For the fourth time in 4 years, the Birmingham Stallions ended up proper the place they anticipated to be when the 2025 UFL common season got here to a detailed: within the postseason, internet hosting the USFL Convention Championship Sport at Protecting Stadium.
However the route they took to get again to inside two wins of claiming a fourth consecutive skilled spring soccer league title was circuitous. The Stallions entered their first season with out former normal supervisor and wunderkind Zach Potter and with some new faces making their technique to Birmingham out of sheer necessity.
The Stallions, who’ve by no means seemed like an unbeatable crew even after they have been just about unbeatable, have made discovering methods to win their hallmark. This season stands as the most effective instance of that, particularly at quarterback.
What started with a former league MVP and championship-caliber QB in Alex McGough shortly grew to become a near-season-long train in triage by coach Skip Holtz, who additionally acts as quarterbacks coach and playcaller. In 10 weeks, he’s been pressured to play 5 totally different quarterbacks and begin 4.
Not one Birmingham QB has began greater than three video games, and just one has not been pressured to overlook enjoying time on account of damage. And but the Stallions enter the postseason sitting at 7-3 with an offense and protection that’s enjoying so properly that they beat the Memphis Showboats 46-9 of their regular-season finale.
With so many adjustments in place, from accidents to new people operating his offense, how has Holtz managed to come back by way of this season with not solely a winner, however a crew that appears able to taking the 2025 UFL crown?
“I don’t know,” Holtz stated with a short chuckle as he tried to place a season in contrast to another he’s coached into context.
In 10 regular-season video games, the Stallions have suffered accidents on the offensive line, defensive position and each cornerback positions. Nonetheless, the circumstances surrounding the crew’s quarterback room have been distinctive. Simply two of the 5 QBs on Birmingham’s roster this season, McGough and Matt Corral, have been current for the primary 5 days of set up at coaching camp. Veteran Case Cookus joined the crew per week late and was thrust into obligation after McGough and Corral went down with accidents. Holtz even introduced in former Wyoming QB Andrew Peasley to play significant snaps.
That’s when it grew to become clear that Holtz wished J’Mar Smith to return to the crew. Holtz not solely wanted a participant he may belief, however somebody he was acquainted with. When Corral went down, Holtz knew he wanted to get a QB in his room who knew his offense, his scheme, and will give them an opportunity to complete the season with an offensive identification.
Skip Holtz and J’Mar Smith #1 of the Birmingham Stallions speak to the media after a 33-25 victory towards the Houston Roughnecks. (Photograph by Butch Dill/UFL/Getty Photographs)
“I attempted to name J’Mar, however he was getting a brand new telephone or one thing, and did not name me again,” Holtz stated. “And so I went and moved on Peasley, not pondering that he would have an interest.”
Ultimately, Smith bought in contact with Holtz and let him know that he was certainly , however the timing did not work, as a proposal had already prolonged to Peasley. Corral suffered a shoulder damage and was positioned on injured reserve by the Stallions, and that is when Smith bought the decision.
Holtz discovered a roster spot and succeeded in getting Smith on the sideline in time for Birmingham’s sport towards convention rival Houston in Week 7. Down 25-6 at halftime, the Stallions seemed like they have been on their technique to one other loss, which might put them squarely on the bubble to make the postseason with simply three video games left within the common season. After which Cookus, who began that sport, reaggravated a knee damage. Holtz put his former Louisiana Tech star quarterback in, and the Stallions completed with the largest comeback win in UFL historical past, scoring 27 unanswered factors in a memorable 33-25 win.
J’Mar Smith #1 and Marcus Baugh #85 of the Birmingham Stallions hug after their crew’s 33-25 victory towards the Houston Roughnecks. (Photograph by Butch Dill/UFL/Getty Photographs)
In that sport, Smith seemed just like the participant he was at Louisiana Tech, the place he averaged higher than 3,000 passing yards per season as a three-year starter. The previous Bulldog standout, who has thrown for greater than 10,000 yards with Holtz as his playcaller, confirmed off his elite playmaking capability, finishing 3-of-5 passes for 63 yards and including a speeding rating within the victory.
It was then, in that Week 7 comeback win over the Roughnecks, that Holtz discovered his quarterback. Since then, the Stallions have gone 3-1 when Smith is below middle, together with going 22-of-31 for 306 yards and two touchdowns towards conference-title foe Michigan in Week 9.
“I nonetheless had my questions after the St. Louis sport [Week 8],” Holtz stated. “However it was after the sport towards Michigan that I stated, ‘There you go now.’ That is when the factor went off the place you went, ‘All proper, that is our man.'”
Smith has relished the chance to guide the Stallions into the postseason as QB1. Although he began the first-ever USFL sport for Holtz, he has by no means had the possibility to be “The Man” within the postseason, and now, Smith’s son will get to see his father play for a championship too.
“I am actually serious about it, getting chills,” Smith stated of enjoying in entrance of his one-year-old son. “It is simply one of many huge issues that was very particular to me about having this chance to play once more.”
It’s a beautiful second for Holtz and Smith, who’ve identified one another for 11 years — half of Smith’s life — throughout school {and professional} soccer.
Louisiana Tech head coach Skip Holtz and quarterback J’Mar Smith (8) have fun a win over North Texas on September 29, 2018. (Photograph by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photographs)
“Lots of people cannot say that they have been with their coach this lengthy, particularly enjoying soccer,” Smith stated. “In my state of affairs, me being a quarterback and him being an offensive playcaller and coach, it’s a nice connection, an awesome feeling.
“You perceive what he desires. You recognize the offense: entrance, again, side-to-side.”
Each Holtz and Smith admitted that their connection has been a real power during the last 4 weeks, and that’s fairly presumably the rationale the Stallions may win the UFL title.
In a league the place change is part of the sport and being comfy with the unfamiliar is the most effective trait you’ll be able to possess, Holtz and Smith have the one attribute each coach and participant within the UFL craves: chemistry constructed on expertise, earned belief and an insatiable want to be higher tomorrow than every was at this time.
RJ Younger is a nationwide school soccer author and analyst for FOX Sports activities and the host of the podcast “The Quantity One Faculty Soccer Present.” Observe him at @RJ_Young.
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