Dallas Renegades quarterback Austin Reed threw for a UFL-record 376 yards in his debut, powering a dominant season-opening win over Houston.

The Dallas Renegades couldn’t have asked for a much better start to their 2026 UFL season. Behind a record-setting debut from quarterback Austin Reed and a defense that kept Houston under pressure all afternoon, Dallas opened the year with a convincing home win that felt one-sided almost from the opening quarter.

Austin Reed wasted no time making an impression in a Renegades uniform. On his first pass of the game, he uncorked a 59-yard strike to Tyler Vaughns, setting the tone for what turned into a huge passing day. By the final whistle, Reed had thrown for 376 yards, the most ever in a UFL regular-season game, while adding three touchdown passes and completing 65 percent of his throws.

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The Renegades got a major lift from their defense, too. Houston’s offense stumbled badly early, and Dallas took advantage. Steven Jones Jr. stepped in front of a pass and returned it 30 yards for the team’s first touchdown of the season, igniting the home crowd and pushing the Renegades into control. Later in the half, Shaun Wade added another interception, helping Dallas stretch the margin before the break.

Reed’s chemistry with Vaughns quickly became one of the biggest storylines of the day. Vaughns finished with seven catches for a career-high 144 yards and a touchdown, consistently creating problems for Houston’s secondary. Reed also found Ellis Merriweather for a short scoring pass and hit Greg Ward Jr. on a 66-yard touchdown that blew the game open in the second half.

Dallas got more help from Colton Theaker, who knocked through a pair of field goals, including a 51-yarder, while the offense continued to pile up chunk plays. Baylor Cupp also chipped in with a key gain that helped set up points during a strong first half.

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Houston did find a few bright spots despite the loss. Hunter Dekkers gave the offense more life after entering the game, finishing with 227 passing yards and a 66 percent completion rate. Jalen Moreno-Cropper flashed big-play ability with five receptions for 59 yards and a 93-yard kickoff return touchdown, while Jontre Kirklin added 60 receiving yards.

Still, this day belonged to Dallas. The Renegades looked explosive on offense, opportunistic on defense and far more polished than a team playing its season opener. With Reed already putting his name in the UFL record book, Dallas now heads into its next matchup against St. Louis with real momentum and a lot more attention.