What Is the USFL? Teams, Hub Cities, Schedule, and More


Who is ready for a second season of USFL action? The Birmingham Stallions cruised through the inaugural 2022 season with a 9-1 record to become the first USFL champions. With the league intact and primed for a second season, what is the USFL again? With a franchise relocation, new hub cities, revamped rosters, and a complete schedule, let’s look at the upcoming 2023 USFL season.

What Is the USFL? Which Teams Are Included?

The revival of the USFL moves the schedule back to the spring to take advantage of the NFL and NCAA’s offseasons. It’s important to note that the league is under new ownership. Nevertheless, the USFL is still tapping into the history of the 1980s.

MORE: When Does the USFL Season Start in 2023?

The USFL has eight teams in 2023, six of which come from the 12 original teams in 1983. The Stallions, Michigan Panthers, New Jersey Generals, New Orleans Breakers, Philadelphia Stars, Houston Gamblers, and Pittsburgh Maulers all return for their second season. While there was no expansion, there was a relocation, with the Tampa Bay Bandits going on a temporary hiatus and being moved to Memphis as the Showboats, an original expansion team from 1984.

What Are the New Hub Cities?

The USFL’s inaugural season in 2022 saw all eight teams play regular-season games in Birmingham, Alabama, and the postseason hosted at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. While the franchises aren’t going to have individual homes just yet, prompting New Orleans Breakers HC Larry Fedora to step down, the USFL does have a new approach for the 2023 season.

Instead of having all eight teams play in one city, the league has paired two teams in one of four hub cities. Birmingham, home of the Stallions, will remain USFL’s headquarters and where the New Orleans Breakers will play home games.

The next city to be announced came with the Bandits’ relocation to Memphis. The Showboats will share Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium with the Gamblers.

As for the North Division, the Maulers and Generals have a bit of a hike compared to everyone else, but they will practice and play their home games at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton.

Meanwhile, Michigan and Philadelphia get arguably the most high-profile home venue by being able to call Ford Field home. While fans of every franchise are yearning for home games in their hometown, the four-hub model is a promising step towards that hope in the future.

USFL Coaches, Players, and Rosters for 2023

Given the USFL is in its second season, there will be no Player Selection Meeting as the bulk of the rosters for all eight franchises remains intact. The teams have been actively participating in free agency as some talent has jumped ship to either the NFL or the XFL.

Nevertheless, the USFL will hold its first-ever College Draft on Tuesday, Feb. 21, at 1 p.m. ET. The draft will consist of 10 rounds, and there has yet to be an announcement on if it will be televised.

Birmingham Stallions

Head Coach: Skip Holtz

Houston Gamblers

Head Coach: Curtis Johnson

Michigan Panthers

Head Coach: Mike Nolan

New Jersey Generals

Head Coach: Mike Riley

New Orleans Breakers

Head Coach: John DeFilippo

Philadelphia Stars

Head Coach: Bart Andrus

Pittsburgh Maulers

Head Coach: Ray Horton

Memphis Showboats

Head Coach: Todd Haley

USFL Schedule

The four-hub city plan will cover all the regular-season matchups. Regarding postseason play, the North Division games will occur at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium and the South Divisions at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama.

MORE: 2023 XFL Standings

Again this season, the USFL Championship Game will be played in Canton. All games will take place on Saturday and Sunday in 2023.

How Many Games Will the USFL Play in 2023?

The USFL regular season will span 10 weeks, starting on April 15. As opposed to a year ago, a date has not been set for the start of the postseason, although it will follow the same structure as last year. The USFL also released the schedule with dates and times in its entirety this season, although channel information is lacking. Let’s look at the 2023 USFL schedule.

USFL Week 1

  • Philadelphia Stars vs. Memphis Showboats
    • Date: April 15
    • Start time: 4:30 p.m. ET
    • Channel: FOX
  • New Jersey Generals vs. Birmingham Stallions
    • Date: April 15
    • Start time: 7:30 p.m. ET
    • Channel: FOX
  • Michigan Panthers vs. Houston Gamblers
    • Date: April 16
    • Start time: Noon ET
    • Channel: NBC
  • Pittsburgh Maulers vs. New Orleans Breakers
    • Date: April 16
    • Start time: 6:30 p.m. ET

