Austin Reed Throws for UFL-Record 376 Yards as Renegades Rout Gamblers 36-17 in Frisco Opener

FRISCO, Texas — The Dallas Renegades spent the offseason changing their name, their stadium and their head coach. On Saturday afternoon, they found out what all of that can look like when it works. Austin Reed threw for 376 yards in his Renegades debut, the most in a single UFL regular-season game, and Dallas opened its 2026 season by beating the Houston Gamblers 36-17 at Toyota Stadium.

It was the franchise's first game back under the Dallas name after three seasons as the Arlington Renegades, and its first in a new home in Frisco. A crowd of 8,870 watched under overcast skies as Reed completed 26 of 40 passes with three touchdowns and no interceptions, and the Dallas defense supplied the first points of the afternoon.

A Pick-Six to Start the Season

The opening drive was not a sign of things to come. Dallas moved the ball and came away empty when its first possession ended in a missed field goal, according to Fox Sports' recap. The defense made up for it quickly. Cornerback Steven Jones Jr. picked off Houston starter Nolan Henderson and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown, the first pick-six of the UFL season.

Houston answered with a 44-yard field goal from John Hoyland, and Dallas carried a 6-3 lead into the second quarter. The Gamblers' early possessions told the story of their afternoon: the Forward Times reported that Houston's first three drives produced two three-and-outs and the interception, and Hunter Dekkers replaced Henderson at quarterback after that.

Seventeen Points Before the Half

Dallas took control in the second quarter. After a 27-yard completion to Emmanuel Butler, Reed found running back Ellis Merriweather for a 3-yard touchdown and a 13-3 lead. Following a Houston turnover on downs, Reed hit Tyler Vaughns for a 14-yard score, and Colton Theaker closed the half with a 51-yard field goal as time expired to make it 23-3.

Vaughns was Reed's favorite target all day. The two connected for 59 yards on Dallas' opening possession, and the receiver finished with seven receptions for 144 yards and the touchdown. The Gamblers, meanwhile, could not put together anything sustained. By halftime they had three points and a quarterback change.

Ward Goes 66, Houston Answers on Special Teams

Dallas did not let the break cool anything off. On the first play from scrimmage of the second half, Reed connected with Greg Ward for a 66-yard touchdown that made it 30-3. Ward caught all three of his targets for 93 yards.

Houston's best moment came immediately afterward. Jalen Moreno-Cropper returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown, and Jalen White ran in the conversion to cut the deficit to 30-11. Theaker added a 26-yard field goal later in the quarter, and the Renegades led 33-11 heading to the fourth.

Dekkers scored the Gamblers' only offensive touchdown on a 3-yard run midway through the fourth quarter. He finished 19 of 29 for 227 yards without a touchdown pass, and wide receiver Jontre Kirklin caught four passes for 60 yards. Theaker capped the scoring with a 41-yard field goal with 51 seconds left.

One Yard to the Record

Reed's record came late, and his coaches knew exactly how close he was. The Forward Times reported that an assistant told head coach Rick Neuheisel that Reed needed one more yard to break the passing record, and Neuheisel called a pass. Reed got it. It was an emotional day for the quarterback, who used an in-game sideline interview to thank the doctors, nurses and NICU staff at Baylor Medical Center, where his twin daughters were born weeks earlier. "My wife and daughters are already some of the strongest people I know," he said, according to the Forward Times.

Reed had won the Week 1 job over longtime Renegades starter Luis Perez, a decision Fox Sports noted moved Perez to the bench. One afternoon in, the call looked easy to defend.

What Neuheisel and Reed Said

Neuheisel, coaching his first UFL game for Dallas, was pleased with the response more than the margin. "I just love the way that our guys responded, because there was a little adversity early," he said, according to the Forward Times. He also said the group has "the makings of something really cool and special" if it commits to paying attention to detail, and allowed himself one simple conclusion: "we're excited about being 1-0."

Reed sounded like a quarterback who had already watched the film in his head. "To piggyback off what Coach said, I think we could've played a lot better," he said.

What's Next

The win put Dallas at 1-0 and in an early tie for first place, according to American Football International. Houston, under head coach Kevin Sumlin, fell to 0-1 and will look to settle its quarterback picture before its home opener at Shell Energy Stadium against the Birmingham Stallions on Sunday, April 5.

The Renegades stay home in Frisco and host the St. Louis Battlehawks on Tuesday, April 7. If Reed and Vaughns pick up where they left off, Toyota Stadium may get used to scoreboards like this one.

Photo Credit: Cody Grubbs/Undrafted