The opening day of the USFL closed with a highly anticipated contest between the New Jersey Generals and the defending champion Birmingham Stallions, and we had you covered with all the action on FOX and the FOX Sports App!
The Stallions secured the double-digit win, 27-10, but fear they may have lost star receiver Marlon Williams for the season after an acrobatic catch left him with a torn Achilles. He spoke with FOX’s USFL crew from the sidelines afterward.
Earlier in Memphis, the Philadelphia Stars came away with a narrow 27-23 victory over the Memphis Showboats, spoiling the inaugural home debut for the USFL’s newest team.
See the full regular-season week-by-week matchups here. You can also check out FOX Bet’s title odds for all eight teams.
Here are the top plays!
Birmingham Stallions 27, New Jersey Generals 10
Boom!
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The Generals fumbled on the opening drive, giving the Stallions the ball early.
Razzle Dazzle
Birmingham took the lead right out of the gate, 7-0, when quarterback with J’Mar Smith connected with Austin Watkins for a stunning 61-yard touchdown on the Stallions’ very first snap of the game.
Skip Holtz is the only head coach in the league who began Week 1 with the same quarterbacks — Smith and Alex McGough — that he selected in the inaugural USFL Draft.
J’Mar Smith throws a GORGEOUS 61-yard TD to Austin Watkins
The Stallions jump out to an early 7-0 lead over the Generals in Week 1.
Taking flight!
Generals QB Dakota Prukop knotted things up to start the second quarter, capping off a nine-play drive with this score.
Dakota Prukop punches in 2-yard touchdown to tie the game
Dakota Prukop’s 2-yard score ties the game for the New Jersey Generals.
On the move
Smith linked up with tight end Jace Sternberger on the Stallions’ following drive, moving the chains with ease.
Acrobatic catch
Stallions receiver Davion Davis kept the play alive with this big-time catch.
The drive resulted in a field goal, as Birmingham retook the lead, 10-7.
Ground game strong
The Generals found a rhythm late in the frame, highlighted by QB De’Andre Johnson‘s tough 29-yard scramble.
What could have been
The Generals weren’t able to capitalize on the momentum, however, and turned the ball over on downs after a huge goal-line stop from the Stallions.
No quit
Smith was picked off on Birmingham’s own 15-yard line on the next drive, giving the ball right back to the Generals, which turned the newfound possession into three points with another field goal to tie the game once again, 10-10.
The Stallions went straight to work making up for the turnover, as Smith turned on the jets to secure a crucial first down.
Star power
Stallions wideout Williams reeled in a clutch third-down pass from Smith to put Birmingham deep in the red zone.
Giddy up!
Then, McGough connected with Sternberger for a 6-yard score to give the Stallions a 17-10 lead just before halftime.
Alex McGough throws a 6-yard touchdown to Jace Sternberger
Alex McGough’s 6-yard passing TD gives the Stallions a 17-10 halftime lead.
They’ll take that!
The Stallions went three-and-out on their first drive of the second half, but they got the ball back almost immediately after the Generals fumbled for the second time Saturday.
Pulling away
Birmingham grabbed a double-digit lead after McGough’s monster 29-yard rushing touchdown on the following drive.
Alex McGough rushes for a 29-yard score to extend the Stallions’ lead
Alex McGough’s 29-yard TD extends the Stallions’ lead over the Generals.
So close, yet so far away
The Generals turned the ball over on downs to begin the fourth quarter despite a huge 48-yard boost from reigning USFL Offensive Player of the Year Darius Victor, who rushed for 577 yards and nine touchdowns last season.
More of the same
Birmingham was a force to be reckoned with as the fourth quarter continued.
First, McGough found Davis for a 19-yard gain to move the chains. Then, the Stallions nailed a 49-yard field goal to extend their lead, 27-10, before the Generals turned things over on downs on the next drive for the third time.
New Jersey turned the ball over on down once more — for the fourth and final time — before things ended there.
Pregame setup
The Stallions’ championship banner was unveiled ahead of Saturday’s game.
Birmingham went 9-1 during the regular season last year en route to defeating Philadelphia in the 2022 title game.
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