USFL Week 2

  • Houston Gamblers vs. New Orleans Breakers
    • Date: April 22
    • Start time: 12:30 p.m. ET
  • Memphis Showboats vs. Birmingham Stallions
    • Date: April 22
    • Start time: 7 p.m. ET
  • New Jersey Generals vs.  Pittsburgh Maulers
    • Date: April 23
    • Start time: Noon ET
  • Michigan Panthers vs. Philadelphia Stars
    • Date: April 23
    • Start time: 7 p.m. ET

USFL Week 3

  • New Orleans Breakers vs. Birmingham Stallions
    • Date: April 29
    • Start time: 12:30 p.m. ET
  • Memphis Showboats vs. Houston Gamblers
    • Date: April 29
    • Start time: 7 p.m. ET
  • Pittsburgh Maulers vs. Philadelphia Stars
    • Date: April 30
    • Start time: Noon ET
  • New Jersey Generals vs. Michigan Panthers
    • Date: April 30
    • Start time: 4 p.m. ET

USFL Week 4

  • Houston Gamblers vs. Philadelphia Stars
    • Date: May 6
    • Start time: 1 p.m. ET
  • Memphis Showboats vs. Michigan Panthers
    • Date: May 6
    • Start time: 7:30 p.m. ET
  • New Orleans Breakers vs. New Jersey Generals
    • Date: May 7
    • Start time: 3 p.m. ET
  • Birmingham Stallions vs. Pittsburgh Maulers
    • Date: May 7
    • Start time: 6:30 p.m. ET

USFL Week 5

  • Pittsburgh Maulers vs. Michigan Panthers
    • Date: May 13
    • Start time: 12:30 p.m. ET
  • Houston Gamblers vs. Birmingham Stallions
    • Date: May 13
    • Start time: 4 p.m. ET
  • New Jersey Generals vs. Philadelphia Stars
    • Date: May 14
    • Start time: Noon ET
  • Michigan Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Bandits
    • Date: May 14
    • Start time: 3 p.m. ET

USFL Week 6

  • Pittsburgh Maulers vs. Memphis Showboats
    • Date: May 20
    • Start time: 12:30 p.m. ET
  • Birmingham Stallions vs. Michigan Panthers
    • Date: May 20
    • Start time: 4 p.m. ET
  • New Orleans Breakers vs. Philadelphia Stars
    • Date: May 21
    • Start time: Noon ET
  • New Jersey Generals vs. Houston Gamblers
    • Date: May 21
    • Start time: 4 p.m. ET

USFL Week 7

  • Birmingham Stallions vs. New Orleans Breakers
    • Date: May 27
    • Start time: 4 p.m ET
  • Philadelphia Stars vs. Pittsburgh Maulers
    • Date: May 27
    • Start time: 9 p.m. ET
  • Houston Gamblers vs. Memphis Showboats
    • Date: May 28
    • Start time: 2 p.m. ET
  • Michigan Panthers vs. New Jersey Generals
    • Date: May 28
    • Start time: 5:30 p.m. ET

USFL Week 8

  • Houston Gamblers vs. Pittsburgh Maulers
    • Date: June 3
    • Start time: Noon ET
  • Philadelphia Stars vs. Birmingham Stallions
    • Date: June 3
    • Start time: 3 p.m. ET
  • Memphis Showboats vs. New Jersey Generals
    • Date: June 4
    • Start time: 1 p.m. ET
  • Michigan Panthers vs. New Orleans Breakers
    • Date: June 4
    • Start time: 4 p.m. ET

USFL Week 9

  • Michigan Panthers vs. Pittsburgh Maulers
    • Date: June 10
    • Start time: Noon ET
  • New Orleans Breakers vs. Memphis Showboats
    • Date: June 10
    • Start time: 3 p.m. ET
  • Birmingham Stallions vs. Houston Gamblers
    • Date: June 11
    • Start time: 2 p.m. ET
  • Philadelphia Stars vs. New Jersey Generals
    • Date: June 11
    • Start time: 7 p.m. ET

USFL Week 10

  • Pittsburgh Maulers vs. New Jersey Generals
    • Date: June 17
    • Start time: 1 p.m. ET
  • Birmingham Stallions vs. Memphis Showboats
    • Date: June 17
    • Start time: 4 p.m. ET
  • New Orleans Breakers vs. Houston Gamblers
    • Date: June 18
    • Start time: 4 p.m. ET
  • Philadelphia Stars vs. Michigan Panthers
    • Date: June 18
    • Start time: 7 p.m. ET





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