Two Former Ole Miss QBs Set to Face Off in Birmingham as Stallions host DC Defenders in UFL Matchup
Ole Miss football fans will get a chance to see two of their favorite former quarterbacks play against one another tonight in a UFL matchup as Jordan Ta’amu and his DC Defenders will travel to Birmingham to take on Matt Corral and his Stallions.
Ta’amu played for the Rebels from 2017-2018, while Corral suited up from 2018 to 2021.
Birmingham is in its first season in the UFL, the new league formed after a merger between the USFL and XFL. Kickoff is at 6:00 p.m. CT and the game will be broadcast on FOX.
The Defenders are playing their second straight road game, after a late comeback win last week vs. Arlington, 29-28, in what was a rematch of last year’s XFL Championship won by Arlington.
COUNT IT 🗣️‼️‼️@JTaamu10 ➡️ @_BSmith12 pic.twitter.com/UMS4TxGxdk
— D.C. Defenders (@XFLDefenders) April 13, 2024
Ta’amu, in his second year as the starter for the Defenders, has the second-most passing yards in the league with 627, and his team is on a two-game winning streak. He notched his best game of the season in the game vs. Arlington last week, throwing for 188 yards and two touchdowns and rushing for 53 on nine attempts.
Ta’amu was the 2023 XFL Offensive Player of the Year.
For Birmingham, the Stallions are coming off a week-three win against the Memphis Showboats, where they dominated the second half, winning 33-14 in their home opener.
Corral, in his first year in the UFL, has split time with quarterback Adrian Martinez this season. The Stallions are 3-0 on the year, and in the team’s season-opening win, Corral went 12-of-21 passing for 201 yards.
After the victory, head coach Skip Holtz commented on Corral and the team’s two-QB system.
“I’ve said this all along, there’s two quarterbacks. I am really proud of what Matt did today. But the numbers between those two, those two will continue to play because they both deserve it and they’re both winning quarterbacks. We’re gonna need them both.”
Birmingham HC Skip Holtz on Corral and Martinez
UFL QB passing grades through 3 weeks (min 29 attempts):
Matt Corral – Stallions (82.8)
AJ McCarron – Battlehawks (81.6)*
Luis Perez – Renegades (75.4)*
Chase Garbers – Brahmas (73.0)*
Jordan Ta’Amu – Defenders (71.0)*
Adrian Martinez – Stallions (70.3)*
Jarrett Guarantano -… https://t.co/gEybBIprfl pic.twitter.com/CiQCUDKJtD— United Football Media (@The_UFM) April 15, 2024
Game Info:
Date: Saturday, 6 PM CT, Protective Stadium
Television/Streaming: FOX/FOX Sports App
Betting Odds: Spread: Birmingham-8, O/U: 47
Hotty Toddy and best of luck to Jordan and Matt!
Evelyn Van Pelt
Evelyn has covered sports for over two decades, beginning her journalism career as a sports writer for a newspaper in Austin, Texas. She attended Texas A&M and majored in English. Evelyn’s love for Ole Miss began when her daughter Katie attended the university on a volleyball scholarship. Evelyn created the Rebel Walk in 2013 and has served as publisher and managing editor since its inception.
