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The 2026 UFL playoffs are nearly here, and plenty is on the line for the league's top teams entering the final week of the spring football league's regular season.
While three of four possible playoff berths have already been clinched, the UFL's No. 1 seed is up for grabs. And more importantly, the perennial contender Birmingham Stallions are looking to avoid missing the postseason for the first time since the 2022 USFL reboot.
The Stallions will be scrapping with the Louisville Kings for the final playoff berth while the Orlando Storm and St. Louis Battlehawks are hoping to win the regular-season championship and build momentum heading into the postseason.
Who will make the playoffs and have the opportunity to fight for the right to play in the 2026 UFL Bowl? Here's what to know about the UFL playoff picture, clinching scenarios and a look at the postseason schedule.
The following three teams have already wrapped up playoff spots for the 2026 UFL playoffs.
The exact pecking order is still to be determined and will depend on the results of the Week 10 action.
Two teams, the Louisville Kings and Birmingham Stallions, are fighting for the final spot in the four-team UFL playoff field. Below is a look at what each team needs to have happen to win their way into the field.
The Kings clinch a playoff berth with:
The Stallions clinch a playoff berth with:
The Defenders vs. Storm game will matter for the Kings and Stallions because of the possibility of a three-way tie between the clubs.
In the event that Birmingham, DC and Louisville all finish with 5-5 records, the Stallions would be the odd team out among the trio. Why? Because the UFL uses head-to-head record as its primary tiebreaking procedure.
In games between the three teams, Louisville has a 2-1 record, Birmingham is 1-1 and DC is 1-2, having been swept by the Kings in their season series. That would allow Louisville to advance to the playoffs as the No. 3 seed.
Then, the UFL would repeat its head-to-head tiebreaker procedure for the two remaining teams. The Defenders beat the Stallions in their only head-to-head meeting, so that would put DC into the postseason field as the No. 4 seed.
In the event of a two-way tie between Birmingham and Louisville, the Stallions would own the head-to-head advantage. The only way a two-way tie between the teams can occur is if the Stallions win, the Kings lose and the Defenders beat the Storm.
DEFENDERS VS. STORM: Jordan Ta'amu injury looms large in two-game rivalry series
Either the Storm or Battlehawks will be the No. 1 seed in the 2026 UFL playoffs. Below is a look at the scenarios for each to earn the honor.
The Battlehawks have a head-to-head tiebreaker advantage over the Storm, which will allow them to emerge as the UFL's No. 1 seed if the teams finish with the same record.
That said, Orlando currently has a one-game lead in the standings over St. Louis, so the Battlehawks will need to win and get help to best their former coach Anthony Becht's squad as the spring league's regular-season champion.
Below is how the UFL playoff bracket looks entering Week 10:
In the hunt: Birmingham Stallions (4-5)
* Clinched playoff berth.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: UFL playoff bracket features Kings, Stallions battling for final spot
Continue reading...
While three of four possible playoff berths have already been clinched, the UFL's No. 1 seed is up for grabs. And more importantly, the perennial contender Birmingham Stallions are looking to avoid missing the postseason for the first time since the 2022 USFL reboot.
The Stallions will be scrapping with the Louisville Kings for the final playoff berth while the Orlando Storm and St. Louis Battlehawks are hoping to win the regular-season championship and build momentum heading into the postseason.
Who will make the playoffs and have the opportunity to fight for the right to play in the 2026 UFL Bowl? Here's what to know about the UFL playoff picture, clinching scenarios and a look at the postseason schedule.
UFL playoff picture 2026: Who's in?
The following three teams have already wrapped up playoff spots for the 2026 UFL playoffs.
- Orlando Storm (7-2)
- St. Louis Battlehawks (6-3)
- DC Defenders (5-4)
The exact pecking order is still to be determined and will depend on the results of the Week 10 action.
UFL playoff clinching scenarios
Two teams, the Louisville Kings and Birmingham Stallions, are fighting for the final spot in the four-team UFL playoff field. Below is a look at what each team needs to have happen to win their way into the field.
Louisville Kings
The Kings clinch a playoff berth with:
- Win over Aviators OR
- Stallions loss to Gamblers OR
- Storm win over Defenders
Birmingham Stallions
The Stallions clinch a playoff berth with:
- Win over Gamblers AND
- Kings loss to Aviators AND
- Defenders win over Storm
Why Defenders vs. Storm could matter for Kings, Stallions
The Defenders vs. Storm game will matter for the Kings and Stallions because of the possibility of a three-way tie between the clubs.
In the event that Birmingham, DC and Louisville all finish with 5-5 records, the Stallions would be the odd team out among the trio. Why? Because the UFL uses head-to-head record as its primary tiebreaking procedure.
In games between the three teams, Louisville has a 2-1 record, Birmingham is 1-1 and DC is 1-2, having been swept by the Kings in their season series. That would allow Louisville to advance to the playoffs as the No. 3 seed.
Then, the UFL would repeat its head-to-head tiebreaker procedure for the two remaining teams. The Defenders beat the Stallions in their only head-to-head meeting, so that would put DC into the postseason field as the No. 4 seed.
In the event of a two-way tie between Birmingham and Louisville, the Stallions would own the head-to-head advantage. The only way a two-way tie between the teams can occur is if the Stallions win, the Kings lose and the Defenders beat the Storm.
DEFENDERS VS. STORM: Jordan Ta'amu injury looms large in two-game rivalry series
Who will be the UFL's No. 1 seed?
Either the Storm or Battlehawks will be the No. 1 seed in the 2026 UFL playoffs. Below is a look at the scenarios for each to earn the honor.
Orlando Storm
- Win over Defenders OR
- Battlehawks loss to Renegades
St. Louis Battlehawks
- Win over Renegades AND
- Storm loss to Defenders
The Battlehawks have a head-to-head tiebreaker advantage over the Storm, which will allow them to emerge as the UFL's No. 1 seed if the teams finish with the same record.
That said, Orlando currently has a one-game lead in the standings over St. Louis, so the Battlehawks will need to win and get help to best their former coach Anthony Becht's squad as the spring league's regular-season champion.
Current UFL playoff bracket
Below is how the UFL playoff bracket looks entering Week 10:
- Orlando Storm (7-2)*
- St. Louis Battlehawks (6-3)*
- Louisville Kings (5-4)
- DC Defenders (5-4)*
In the hunt: Birmingham Stallions (4-5)
* Clinched playoff berth.
UFL playoff schedule
First round
- Sunday, June 7: Playoff game No. 1, 3 p.m., ABC
- Sunday, June 7: Playoff game No. 2, 6 p.m., Fox
UFL Bowl 2026
- Saturday, June 13: UFL Bowl 2026, 3 p.m., ABC
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: UFL playoff bracket features Kings, Stallions battling for final spot
Continue reading...
