USFL Season #2 Kicks Off

The United States Football League (USFL) returned last spring and completed a full season playing all of their games in Birmingham, Alabama and postseason in Canton, Ohio.  The league returns for their second season with eight teams playing in three venues.  Former Dallas Cowboys' star, Darryl Johnston has been promoted to league president.  

Instead of each team playing their home games in their host cities, they will once again go the route of playing in "hub" cities.  This year Memphis (TN), Detroit (MI) and Canton (OH) will join Birmingham.  The 10-week regular season schedule will begin this weekend.

One team has been changed in the league lineup as the Memphis Showboats have replaced the Tampa Bay Bandits.

The Michigan Panthers and Philadelphia Stars will play their home games at Ford Field in Detroit.  Canton will host the New Jersey General and Pittsburgh Maulers.  The Houston Gamblers and Memphis Showboats will play in Memphis.  Birmingham's Protective Stadium will once again be the home field for the Birmingham Stallions and New Orleans Breakers.

With the XFL getting a head start into this season, it will be interesting to see how they fare against each other in the coming weeks.  The XFL is in the home stretch of their first season while the USFL will start their second season this weekend.

The USFL has several rules and regulations that separates itself from the NFL, including the ability to retain possession after a score if the offensive team converts a 4th-and-12 play from their own 25-yard-line. The league is also upping its safety measures by allowing players to wear ProTech helmet covers during practices and games.

Last season the Birmingham Stallions defeated the Philadelphia Stars 33-30 in the title game.  Following the season, 21 players made it on NFL rosters.

NBC and Fox will televise USFL games this season.

The USFL's second season will kick things off with a double-header on April 15. The Stars will take on the Showboats at 4:30 p.m. ET, and the defending champion Stallions will host the New Jersey Generals at 7:30 p.m. ET.

2023 Team Previews:

Birmingham Stallions

2022 Record:  11-1

Finished first place in South Division, defeated New Orleans Breakers 31-17 in semifinals, defeated Philadelphia Stars 33-30 in championship game.

Coach:  Skip Holtz

Players to watch: J'mar Smith (QB), Scooby Wright (LB), Bo Scarbrough (RB)

Houston Gamblers

2022 Record: 3-7

Finished fourth place in South Division.

Coach:  Curtis Johnson

Players to watch: Mark Thompson (RB), Joshua Moore (WR), Eli Howard (DE)

Memphis Showboats

2022 Record:  N/A

Coach:  Todd Haley

Players to watch: Brady White (QB), John Franklin III (WR), Big Kat Bryant (DE)

Michigan Panthers

2022 Record: 2-8

Finished third place in North Division

Coach:  Mike Nolan

Players to watch: Reggie Corbin (RB), Frank Ginda (LB), Robert Nkemdiche (DT)

New Jersey Generals

2022 Record: 9-2

Finished first place in North Division, lost to Philadelphia Stars 19-14 in semifinals

Coach: Mike Riley

Players to watch: DeAndre Johnson (QB), Hercules Mata'afa (LB), Shalom Luani (S)

New Orleans Breakers

2022 Record: 6-5

Finished second in South Division, lost to Birmingham Stallions 31-17 in semifinals.

Coach:  John DeFilippo

Players to watch: Johnnie Dixon (WR), Jordan Brailford (LB), Greg Elsworth II (S)

Philadelphia Stars

2022 Record: 7-5

Finished second place in North Division, defeated New Jersey Generals 19-14 in semifinals, lost to Birmingham Stallions 33-30 in championship game.

Coach:  Bart Andrus

Players to watch: Case Cookus (QB), Jordan Suell (WR), Channing Stribling (CB)

Pittsburgh Maulers

2022 Record: 1-9

Finished fourth place in North Division

Coach:  Ray Horton

Players to watch: Trey Walker (WR), Madre London (RB), Reuben Foster (LB)