The Michigan Panthers and UFL star kicker Jake Bates will be back on the field for their final game of the regular season on Saturday, June 1, in what will be a playoff preview against the Birmingham Stallions.
The game will take place at the home of the Stallions, Protective Stadium, and the kickoff is set for 2 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on ESPN and ESPN Xtra on SiriusXM.
This contest is a rematch of the Week 2 game when the Stallions topped the Panthers, 20-13, at Ford Field. The Stallions have an 8-1 record going into this game, while the Panthers are 7-2. Both teams have already locked up their playoff spots and will face off again next week in the USFL Conference Championship on Saturday, June 8.
Bates enters the game 15-of-19 on the season, but he's coming off a contest in which he missed a 39-yard field goal, his shortest misfire of the season. The Panthers kicker has not made a field goal in each of the last two games.
Of his four misses in 2024, three of them have come outdoors, although two of those were from 58 and 62 yards, so context is important.
But none of that hasn't been enough to sour what has been a great season for him. Bates has made a total of six field goals over 50 yards, including three of 60-plus. That has no doubt caught the attention of NFL teams, including the Detroit Lions, who have reportedly shown interest.
Hopefully Bates can rebound on Saturday ahead of what will be the most important game of the 2024 season next week.
