proud of this football team as any that I’ve had for what this team has had to overcome and endure to get to this point with the injuries.”
Stallions Head Coach Skip Holtz

The Stallions did win the USFL Conference outright. They ended the season with a 7-4 record.

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