2026 UFL Week 3 Results: Battlehawks, Renegades, Defenders, Storm Win Big
Week 3 of the 2026 UFL season kicked off on FOX UFL Friday with the Orlando Storm (3-0) outlasting the Louisville Kings (0-3) in overtime in a wild, heated rematch at Lynn Family Stadium in Kentucky. On Saturday, the reigning champion DC Defenders (2-1) crushed the Houston Gamblers (1-2) by 38 points — the largest margin of victory in UFL history — at Audi Field in Washington, D.C. on Saturday. The week wrapped with a doubleheader on Sunday. First, the Dallas Renegades (3-0) outlasted the Columbus Aviators (0-3) at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. Then, the St. Louis Battlehawks (2-1) escaped the Birmingham Stallions (1-2) at The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis. Here are the results from Week 3: Orlando Storm 29, Louisville Kings 27 (OT) Key players: Storm QB Jack Plummer (21-for-34 for 250 yards, three touchdowns), WR Chris Rowland (9-for-13 for 113 yards, one touchdown), WR KJ Hamler (3-for-5 for 74 yards, one touchdown); Kings QB Jason Bean (23-for-46 for 352 yards, three touchdowns), WR Isaiah Winstead (7-for-14 for 114 yards), TE Zach Davidson (4-for-5 for 79 yards, two touchdowns). Game recap: The Storm took nearly eight minutes off the clock on their opening drive, which ended with a missed field goal and no points. The Kings capitalized, going on a lengthy drive of their own to get a field goal and take a 3-0 first-quarter lead. Orlando bounced back early in the second quarter, cashing in for a touchdown on its ensuing possession. Just like that, the Storm was in the lead, 7-3. Both teams traded field goals later in the frame to keep it a four-point game heading into halftime, 10-6. The second half was much different than the first for both teams. Five touchdowns were scored across the final two frames, including three in the third quarter — one for Orlando and two for Louisville. Both quarterbacks were letting it fly, and the Kings carried a narrow 20-17 advantage into the fourth quarter. That lead was short-lived, however, as the Storm nailed a field goal from 40 yards out to knot things up. What came next was a costly turnover on downs for the Kings, who gave the ball back to the Storm at midfield with plenty of time on the clock. Plummer & Co. didn’t waste any time, going 52 yards in three plays to hit pay dirt and take a 27-20 lead. The action didn’t stop there. Louisville kept things competitive all the way to the end. With 1:12 left in regulation, the Kings scored to tie the game at 27-all and send things to overtime. The OT rules in the UFL are unique. Teams alternate two-point conversion attempts from the 5-yard line, with each successful conversion worth two points. If things are still tied after three attempts, which was the case in Friday’s tilt, both teams will continue to alternate in a sudden-death round until there’s a winner. The Storm ultimately won the game after being awarded two points for a penalty committed by the Kings. Because it was the second defensive foul by Louisville during the overtime period, the Storm’s try was deemed good, and Orlando walked away victorious. This rule is in place to discourage defenses from continuing to foul the other team on purpose to prevent scores in overtime, and the second live-ball foul by the same team during OT results in a good try for the other team. Up next: In Week 4, the Storm are on the road once again, this time to play the Stallions in Birmingham next Saturday. Meanwhile, the Kings will also be on the road, with a matchup against the Gamblers on deck for them Thursday night. DC Defenders 45, Houston Gamblers 7 Key players: Defenders QB Jordan Ta’amu (15-for-27 for 173 yards, one touchdown), RB Deon Jackson (five carries for 70 yards, one touchdown), K Matt McCrane (3-for-3, long of 60); Gamblers QB Taulia Tagovailoa (21-for-40 for 171 yards, one touchdown), WR Justin Hall (9-for-13 for 69 yards, one touchdown). Game recap: The Gamblers went three-and-out on all three of their first-quarter possessions. That opened up a huge opportunity for the Defenders to take over, and that’s exactly what they did. DC’s first touchdown drive only took two plays, as Jackson took off for a monster 60-yard score to set the tone early. The Defenders added a field goal on their next drive to take an 11-0 lead into the second quarter; McCrane’s kick was from 60 yards out, and any field goal from 60 yards or further is worth four points this season. Adding insult to injury, all three of the Gamblers’ possessions in the second quarter ended in turnovers — a fumble, a pick-six and a turnover on downs inside the red zone. The Defenders added another field goal and two touchdowns in the second frame to make it a 28-0 game at halftime. The start of the second half was a bit quiet for DC. It added another field goal to open the third quarter and punted on its ensuing possession. In between those two drives, the Gamblers finally got on the board with a short touchdown run to end the shutout, 31-7. The Defenders came out swinging in the final frame, starting with back-to-back touchdowns to further extend their lead, while the Gamblers had four consecutive turnovers on downs to seal their fate, 45-7. The Defenders made UFL history with the largest margin of victory (38 points). Saturday’s tilt also marks just the second time this season that a team has been held to single digits (the Kings were held to nine points in Week 2). Up next: In Week 4, the Gamblers will be playing host to the Kings on Thursday night, while the Defenders will be hosting the Battlehawks on Saturday afternoon. Dallas Renegades 28, Columbus Aviators 23 Key players: Aviators QB Jalan McClendon (26-for-34 for 230 yards, two touchdowns), WR Tay Martin (5-for-6 for 49 yards), WR Antwane Wells (4-for-6 for 43 yards, one touchdown); Renegades QB Austin Reed (18-for-30 for 147 yards, two touchdowns), WR Tyler Vaughns (5-for-6 for 41 yards), RB Dae Dae Hunter (11 carries for 62 yards, one touchdown). Game recap: The Aviators opened the game by going on an eight-play, 60-yard touchdown drive to get on the board early and take a 7-0 lead right out of the gate. The Renegades struggled to a find a rhythm in the opening frame, but they were able to turn the tide in the second quarter. Dallas cashed in for a score to open the frame to make it 7-all. Columbus fired back with a field goal to regain the lead, 10-7, but it was short-lived. A costly pick-six inside the two-minute warning, followed by a turnover on downs in the Aviators’ ensuing possession, put the Renegades back in front headed into halftime with plenty of momentum on their side. The second half started off with a bang. The Renegades rattled off back-to-back touchdowns to jump out to an 18-point lead, 28-10. The Aviators closed the gap slightly — 28-17 — with a score of their own late in the frame. Columbus wasn’t going down without a fight, though. The Aviators fought tooth and nail in the fourth quarter, finally finding the end zone with 2:05 left in regulation. That score made it a five-point game, 28-23. The Aviators kept the ball after that, thanks to a unique UFL rule that is specifically designed to enhance offensive opportunities in the fourth quarter. For teams trailing late that want to retain possession of the ball, they can elect to try a fourth-and-12 play from their own 28-yard line to do so in lieu of a traditional onside kick. Columbus’ attempt was unsuccessful, however, resulting in a turnover on downs at that spot. From there, Dallas ran out the clock to secure the win. Up next: In Week 4, these two teams will face off once again Friday night on FOX, with the Aviators hosting this time. St. Louis Battlehawks 34, Birmingham Stallions 30 Key players: Battlehawks QB Harrison Frost (9-for-15 for 148 yards, three touchdowns), WR Hakeem Butler (4-for-8 for 146 yards, one touchdown); Stallions QB Matt Corral (16-for-33 for 252 yards, two touchdowns), WR Deon Cain (3-for-8 for 116 yards, one touchdown), RB Anthony McFarland Jr. (13 carries for 56 yards, one touchdown). Game recap: The Stallions got off to a rocky start, throwing a pick-six on their first drive to give the Battlehawks an early 7-0 lead. Another interception thrown late in the frame allowed St. Louis to add a field goal and take a 10-0 lead. Birmingham got on the board midway through the second quarter after a costly Battlehawks interception gave the Stallions the ball just outside the red zone. Just like that, it was a three-point game, 10-7. Unfortunately for the Stallions, however, they coughed up the ball once again, this time allowing the Battlehawks to add another field goal just before halftime. With that, St. Louis took a 13-7 lead into the break. Birmingham came out strong in the second half. First, the Stallions added a field goal early in the third quarter to pull within three, 13-10. Then, the Battlehawks had back-to-back turnovers that resulted in two consecutive touchdowns for the Stallions. In the blink of an eye, Birminham was out front by double digits, 23-13 headed into the final frame. St. Louis answered with a touchdown of its own right out of the gate in the fourth quarter to keep things close, 23-20. The Stallions still had a few tricks up their sleeves, though. On the very next drive, Corral connected with Cain on a monster 67-yard touchdown to make it a 10-point game once again, 30-20, with just over 12 minutes remaining. The Battlehawks weren’t going to let the Stallions have all the fun. Frost checked in for St. Louis on the next drive, connected with Butler for a jaw-dropping 64-yard score to keep things competitive. Frost came up clutch once again late in the game, adding another touchdown at the two-minute warning to take a 34-30 lead and seal the win. Up next: In Week 4, the Stallions will be playing host to the Storm on Saturday night, while the Battlehawks will be on the road to face the Defenders earlier that same day.
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