Michigan Panthers win 44-29 against Stallions, advance to UFL championship
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - JUNE 08: Bryce Perkins #3 of the Michigan Panthers throws a pass during the third quarter against the Birmingham Stallions at Protective Stadium on June 08, 2025 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Butch Dill/UFL/Getty Images)
FOX 2 - The seventh time was the charm for the Michigan Panthers against the defending champion Birmingham Stallions.
The Panthers defeated the Stallions 44-29 in the USFL Conference Championship in Birmingham Sunday. The win advances Michigan to the UFL Championship in St. Louis next Saturday at 8 p.m.
Michigan led at one point, 34-17 and three times the Stallions cut it to a single-digit lead and three times the Panthers responded.
Tailback Toa Taua rushed for 85 yards and three touchdowns and quarterback Bryce Perkins passed for 238 yards and one touchdown pass and rushed for 34 yards and another touchdown.
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - JUNE 08: Toa Taua #35 of the Michigan Panthers is tripped up by Marvin Wilson #58 of the Birmingham Stallions during the third quarter at Protective Stadium on June 08, 2025 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Stew Milne/UFL/Getty
The Panthers (7-4) will play the XFL Conference champion DC Defenders (7-4) in the UFL championship game Saturday in St. Louis.
The Defenders beat the St. Louis Battlehawks 36-18 tonight in the XFL Conference Championship.
Michigan had never beaten Birmingham in the modern spring football era, going 0-6.
The Panthers had big plays like a 25-yard interception return for a touchdown by safety Kai Nacua, and a 76-yard touchdown pass from Perkins to Malik Turner.
Michigan led 7-0 after the first quarter and 21-14 at halftime.
It was all Panthers in the third quarter as they built a 34-17 lead.
The Stallions won the 2022 and 2023 USFL championships and after the spring football merger that combined the XFL and USFL, won the UFL championship last year.
BIRMINGHAM, AL - JUNE 08: Michigan Panthers Bryce Perkins (3) passes the ball during the UFL Conference Championship game between the Birmingham Stallions and the Michigan Panthers on June 8, 2025, at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama.(Photo