Syracuse Sun

The United Football League (UFL) has announced a collaboration with the Sport Analytics program at Syracuse University, which will allow students to engage in statistical analysis and produce insights for the league. This partnership is a pioneering effort, as it marks the first official collaboration between an American academic institution and the spring football organization.

The agreement provides Syracuse students with exposure to professional football operations and access to UFL personnel. In return, the students from Syracuse's renowned sport analytics program will apply their data analysis skills to assist the league.

"The United Football League is proud to team up with the two-time national champion Sport Analytics program at Syracuse University," expressed Russ Brandon, President and CEO of the UFL. He highlighted the league's commitment to innovation and described the partnership as a natural step in enhancing sports analytics capabilities.

The UFL, a leading spring football competition born from the merger of the XFL and USFL in 2024, is backed by RedBird Capital Partners, FOX, Dany Garcia, and Dwayne Johnson. The league features eight teams located in key U.S. markets such as Arlington, Birmingham, Detroit, Houston, Memphis, San Antonio, St. Louis, and Washington, D.C. The upcoming UFL season will commence at 8 p.m. ET on a Friday, with FOX Sports launching "FOX UFL Friday"—a weekly showcase of UFL games through the 10-week regular season. The St. Louis Battlehawks will face the Houston Renegades in the inaugural match. The season is set to conclude with the 2025 UFL Championship Game, aired by ABC on June 14.

"The UFL envisions itself as a gathering place for innovative thinkers," noted Brad Campbell, Vice President of Football Technology at the UFL. He acknowledged the contributions of Syracuse's sport analytics team as integral to achieving this vision.

Directed by Rodney Paul, Syracuse's sport analytics students have achieved significant accomplishments, including consecutive National Sport Analytics Championships in 2023-24, alongside victories in multiple player and team analytics competitions across different sports. The program is involved with 13 of Syracuse University's athletic teams and collaborates with professional partners like the Kumamoto Volters and Farjestad BK, among others.

With this new agreement, the Sport Analytics program has started the first stage with seven participating students, with more expected to join. The students will work on projects related to UFL operations and initiatives, with regular meetings scheduled to discuss findings and strategies.

Rodney Paul, the Sport Analytics Undergraduate Director and Professor, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, "We are honored to partner with the UFL and look forward to providing insights and actionable items for the teams and league." He emphasized the invaluable experience that students will gain, which is not replicable in a classroom setting.