Five sport analytics students from Syracuse University’s Falk College attended the United Football League (UFL) championship game in St. Louis, marking the culmination of their work with the league this season. The students, Austin Ambler, Danny Baris, Toby Halpern, Zach Seidel, and Nolan Bruton, contributed to several projects that could influence future football strategies.
The collaboration began when seven students from the Department of Sport Analytics started working with the UFL last winter. They were tasked with utilizing available data to pitch innovative ideas. One significant contribution was a “QB Decision Score” metric developed by Ambler and Baris to evaluate quarterback decision-making based on expected points added for each receiver.
Bryan Kilmeade, UFL Operations Manager and Syracuse University alum, expressed surprise at how quickly Ambler and Baris delivered their initial model. “A week later they came back and gave us a first run-through,” he said. “In our minds this was going to take the whole season.”
Throughout the 2025 UFL season from March 28 to June 14, these students worked on various projects that were shared with teams and coaches. Their work might eventually reach the NFL due to its strong relationship with the UFL.
Kilmeade praised the partnership with Falk College: “This partnership has exceeded our expectations on the league side.” He also noted his continued connection with Falk College faculty Rodney Paul and Francesco Riverso since his time as a student there.
The collaboration marked a milestone as it was reportedly the first time an American college partnered with a premier spring football league like the UFL. Paul emphasized that such experience is invaluable for students: “The experience…was impossible to replicate in the classroom.”
Baris highlighted gaining practical data analysis skills while Ambler appreciated working on real-world projects used by the league. Other contributions included developing decision charts for point after touchdown conversions and alternatives for onside kicks.
The internship concluded during championship weekend in St. Louis where students showcased their work at Fan Fest Sportable booth and Tech Suite presentations.
