Spring football is back, and we're not talking college football scrimmages.
The USFL is returning once again in 2023 following a promising first season back last year — one that saw the entire season played in Birmingham, Ala., before the hometown Stallions won the USFL championship game in Canton, Ohio.
Will the Stallions claim USFL dominance again this season? If they do, they'll have to repeat without the benefit of being the de facto home team for every game: Though the USFL won't have dedicated home stadiums for each team, it has expanded to several hub cities in Canton, Memphis, Tenn. and Detroit, all of which will see USFL action this year.
Another change this year will see one of the inaugural teams changing cities and names, as the Tampa Bay Bandits move to Memphis and take on the Showboats moniker. Other rules changes of note include a winding clock that will extend until the five-minute marks of the second and fourth quarter; moving kickoffs back to the 20-yard line; and revamped replay reviews.
MORE: Watch USFL games live with fubo (free trial)
How will all those changes affect the 2023 season? That remains to be seen, but it will all start in Week 1. With that, here's everything you need to know about the Week 1 USFL schedule:
USFL schedule Week 1: What games are on today?
Saturday, April 15
| Matchup | Kickoff time (ET) | Location | TV channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia Stars vs. Memphis Showboats | 4:30 p.m. | Memphis | Fox, fubo |
| New Jersey Generals vs. Birmingham Stallions | 7:30 p.m. | Birmingham | Fox, fubo |
Sunday, April 16
| Matchup | Kickoff time (ET) | Location | TV channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan Panthers vs. Houston Gamblers | Noon | Memphis | NBC/Peacock, fubo |
| Pittsburgh Maulers vs. New Orleans Breakers | 6:30 p.m. | Birmingham | Fox Sports 1, fubo |
MORE: USFL teams, rosters, schedule, rules & more to know about the 2023 football league
Week 1 USFL games TV channels, live streams
Each of the Week 1 USFL games will be broadcast on cable, with Saturday's competitions taking place on Fox. Sunday's games will be split between NBC/Peacock and Fox Sports 1. Streaming options for all the games include fubo, which carries each of the aforementioned networks and also provides a free trial.
Saturday, April 15
Stars vs. Showboats
- Kickoff: 4:30 p.m. ET
- TV channel: Fox
- Live stream: fubo (free trial)
The defending USFL runner-ups take on the "new" team in the Showboats in the first game of the 2023 USFL season. Quarterback Case Cookus will look to lead Philadelphia past a Memphis team that went 4-6 last season to finish third in the South division. If the Showboats are to improve this year under Todd Haley, they'll have to do so without quarterback Jordan Ta'amu, who jumped to play in the XFL. Memphis does get an intriguing addition in former NFL running back Alex Collins, however.
Generals vs. Stallions
- Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
- TV channel: Fox
- Live stream: fubo (free trial)
New Jersey at Birmingham on paper could be the top game of Week 1. Both teams went 9-1 last season to lead the North and South divisions, respectively, though the Generals fell short of their ultimate goal in the divisional round by losing to Philadelphia. New Jersey returns 2022 Offensive Player of the Year Darius Victor and Coach of the Year Mike Riley, but must replace league MVP Kavontae Turpin, who turned his stint in the USFL into an opportunity with the NFL's Cowboys. Familiar faces for the Stallions include former Alabama running back Bo Scarbrough and Packers tight end Jace Sternberger.
Sunday, April 16
Panthers vs. Gamblers
- Kickoff: Noon ET
- TV channel: NBC
- Live stream: fubo (free trial)
The Panthers-Gamblers game will be something of a fresh start for both teams, considering both Michigan and Houston are replacing coaches from last season: Houston will see Curtis Johnson take over following Kevin Sumlin's resignation after a 3-7 season, while Michigan will replace Jeff Fisher with Mike Nolan following a 2-8 campaign.
Maulers vs. Breakers
- Kickoff: 6 p.m. ET
- TV channel: Fox Sports 1
- Live stream: fubo (free trial)
Another matchup in which both teams are replacing their head coaches, Breakers vs. Maulers stands to be something of a litmus test for new Maulers coach Ray Horton, who has only coached one season in the last four years (in 2019, as Washington's defensive backs coach). Pittsburgh in 2022 had the worst record of any team in the USFL at 1-9, so he has his work cut out for him. Conversely, the Breakers will feature a first-time head coach in 44-year-old John DeFilippo, despite coming off a 6-4 season in 2022.
