Week one of the UFL’s season continues in Texas. The Dallas Renegades will host the Houston Gamblers on Saturday, kicking off their campaigns with a classic “Texas Throwdown”.
Believe it or not – this is the first time the Renegades will play the “Gamblers”. In the XFL and UFL, it has always been the Roughnecks branding.
Both of these teams saw overhauls in the offseason. Bob Stoops was replaced by Rick Neuheisel in Dallas, while Kevin Sumlin returned to take the Gamblers from C.J. Johnson. These two organizations have a lot to prove, but also feature question marks as we head into the season.
Let’s take a look at what we can expect on March 28th.
Quarterback Play
Against all odds, the Dallas Renegades have a new starting quarterback. Austin Reed has earned the gig, with Neuheisel and Mazzone choosing to start Reed over the long-time veteran Luis Perez. While Perez brought this organization to a Championship a few seasons back, the team has missed the playoffs two years in a row.
Reed is an exciting young prospect who made his way to the league this offseason. He was the NCAA leader in passing yards back in 2022, showcasing his strong arm and solid decision making abilities. On top of that, Austin is a mobile signal caller, which will bring a different feel to this Renegades’ offense. If he can get going early, expect Reed to throw for 200+ yards in this opener.
“We’re going to start with Austin Reed. He’s earned the job. Luis has been fantastic, as you would expect. I know what I have in Luis, I want to see what I have in Austin. I would expect that both will play, and that both will all season long. But, I’m anxious to see 16 go.” – Rick Neuheisel
For Houston, we finally get Nolan Henderson to start the season. It’s felt long overdue, but after a couple of seasons in Eric Price’s system, Henderson gets the nod. Henderson is a mobile, scrappy quarterback. He’s undersized, and doesn’t have the strongest arm – but has a knack for creating something out of nothing. Over the past two seasons, he has flashed legitimate potential when healthy. Watch for the Gamblers to run plenty of RPO action with Nolan at the helm.
“Nolan is going to start the game. He is our starter. But, we had a conversation with Hunter, and he’s going to play. But Nolan is going to start the game.” – Kevin Sumlin
Now, Hunter Dekkers is expected to see some action. He battled it out with Nolan in camp, and Sumlin told media this week that he will see snaps. Whether or not it will be a true 2-QB system remains to be seen, though. Kevin declined to comment on that piece of it.
Standout Playmakers
Watch out for this Gamblers wide receiver core this season – they’ve got some dynamic weapons who come in all sizes and speeds. Justin Hall is back, and joining him is Jontre Kirklin – who “returns” to Houston. These two have the potential to be one of the top receiving duos in the UFL. Meanwhile, Kai Locksley and Lujuan Winningham bring size and strong hands to the table, which should result in Henderson seeing success at all three levels.
While Kirk Merritt is the only returning running back to Houston, Marcus Yarns is a name to watch closely. He racked up over 3,100 rushing yards at Delaware, and has similarities to that of an Alvin Kamara with his ability to catch out of the backfield.
For the Renegades, this group looks vastly different. The primary returnees include RB Dae Dae Hunter and WR Tyler Vaughns, who will both have similar roles within the offense once again. That said, the receiver core has some notable new faces. Denzel Mims, the former second round draft pick, is now a Renegade. Also, Drake Stoops continues the family legacy in Dallas, and is trending towards being one of the top slot wideouts in the UFL. Keep an eye on RB Ellis Merriweather, who according to the depth chart, is RB1.
Dallas’ tight end room is also stacked. Baylor Cupp leads the way as a newcomer, alongside Seth Green who is expected to see a bigger role with Sal Cannella having locked in a futures deal with the Cleveland Browns.
Depth Chart
Takeaways for Dallas:
- Tyler Vaughns and Drake Stoops set to start, could be a strong duo at WR
- Ellis Merriweather RB1 in Dallas, no sign of Dae Dae Hunter
- Sam Tecklenburg starting center, Alex Akingbulu earns starting role
- Donald Payne is now a backup linebacker
- Steven Jones & Ajene Harris retain starting CB roles despite additions
Takeaways for Houston:
- Gamblers going with four running backs, Jalen White is RB1
- Jontre Kirklin, Justin Hall, Jalen Moreno-Cropper starting at WR
- Victor Curne earns starting role at guard, Jack Kramer remains at center
- Eli Walker, Kyon Barrs, Kary Vincent Jr., Rashard Lawrence all earn starting roles
- B.J. Mayes moving from CB/S to LB
Marvin Sanders Saga
One interesting piece to the puzzle: Marvin Sanders. He was the Arlington Renegades Defensive Coordinator in 2025, but now jumps ship to Houston with Kevin Sumlin. If Luis Perez does end up seeing action at some point, Sanders should be very prepared. He spent years with Luis in the UFL, and practiced against him quite a few times.
Texas Throwdown History
These two franchises have faced off quite a bit, even with rebrands and organizational changes along the way. It’s been Houston who has had the edge for the most part, although Dallas won arguably the most important matchup between the two (XFL playoffs, 2023).
This matchup, in particular, should be interesting. We don’t really know what to expect from either team. They’ve both got entirely mostly new staffs, and the re-drafting of the rosters has leveled the playing field.
One would imagine that Houston will look to run an offense that is more conventional, spreading the ball between their playmakers – while Dallas will probably lean heavier towards getting the ball downfield with the strong arm of Austin Reed, and the talent of Tyler Vaughns.
Coaching Matchup
Kevin Sumlin, Houston Gamblers: Sumlin has officially returned to spring football. He was the Gamblers’ coach during the inaugural season of the USFL, with a 3-7 record. Houston was better than you’d think that year, though, losing a few games in quite literally the final minutes. He’s got a lot to prove as a professional coach, and returns to Houston in a full circle moment.
Rick Neuheisel, Dallas Renegades: Neuheisel hasn’t been a coach since the AAF days back in 2019. He’s got an incredibly likeable personality, and clearly has what it takes to be a winning leader at multiple levels. We’ll see if he can lead Dallas and this locker room to victory, though, having already made surprising decisions (i.e. starting Austin Reed).
“It’s always about taking advantage of your opportunity. This is an opportunity league. But it’s also an opportunity to enjoy the fruits of football. Teamwork, making your buddies that are going to be lifelong friends. Making memories. We get 10 weeks, it’s going to go by in a flurry. Saturday will be here and be gone, and we’ll be onto the next game. You have to enjoy it.”
Despite such long coaching careers between the two, this is the first time that Neuheisel and Sumlin will clash.
Final Thoughts
As these two teams prepare to kickoff on Saturday, there’s another show happening right at halftime. Country sensation Ty Myers will be performing live at Toyota Stadium – and you can acquire tickets now for less than $20.
Full roster breakdowns: Dallas, Houston
Are you excited for this upcoming matchup between the Dallas Renegades and Houston Gamblers? Who will win? Let us know down in the comments below, or join the conversation on Discord!
