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Welcome to another edition of unlocking the UFL. We will cover the Week 8 game where the Arlington Renegades traveled to San Antonio to play the Brahmas for a Sunday afternoon game. We will also discuss how well I did (or didn’t do) in predicting this week’s game outcomes. I’m feeling lucky this week!
Texas VS Texas UFL Game
On Sunday afternoon, we got ourselves some good old-fashioned Texan football. Texas has the most UFL teams, with three. No other state has more than one team. Texas is the size of four regular states, so it makes sense in a way.
1st Half
Things were not looking good for Arlington in the first quarter. The Brahmas were sipping Pina Colada’s in the Bahamas while the Renegades fell behind 10-0 after San Antonio got a TD and a kick right away.
Without kicker Jonathan Garibay, the Renegades would have been crying their way into the locker room. Another TD and kick on the Brahmas side of the ball did leave Arlington feeling teary either way. The game was 20-3 at halftime.
2nd Half
Ask and you shall receive the mic'd up clip, @_lj18_
— United Football League (@TheUFL) May 20, 2024@XFLRenegades pic.twitter.com/ArraTDMpnC
The angels were singing over Arlington’s head in the second half. Ryan Santoso of San Antonio began missing kicks, and Arlington’s Luis Perez connected with players for once. We’re leaving the third quarter with 20-9 as the score.
The fourth quarter was also in Arlington’s favor. Santoso forgot how to kick straight, and Perez was on fire. Unfortunately, the team was only able to get one TD, and the game ended 20-15.
Summary
San Antonio has got to step it up. They’ve been nearly losing to less talented teams in the UFL the last two weeks. Arlington has only won one game this entire season, and they didn’t let the Brahmas score once in the second half. On the other hand, this is great news for the Renegades. They could possibly win another game before the end of the season!
Last Week’s Predictions
Before we talk about my (perfect) predictions from last week, make sure you’re all caught up on The Forkball’s UFL content here. We cover each game each week. Are we the best in the business at covering UFL games? Absolutely.
On that note, let’s get to business. You can view my Week 8 predictions here. Was Week 8 great? That’s up to personal interpretation. I like to keep things positive around here.
I was 100% right. The Nacua brothers and the rest of the Michigan Panthers showboated Memphis to a loss.
A sweet moment between @XFLBrahmas QB Quinten Dormady and his family after clinching a spot in the playoffs
— United Football League (@TheUFL) May 19, 2024pic.twitter.com/K2GwQEGiKa
The Birmingham Stallions did rough up the Houston Roughnecks, taking yet another win. I might have exaggerated a bit about how dramatically the Stallions won, but I was still right. It is a testament to Houston how well they did this week against undefeated Birmingham.
I was wrong about the Battlehawks doing as well as I thought they would. Thanks for ruining my perfect predictions, St. Louis.
Last but not least, I was right about Mr. Fumble Fingers of San Antonio taking the win from Arlington. Sometimes being right isn’t fun.
A 75% rate of being correct is pretty good. 25% more than being right based on the probability of guessing by chance. I’m a mathematician and a UFL expert. Want to see my Week 9 predictions? Read my article on the Houston Roughnecks VS Birmingham Stallions game here.
More must-reads:
- Browns HC confirms Dillon Gabriel, Shedeur Sanders whispers
- Eagles' Jalen Hurts shares advice for Browns' Shedeur Sanders after setback
- The '2023 NFL AP second-team All-Pro' quiz
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TODAY'S BEST
Brewers officially have a legit MVP candidate
On Tuesday night, the Milwaukee Brewers extended their winning streak to 11 games, and a key part of the team's momentum is a player who is in the National League MVP race. The red-hot Brewers entered Tuesday night facing one of the biggest threats to their winning streak, Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes. Milwaukee torched Skenes for two home runs and four earned runs in 4.0 innings pitched. Brewers first baseman Andrew Vaughn added extra damage in the sixth inning with a three-run home run that increased Milwaukee's lead to 12-0. Per Bob Nightengale of USA Today, Vaughn is in the NL MVP race after his home run on Tuesday night. "Andrew Vaughn suddenly in top 10 NL MVP discussion with another 3-run HR, giving him 32 RBI since joining the Brewers," Nightengale posted on X. "He is the gift that keeps on giving from the White Sox. They are about to go 24-4 since his arrival." Vaughn has helped the Brewers overrun and then take a commanding lead on the Chicago Cubs in the NL Central. Following their 14-0 win Tuesday night, the Brewers extended their lead to 7.5 games over the Cubs for first place. Vaughn is turning out to be a steal for the Brewers, as Milwaukee only gave up veteran pitcher Aaron Civale and cash considerations for the first baseman on June 13. While Vaughn might have a case to be in the top 10, he has much work before he becomes a legitimate contender for the NL MVP. Per FanDuel, Los Angeles Dodgers star slugger Shohei Ohtani leads the race with -20000 odds. Philadelphia Phillies left fielder Kyle Schwarber is second with +1800 odds. Those two players have been more consistent this season, whereas Vaughn has come on strong since leaving Chicago.
NASCAR makes decision on victory celebrations after Connor Zilisch fall
One of NASCAR's brightest young stars in Connor Zilisch could miss time after falling in Victory Lane following his victory in the Aug. 9 NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Watkins Glen. Zilisch slipped on the door of his No. 88 Chevrolet before suffering a hard fall in Victory Lane and breaking his collarbone. He underwent successful surgery on Tuesday, with a timetable for his return yet to be announced. Even in light of the viral incident, NASCAR will not restrict drivers from celebrating in a certain way moving forward, per NASCAR's Mike Forde. Drivers have long climbed on the roof or door of their vehicles on the frontstretch and in Victory Lane to celebrate victories, but accidents stemming from that action are rare. After winning the Cup Series race at Watkins Glen on Aug. 10, Shane van Gisbergen — who will likely be Zilisch's Cup Series teammate at Trackhouse Racing in 2026 — carefully climbed out of his No. 88 Chevrolet — something he does regularly, not just in response to Zilisch's fall. Zilisch did not race in the Cup Series race at Watkins Glen due to his injury. The Xfinity Series will return on Aug. 22 at Daytona International Speedway, with Zilisch leading the regular-season standings by seven points.
