Students Specializing in Sports Analytics Guiding UFL's Rule Modifications and Strategy Plans
Syracuse University Students Develop Innovative QB Decision Score Model for United Football League
A group of seven sport analytics majors from Syracuse University's David B. Falk College of Sport have made a significant impact in the United Football League (UFL) during the 2025 season. The students, led by Bryan Kilmeade, who shares a connection with UFL officials Paul and Riverso, developed a unique analytical tool called the QB Decision Score model.
The QB Decision Score model is designed to evaluate and project quarterback performance, with a particular focus on rookie and second-year quarterbacks. Using quantitative data from limited samples such as preseason and early regular-season performance, the model scores quarterbacks' decision-making and overall effectiveness. To account for the variability and uncertainty associated with small sample sizes, especially among inexperienced players, the model incorporates statistical techniques to project how a quarterback's season-long performance might evolve from early indicators.
One example of this is the model's recognition that rookie QBs often improve after their initial games or preseasons, as seen in notable players like Jayden Daniels, whose grade increased dramatically over the season.
The development of this model was rooted in practical applications in professional sports, a key emphasis of the sports analytics education at Syracuse University’s Falk College. The students engaged with the UFL by analyzing available data and creating a framework that the league could use for scouting and player evaluation, particularly focusing on quarterbacks who might have been overlooked in the NFL draft but show potential in alternative professional leagues like the UFL.
Russ Brandon, UFL President and CEO, and Daryl Johnston, the UFL's executive vice president of football operations, were among those impressed by the students' presentation. Film producer and UFL co-owner Dany Garcia also expressed her admiration for the innovative work.
The students, including Austin Ambler and Danny Baris, traveled to St. Louis for the UFL's championship weekend in mid-June and staffed the Fan Fest Sportable booth and the Tech Suite. They also used the Sportable tracking device to measure fans' throwing skills and displayed their work from the season in the Tech Suite.
The partnership between the UFL and the David B. Falk College of Sport has exceeded expectations, with the UFL looking forward to continuing it with as many students who want to do it. This partnership marks the first collaboration between a premier spring football league in America and a sport analytics program.
For those interested in learning more about this innovative project, please visit the Falk College of Sport's website. The students are all on schedule to graduate this December, marking the end of a successful and productive collaboration between academia and professional sports.
[1] Example for illustrative purposes only. [2] The QB Decision Score model was developed by Austin Ambler, Danny Baris, Bryan Kilmeade, and their colleagues, under the guidance of Rodney Paul, the Department of Sport Analytics Chair at the David B. Falk College of Sport, and Francesco Riverso, the Director of Corporate Partnerships and External Engagement at the David B. Falk College of Sport.
The QB Decision Score model, developed by a team of Syracuse University students led by Bryan Kilmeade, was a groundbreaking analytical tool designed for the United Football League (UFL), focusing on evaluating and projecting quarterback performance, particularly rookie and second-year quarterbacks. The model, used for scouting and player evaluation, incorporates statistical techniques to account for variability and uncertainty associated with small sample sizes, such as Jayden Daniels' improved grade over the season.
