UFL playoffs kick off Sunday with semifinals schedule, odds and lines

The 2026 United Football League playoffs begin Sunday, May 25, with two semifinal games that will decide the United Bowl participants. Top seed Orlando Storm, who finished the regular season 8-2, host the D.C. Defenders (5-5) in Daytona Beach at 3 p.m. ET. Later, the St. Louis Battlehawks (6-4) welcome the Louisville Kings (6-4) at 6 p.m. ET. The winners advance to the United Bowl on June 13 in Washington, D.C.

Both home teams enter as narrow favorites based on the latest betting markets. Orlando is priced at -3.5 against D.C. with a total of 47.5 points, while St. Louis is -2.5 against Louisville with a 46.5-point total. Lines could adjust as kickoff nears, but bookmakers currently lean toward the hosts in both matchups.

Orlando closed the regular season with momentum and beat D.C. 29-23 in their most recent meeting. The Defenders are the reigning champions but finished the regular season at 5-5 to grab a postseason berth. Louisville, a first-year franchise, posted a 6-4 record behind quarterback Chandler Rogers, while St. Louis matched that mark to secure a home semifinal.

Orlando Storm vs D.C. Defenders

Kickoff and venue

Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, with the game moved to Daytona Beach due to a scheduling conflict at Orlando’s home stadium, officials said. The Storm retain home designation despite the venue change and carry the league’s best regular-season mark into the playoffs after finishing 8-2.

Form and betting outlook

Consistency has defined Orlando’s season, and that steadiness helped deliver the top seed. Oddsmakers have installed the Storm as a 3.5-point favorite, with the total set at 47.5. The sides met just last week, when Orlando prevailed 29-23, offering a recent reference point for how the matchup can play out. D.C.’s title experience remains an intangible edge, but the Defenders will need to improve on their .500 regular season to overturn the spread on the road.

St. Louis Battlehawks vs Louisville Kings

Kickoff details and key players

St. Louis hosts Louisville at 6 p.m. ET in the nightcap. The Kings’ inaugural season produced a 6-4 record, with quarterback Chandler Rogers steering an offense that proved capable of quick strikes and late rallies. The Battlehawks also finished 6-4, earning home field for a semifinal that shapes up as one of the tightest matchups of the year.

Lines and matchup tendencies

St. Louis opens at -2.5 with a total of 46.5 points, signaling expectations of a one-score game. With little separating the teams in the table and both sides showing resilience in close contests, small margins—field position, turnovers and red-zone efficiency—could decide who progresses to the United Bowl.

The semifinal winners will meet in the United Bowl on June 13 in Washington, D.C. Expect attention on any late roster notes and potential market movement ahead of Sunday’s kickoffs, with both games positioned to deliver high-stakes, postseason football.