Another Cowboys star could hold out amid Micah Parsons' contract drama
The Dallas Cowboys need to figure out what to do with Micah Parsons because whatever they're doing right now isn't working. Team owner Jerry Jones said he was willing to "stir the pot" when asked about Parsons' contract stalemate and trade request. Given Parsons' character, that may have rubbed him the wrong way. However, that's not the only contract situation they need to address. While everybody's focused on the Penn State product, CB DaRon Bland is also waiting for an extension of his own. More importantly, he recently said that he hoped it would get done before the Cowboys open the season on Sept. 4. "I do, but I'm not here to talk about it really too much," Bland told the team's website. "But yea, hopefully." Jerry and Stephen Jones aren't that fond of players setting deadlines for contract negotiations, and they've shown that they're willing to wait until the very last second to get a deal done, relationships be damned. Bland has been an instrumental piece of the Cowboys secondary, especially with fellow CB Trevon Diggs struggling with injuries. When asked about his goal for next season, he opened up about his desire to dominate opposite Diggs. "Always hopeful for both of us to be healthy first of all, and for both of us to show out on the field together. Can't wait until it happens," Bland said. Still, given the way the Cowboys have treated their stars and have dealt with contract situations, it wouldn't be much of a surprise to see Bland also go to desperate measures to get what he's earned.
Green Bay Packers 4th Round Rookie Heralded As Steal Of The Draft
The Green Bay Packers’ front office has made a habit of unearthing underappreciated talent in the NFL Draft, and rookie Barryn Sorrell might be their latest gem. A fourth-round pick out of Texas, Sorrell has turned heads in training camp and delivered a standout performance in the Packers’ preseason opener against the New York Jets. It’s early, but the buzz is building—Sorrell could be the steal of the entire 2025 NFL Draft. Here’s a closer look at Sorrell’s impressive week, why coaches are raving about him, and what his role on the team could look like as the season unfolds. Green Bay Packers Barryn Sorrell: Preseason Debut Though the Green Bay Packers fell short against the Jets in their preseason opener, Sorrell’s debut was nothing short of promising. Lining up on the defensive edge, the rookie flashed the explosiveness and technique that made him a standout for the Texas Longhorns in college. Pro Football Focus gave Sorrell a team-best pass rush grade of 87.9 for the game, showcasing his ability to generate pressure. While Green Bay didn’t record a sack as a team, Sorrell came close on multiple occasions, recording two quarterback hits and two pressures. On one notable snap, he effortlessly tossed Jets tackle Max Mitchell aside before delivering a clean shot on quarterback Brady Cook, demonstrating a pass rush technique well beyond his years. “He looked sharp out there—really sharp,” Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley said after the game. “For a young guy stepping into this environment, his ability to impact the game with consistent pressure is what we want to see moving forward.” The Work Ethic That Sets Him Apart What has impressed coaches just as much as Sorrell’s on-field performance is his relentless effort and commitment to improvement. Practice reports continually highlight his hustle during drills and scrimmages. From chasing down plays to perfecting minor details in his technique, Sorrell has demonstrated the kind of mindset that coaches love to see in young players. “He’s got a motor that doesn’t stop,” linebackers coach Sean Duggan said. “When you see a guy like Barryn putting in that level of effort, it elevates the whole group. That’s been his reputation since he arrived in Green Bay.” That reputation has driven Sorrell to stand out during training camp and preseason, setting him apart despite a crowded defensive rotation. Why Sorrell Is Being Dubbed a Steal Draft analysts have been quick to call Sorrell one of the smartest picks of the 2025 Draft, though hindsight reveals just how much of a sleeper he was going in. Coming out of Texas, Sorrell had been productive at the collegiate level, showcasing a knack for disrupting plays in the backfield. However, concerns about his relatively modest size (6-foot-4, 255 pounds) for an every-down edge rusher caused him to slide to the fourth round. It’s now becoming clear that those concerns were overstated. General manager Brian Gutekunst, who has built a reputation for finding value in the mid-to-late rounds, once again seems to have struck gold. Sorrell’s early success highlights why many now believe that he should have gone much earlier in the draft. “There’s zero reason he should’ve fallen that far,” said one AFC scout. “The Packers got a guy with Day 2 talent in the fourth round, and it won’t take long before he proves it.” Eyes on the Future The Packers’ philosophy of building through the draft has rarely been more evident than in their approach to Barryn Sorrell. With veteran leadership guiding him and coaches invested in his development, the rookie appears to be in a near-perfect situation to succeed. For a team looking to solidify its defensive identity, finding a player like Sorrell is invaluable. His work ethic, playmaking ability, and high football IQ give him every chance of being a long-term cornerstone for Green Bay’s pass rush. Final Thoughts It’s far too early for definitive conclusions, but Barryn Sorrell’s introduction to the NFL has Green Bay Packers fans excited. His performance in camp and the preseason has already exceeded expectations, offering a tantalizing glimpse of what could be an immensely bright future. If his current trajectory holds, Sorrell won’t just be a steal of the draft—he’ll be a key piece in the Packers’ ongoing pursuit of greatness.
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