Birmingham Stallions could get 1 more win in 2026

The United Football League playoffs kick off this Sunday, but for the first time in their storied history, the Birmingham Stallions are missing from the action. After finishing the 2026 regular season with a 4-6 record, Birmingham found itself just one game outside the postseason cutoff.

Cook Up for Top Honors

Despite missing the playoffs, the Stallions are still in the running for some hardware. Safety Alex Cook has been named the team’s nominee for the United Football League Sportsman of the Year Award. This prestigious honor is awarded to the individual who best exemplifies leadership, community service, and character both on and off the gridiron.

Cook, a former University of Washington standout who spent time with the Carolina Panthers, has made an immediate impact in his first year with the UFL. Beyond his leadership, he provided two electric defensive highlights: a 73-yard fumble recovery touchdown against the Columbus Aviators and a 70-yard pick-six against the Houston Gamblers, the latter of which he achieved while playing through a taped-up hand injury.

"Receiving this nomination is an honor because it reflects the values and teachings my parents instilled in me as a kid," Cook said in a team release. "The UFL has blessed me with the opportunity to play football again, so being able to represent them in a positive way is big for me."

A Season of What-Ifs

Birmingham’s playoff hopes ultimately unraveled during the stretch run. After a three-game winning streak briefly vaulted them into the top four, back-to-back losses ended the campaign. The Stallions lost to Columbus 36-29 and followed that up with a 26-13 defeat to Houston.

Statistically, the struggle in the trenches proved costly. The offense averaged just 73.8 rushing yards per game—the lowest in the league—while the defense surrendered a league-worst 126.7 rushing yards per contest. Despite the team's struggles, bright spots remained, including two linebackers being named to the All-UFL team after Tae Crowder and Kyahva Tezino finished as the top two tacklers in the league.

The Road Ahead

As Birmingham looks toward the future, the rest of the league continues its pursuit of the title. This Sunday, the top-seeded Orlando Storm take on the fourth-seeded DC Defenders at Daytona Stadium, while the St. Louis Battlehawks face the Louisville Kings in St. Louis. The winners will meet in the United Bowl at Audi Field next Sunday.

For the Stallions, this season marks a rare departure from excellence. Having captured the 2024 UFL championship and back-to-back USFL titles in 2022 and 2023, this is the first time in their five-year run under the current franchise that the team has failed to reach the playoffs. The UFL Sportsman of the Year will be officially crowned this Friday during the 2026 UFL Awards.