- The Michigan Panthers defeated the Memphis Showboats in their opener of the 2025 UFL season.
- Quarterback Bryce Perkins led the way for the Panthers, completing 84% of his passes.
The Michigan Panthers were victorious in Week 1 of the 2025 UFL season.
The Panthers defeated the Memphis Showboats 26-12 in their season opener Sunday afternoon inside Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee.
Quarterback Bryce Perkins had the hot hand for Michigan, completing 84% of his passes (16-for-19) and throwing for 104 yards.
Here’s what stood out from the game:
MICHIGAN PANTHERS: Schedule, time, TV channel, streaming for every game
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Michigan Panthers start fast against Memphis Showboats
The Panthers defense halted the Showboats offense from the opening play only allowing them 13 yards on six plays in the first quarter. Cornerback Adonis Alexander had a hard hit to former teammate, quarterback E.J. Perry, that forced Memphis to punt.
Perkins got the start for the Panthers and led the team a 56-yard drive to bring them within striking distance allowing B.T. Potter to kick a 32-yard field goal for the first points.
Michigan’s second drive saw Perkins perform similar to what he did on the first. On second-and-goal, the quarterback rushed for the touchdown after a near fumble on the snap, to put the Panthers up 10-0.
Memphis finds grove in second
The Showboats made a change at quarterback entering the second quarter and put in Troy Williams.
Williams threw a 14-yard completion to receiver Jonathan Adams and later hit a 10-yard pass to the Panthers’ 16-yard line. The drive stalled when defensive end Kenny Willekes, a former Michigan State standout, caused Williams to lose 17 yards.
Memphis kicker Matt Coghlin, a former Michigan State standout kicker, completed a 50-yard field goal to put the Showboats on the board.
Perry led the Showboats’ next drive, but threw an interception to Panthers safety Arnold Tarpley.
Blow for blow in second half
The Showboats’ defense stepped up in the second half allowing the Panthers to complete nine yards in the opening drive of the third quarter.
Perry found some redemption from his interception leading Memphis on 48-yard drive in nine plays. Coghlin completed another long field, 45 yards, to bring the Showboats within four with eight minutes left in the quarter.
The Panthers spent four minutes of the quarter with possession, completing a nine-play, 65-yard drive. Perkins threw a 25-yard pass to Samson Nacua — his younger brother is Los Angeles Rams standout receiver Puka Nacua — to put the Panthers up 17-6 entering the fourth quarter.
Pick-6 seals Michigan Panthers win in UFL Week 1
The Panthers started the quarter at their own 9-yard line. Perkins led the team 66 yards on 13 plays setting up Potter for 43-yard field goal to put the Panthers up 14.
The Showboats responded starting from their own 27-yard line, and pushed the ball down five yards. Interim head coach Jim Turner, filling in for Ken Whisenhunt who abruptly took a leave of absence last week, made the decision to go for it on 4th-and-5 and Perry completed an 8-yard pass to Dee Anderson.
Deneric Prince caught a 24-yard pass to bring the ball to the Panthers’ 24. Perry completed a 6-yard pass to Adams to bring the Showboats within 20-12. The team attempted a 2-point conversion but the pass intended to Anderson was incomplete.
The Panthers failed to score on their next drive and gave possession back to Memphis with 51 seconds left on the clock.
Memphis put Williams back in on the drive and threw a 37-yard pass to Adams and who was pushed out of bounds at the Panthers’ 23. Williams attempted another pass, but Kai Nacua intercepted it and returned it for a touchdown. He is also a Nacua brother.
The Panthers return to Michigan for a three-game homestand at Ford Field in Detroit, including the home opener Friday night against the Birmingham Stallions (8 p.m., Fox).
Contact Eric Guzmán: [email protected]; 313-222-1850. Follow him on X:
