Analytics Students Shaping UFL: Influencing Rules and Strategies with Sports Data Analysis
In an unprecedented partnership, the United Football League (UFL) collaborated with the David B. Falk College of Sport during the 2025 season, marking the first time an American college or university worked with the nation's premier spring football league. Seven sport analytics majors from the Falk College, including Austin Ambler, Danny Baris, Toby Halpern, Zach Seidel, Nolan Bruton, Eleanor O'Connor, and Johann Perera, were recruited to work for the UFL.
The students' work was not only limited to the classroom. They gained invaluable real-world experience, working with data that were actually used and implemented by the league. This opportunity allowed them to grow their technical skills, learning new techniques to accomplish projects.
One of the students' most significant contributions was the development of a metric called "QB Decision Score." This innovative model, created by Ambler and Baris, aims to quantify quarterback decision-making by analysing the predicted expected points added (EPA) outcomes of different choices. By using data-driven analysis, the QB Decision Score model assesses the quality of a QB's decision-making in the moment.
During the season, the UFL officials were impressed with the speed and quality of the QB Decision Score model. This innovative tool proved instrumental in influencing game strategy and rule adjustments, providing teams and coaches with insights into quarterback decision efficiency. This, in turn, helped optimize offensive play calling and refine passing strategies based on the QB's tendencies and decision quality as quantified by the model.
The students' work was not only appreciated by the UFL officials but also by many dignitaries, including film producer and UFL co-owner Dany Garcia. The students' involvement extended beyond the field, as they were available to travel to St. Louis for the UFL's championship weekend in mid-June. They staffed the Fan Fest Sportable booth and the Tech Suite, contributing to the overall fan experience.
Russ Brandon, UFL President and CEO, is a member of the Falk College of Sport Advisory Board, and Daryl Johnston, the UFL's executive vice president of football operations, is a former Syracuse University football star. This connection between the UFL and the Falk College of Sport is expected to continue, with the students' experiences and skills gained from working with the UFL set to be applied to other projects in their future roles throughout their professional careers.
To learn more about this partnership and the Falk College of Sport, visit the Falk website.
The sports analytics majors from the David B. Falk College of Sport, including Austin Ambler and Danny Baris, played a crucial role in the UFL's 2025 season by developing the QB Decision Score, a metric used to analyze quality of a quarterback's decision-making in football. This innovative tool, utilized by the league, significantly impacted game strategy and rule adjustments, enhancing offensive play calling and refining passing strategies.
