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Shades of Ole Miss: Matt Corral’s late-game heroics lift Birmingham Stallions in home opener

Ben Garrettby:Ben Garrett•04/12/25•

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Birmingham Stallions QB Matt Corral (Photo credit: Birmingham Stallions/X)

Matt Corral still has some magic up his sleeve. 

Corral, one of the greatest quarterbacks in Ole Miss football history, re-signed with the United Football League’s Birmingham Stallions in December. 

Fast-forward to Friday and Corral threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Cade Johnson with 26 seconds remaining, then ran in a two-point conversion, to lift the Stallions (2-1) to a 10-9 win over the Arlington Renegades (2-1).

“We’ve got to get so much better,” Birmingham head coach Skip Holtz said afterwards. “Thought Matt did a really good job on the final drive. Went down there and went for two. We had a call out of empty, saw the spread, and kind of put a draw tag on it after the call. 

“Matt went and called it with the o-line, the o-line did a great job of adjusting, and he was able to get in the end zone. What a crazy game. Just excited to win, happy for our fans. We haven’t lost here since ’23. We’re making it interesting, though.”

The game-winning march started at the Birmingham 30-yard line with 2:09 remaining. 

Corral extended the drive with a 12-yard completion to wide receiver Marlon Williams. Two completions for 26 yards and an eight-yard scramble put Corral and Birmingham in position to pull off the winning play.

Corral finished 19 for 41 for 255 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He ran four times for 24 yards and wasn’t sacked in the game. The Stallions picked up their 10th straight home win. 

Birmingham next plays at the Houston Roughnecks on Friday, April 19 at 6 p.m. CT.

Corral spent the 2024 season and started multiple games for the Stallions. He most notably led Birmingham to a comeback win over Michigan in the playoffs. Corral signed with the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings following the conclusion of the UFL season. However, he was waived in August ahead of the roster deadline.

Still, the year marked Corral’s return to a football field for the first time in nearly three years. He’s a former third-round selection (No. 94 overall) of the Carolina Panthers in the 2022 NFL Draft. His career was derailed from the start after he suffered a season-ending Lisfranc injury in the preseason. 

The Panthers took Alabama’s Bryce Young No. 1 overall the following year.

Corral was waived, and later traded, to the Patriots. He ultimately ended up cut and out of the league.

Corral signed with Birmingham in February as the assumed replacement of 2023 USFL MVP Alex McGough. The Stallions were one of four USFL teams to survive the league’s off-season merger with the XFL. The Stallions had won 21 of 24 games the previous two seasons, including a pair of USFL championships. Corral was named starter in March.

Adrian Martinez, though, broke out as the likely UFL MVP and dominated snaps. He finished the regular season with more than 2,200 total yards and 18 touchdowns. Martinez led the league in rushing (528) and the Stallions to a 9-1 record. Another former Rebel, defensive end/linebacker Breeland Speaks, was named UFL Defensive Player of the Year.

Corral replaced Martinez in the third quarter in UFL semifinals in June. Corral hadn’t played since Week 4 — in a showdown with fellow former Rebel Jordan Ta’amu and his D.C. Defenders on April 20. Corral completed 9 of 11 passes for 120 yards, two touchdowns and an interception thrown on his second attempt.

He led a 75-yard scoring drive with the game tied at 18 apiece in the fourth quarter. Among the highlights were a 43-yard pitch-and-catch with Stallion wide receiver Gary Jennings and a touchdown strike to wide receiver Amari Rodgers. He sealed the win with a 12-yard scoring toss to Ricky Person, Jr.

“We truly have a one-of-a-kind program at Ole Miss,” Corral said upon leaving Ole Miss. “I have so much appreciation for Rebel Nation. The love and support I’ve received from fans, faculty, administration and staff in my (Rebel career) has been remarkable. 

“Oxford will always be a second home to me.”

Corral passed for 8,287 career yards at Ole Miss, to go along with 57 touchdowns. 

He had 1,338 yards and 18 additional scores on the ground.  Corral was a multi-time All-SEC selection, as well as an All-American as a junior, which was his final season in Oxford. 

That year Corral was the face of the first-ever 10-win team in program history. The Rebels won a record 11 in 2023-24. They’ve won at least 10 in three out of the last four, including last season.

Corral won the Conerly Trophy as an Ole Miss senior. The Conerly is awarded each year to Mississippi’s best college player. He was a finalist for the Maxwell and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Awards.

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