Houston Roughnecks UFL Season Recap
The Houston Roughnecks had the roster talent to finish well above .500 over the course of the 2025 UFL betting season, but inconsistent execution and questionable coaching decisions ultimately capped their ceiling. After suffering an ugly 31-6 loss to the St. Louis BattleHawks in the season opener, the Roughnecks gradually worked their way into playoff contention. However, key games slipped through their fingers—losses that likely shouldn’t have happened—leaving Houston on the outside looking in.
The breakeven season was even more disappointing when taking the team’s 6-4 record against the closing UFL spread into account. Upper management will have no choice but to evaluate the coaching staff closely this offseason.
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Two narrow losses to division champion Birmingham particularly stung. In Week 4, the Roughnecks aired it out and won the turnover battle 2-1, yet fell 23-16 at home. Though they covered the 7.5-point spread, the missed opportunity proved costly. Even more devastating was Week 7, when Houston stormed out to a 25-6 first half lead only to collapse in the second half, allowing the Stallions to rally for a 33-25 win, and even more nauseating for UFL bettors that took the 5.5-points, the cover.
A split in those games could have changed Houston’s postseason fate, especially considering they ended the year with strong wins over Michigan and D.C. regardless of both squads resting a number of starters due to already locking in their playoff fate well before the second season arrived.
Despite the disappointment, Houston may have found its quarterback of the future in Jalan McClendon. In five starts, the 29-year-old threw for 1,342 yards with a 6:3 TD-to-INT ratio and an 87.0 passer rating while completing 65.3% of his throws. With his arm strength and poise, he could be the long-term answer—assuming he doesn’t earn an NFL camp invite like last year’s MVP Adrian Martinez—the franchise needs to solidify itself at the quarterback position moving forward.
WR Justin Hall showed flashes, but the passing attack only ranked fifth in the league overall averaging just short of 176.0 yards per game. Upgrading the receiving corps should be a top priority this offseason to unlock the full potential of Houston’s offense and position the Roughnecks as a legitimate title contender for 2026 and beyond. It wouldn’t hurt to find some gamers on the defensive side of the ball as well with Houston ranking out in the bottom half of the league in a number of pertinent stat categories.
Houston Roughnecks Week 10 Recap
The Houston Roughnecks (5-5, 6-4 ATS) capped off their 2025 UFL betting campaign on a high note, securing a 19-12 outright road win over the playoff-bound Michigan Panthers to finish the year a .500 team. It marked Houston’s first-ever win over Michigan and showcased the strides the team made under first-year head coach C.J. Johnson. Houston set the tone early, marching down the field on their opening drive. Quarterback Jalan McClendon, who finished 17-of-31 for 193 yards, efficiently distributed the ball before running back Lorenzo Lingard punched it in from the 1-yard line for his third touchdown of the season. Justin Hall converted the one-point try to give Houston a 7-0 lead. The defense followed suit with a critical red-zone takeaway as linebacker J.T. Tyler recovered a fumbled snap to halt Michigan’s response. Early in the second quarter, Houston struck again—this time via a 32-yard pick-six by Marvin Moody Jr. to extend the lead to 13-0. A field goal exchange followed, and the Roughnecks entered halftime with a 16-3 advantage.
Michigan trimmed the lead to 16-10 early in the third on a 23-yard touchdown run, but a 20-yard field goal by Chris Blewitt kept the Roughnecks ahead by two possessions. Houston’s defense held strong, forcing a second turnover on a Danny Etling fumble recovered by T.J. Franklin. Michigan added another field goal late, but the Roughnecks closed out the game and season with a statement win. Houston outscored Michigan in all four quarters and forced three turnovers without committing any themselves. The defense allowed just one touchdown and shut down Michigan’s passing game, while Keke Chism led the receiving corps with four catches for 44 yards. With the win, Houston finishes the 2025 campaign with a .500 record—an impressive leap from last year’s performance and a promising foundation heading into next season.
2025 Houston Roughnecks Schedule & Scores
| WEEK |
DATE |
MATCHUP |
TIME (ET) |
RESULT |
RECORD |
| Week 1 |
March 28 |
vs. St. Louis Battlehawks |
8:00 PM |
L 6-31 |
0-1 |
| Week 2 |
April 6 |
at Arlington Renegades |
12:00 PM |
L 9-11 |
0-2 |
| Week 3 |
April 12 |
at Memphis Showboats |
2:30 PM |
W 18-17 |
1-2 |
| Week 4 |
April 19 |
vs. Birmingham Stallions |
7:00 PM |
L 16-23 |
1-3 |
| Week 5 |
April 27 |
at San Antonio Brahmas |
3:00 PM |
W 27-3 |
2-3 |
| Week 6 |
May 3 |
vs. Memphis Showboats |
12:00 PM |
W 21-20 |
3-3 |
| Week 7 |
May 11 |
at Birmingham Stallions |
12:00 PM |
L 25-33 |
3-4 |
| Week 8 |
May 17 |
vs. Michigan Panthers |
1:00 PM |
L 18-30 |
3-5 |
| Week 9 |
May 25 |
vs. D.C. Defenders |
4:00 PM |
W 24-21 |
4-5 |
| Week 10 |
May 31 |
at Michigan Panthers |
3:00 PM |
W 19-12 |
5-5 |
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