On Saturday, May 17, 2025, the Michigan Panthers clinched a playoff berth in the United Football League with a win over the Houston Roughnecks. The victory brings their current record to 6–2 and continues their strong performance in the spring football league’s 2025 season.
The UFL was formed in 2024 following a merger between the United States Football League and XFL. It serves as a spring professional football league and developmental ground for rising talent. This season marks the Panthers’ second in the UFL and their fourth overall as a pro football team.
In their inaugural UFL season in 2024, the Panthers finished with a strong 7–3 record and reached their conference championship, ultimately falling short to the Birmingham Stallions in the playoffs.
Head Coach Mike Nolan, who started in 2023, has helped turn the team into a consistent contender. Nolan was previously head coach for the San Francisco 49ers and a defensive coordinator for eight different NFL teams in the early 2000s. Under his leadership, the Panthers went 4–6 in his first season, improved to 7–3 last year, and now sit at 6–2 heading into the final weeks of the 2025 regular season.
“We’re locked in. Our goal has always been to bring a championship to Michigan.”
Mike Nolan, post-game interview
The Panthers have two regular-season games remaining. This Saturday, May 24, they’ll travel to Alabama to face the Birmingham Stallions in a much-anticipated rematch. Both teams have already secured a playoff spot, and the May 24 matchup is expected to preview the USFL Conference Championship game on June 8.
If the Panthers can get past Birmingham in the playoffs, they’ll advance to their first-ever UFL Championship game, scheduled for June 15.
The team will close out the regular season at home in Ford Field, which they share with their NFL affiliate, the Detroit Lions. This final game will be against the Huston Roughnecks, a rematch after last week’s 30-18 win.
The UFL has quickly become a showcase for rising stars. In 2024, 28 UFL players were signed by NFL teams, including five Panthers. One standout success is kicker Jake Bates, who joined the Detroit Lions following a breakout season with Michigan.
With NFL scouts closely watching, UFL games offer fans the chance to see potential future stars up close on the field.
With Ford Field less than an hour from campus, Michigan Panthers games provide students with an affordable, high-energy weekend experience. Fans looking to attend a game can find tickets through the UFL's official “Panthers Ticket Central,” which offers single-game passes, group rates and premium seating. Tickets for a Panthers game start at just $30, a reasonable rate for college students. You can also catch the Panthers every week on TV on Fox, ABC, or ESPN.
As the Panthers push for their first championship title, now is the perfect time to catch the action up close.
