LIVESTREAM French Wild Card: Asnières Molosses @ Toulouse Ours, May 24, 19:00 CET (7 pm, 1 pm ET)

AFI | American Football | 05/24/2025

Graphic: Dante Bustos

The Toulouse Ours (6-3-1) welcome the Asnières-sur-Seine Molosses (7-3) to Toulouse in a D1 Elite Wild Card clash, pitting the league’s surging underdogs against a high-octane Parisian squad.

Toulouse’s resilient rise
Led by quarterback Braden Howell (1,756 passing yards, 24 TDs/543 rush yards, 5 TDs), the Ours stormed through the first half of 2025 unbeaten, claiming statement wins over the Catalans Grizzlys and Marseille Blue Stars. Howell’s precision and clutch decision-making fueled their playoff push, though fatigue from a grueling schedule tested their spring form. Home-field advantage at their fortress-like venue could reignite their early-season magic.

Molosses’ offensive firepower
Asnières boasts D1’s second-ranked offense (311 regular-season points), anchored by dual-threat QB Brody Hahn (1,539 passing yards, 26 TDs/430 rush yards, 5 TDs). Hahn’s ability to dissect defenses through air and ground attacks makes the Molosses a constant threat. Their defense, battle-tested in two narrow losses to reigning champions, the Thonon-les-Bains Black Panthers, adds grit to their explosive identity.

Playoff stakes
This matchup hinges on Toulouse’s ability to contain Hahn’s versatility while leveraging Howell’s red-zone efficiency. The Ours’ disciplined defense, which stifled top-tier opponents early, must disrupt Hahn’s rhythm. For Asnières, neutralizing Howell’s deep-ball threat and exploiting late-season wear on Toulouse will be critical.

Final preview
A Toulouse win would cap their Cinderella run, while Asnières aims to validate its offensive dominance. With a semifinal berth on the line, expect a clash of contrasting styles—Howell’s aerial mastery versus Hahn’s dual-threat dynamism—under the French playoff spotlight.