Former Ole Miss Star Matt Corral leads Birmingham to UFL Title Game
Birmingham, Alabama – Former Ole Miss standout, QB Matt Corral, put on a show to remember over the weekend in the USFL Conference Championship, leading the Birmingham Stallions to a 31-18 victory over the Michigan Panthers and earning a spot in the UFL Championship game against the San Antonio Brahmas.
Coming off the bench to relieve struggling starting quarterback Adrian Martinez, Corral dazzled spectators just as he had done during his college career at the University of Mississippi. Fans of Ole Miss, who had seen Corral throw for nearly 8,300 yards during his time there, were not surprised. Corral’s performance was a reminder of his abilities, which led the Rebels to their first 10-win regular season in program history in 2021.
Game Highlights
Corral completed 9 of 11 passes for 120 yards, with two touchdowns and an interception, an impressive performance considering he was not the starting quarterback at kickoff. His ability to make plays under pressure and his strong arm were crucial to steering the Stallions to victory. His touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter gave the Stallions their first lead, and a second touchdown pass in the closing minutes of the game sealed the outcome.”
Corral’s Journey
A native of Southern California, Matt Corral thrived in his final two seasons with Ole Miss under head coach Lane Kiffin, throwing a combined 49 touchdowns and rushing for an additional 15 scores. He was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft but suffered a season-ending injury in the preseason. Waived by the Panthers in August 2023, Corral was subsequently signed by the New England Patriots, only to be released and then re-signed to their practice squad. He joined the Stallions in February 2024, a move that has proved decisive for the team’s progress.
Strategy and Training
In the team’s post-game press conference, Corral stated, “My thoughts going into this game were just like any other day. We practice the same scenarios and the same plays every day, day in and day out…Coach [Skip Holtz] does a good job of putting us in place to get done what we have to get done.”
Stallions’ head coach Skip Holtz, expressing his faith in Corral, said, “I’ve said all along, I feel like we have two starting quarterbacks…Matt is a very talented individual, but more than anything, today is an unbelievable lesson in resolve.”
The Stallions are looking forward to the UFL Championship game on June 16 against the San Antonio Brahmas, with Corral’s inspiring performance making him a crucial player in their game plan.
