USFL 2023: Teams, Coaches, Roster, Schedule, Rules & Everything You You Want To Know

After the NFL’s season concluded with the Kansas City Chiefs winning the Super Bowl, the new USFL season has begun. There is still enough of football to consume in the USFL, so those who still need their fix need not worry.

We have you covered for every team’s players and coaches going into the new season with so many movements and changes.

What is the USFL?

A new spring league called the USFL debuted in 2022. The league will now resume play in 2023 with a same schedule after running a complete 10-week regular season and two-week postseason in 2022.

The first USFL, which ran from 1983 to 1985 before folding because it wanted to compete with the NFL on a fall schedule, is unrelated to the revived USFL. Despite using the same club names and branding as the first league, the more recent spring league has no connection to their owners.

The USFL is owned by Fox Sports and was founded by Brian Woods, who previously founded another football start-up The Spring League. Former Cowboys fullback and current Fox broadcaster Daryl Johnston is the president of the league.

CHILLS. Let's run it back 🏆

It all starts this Saturday 🤩 pic.twitter.com/171tjuIFek

— B2B CHAMPIONSTALLIONS 🏆🏆 (@USFLStallions) April 12, 2023

USFL 2023 schedule

Week 1

Week 2

A connection we can't wait to see this season 🤩@jMar_Smith ➡️ @BobbyHolly44 pic.twitter.com/1mKgtrPF2T

— B2B CHAMPIONSTALLIONS 🏆🏆 (@USFLStallions) April 12, 2023

Week 3

Week 4

Your Week 1 schedule 🏈📺👏 pic.twitter.com/ExFQBLJkVP

— USFL (@USFL) April 10, 2023

Week 5

Week 6

QB1 DAYS AWAY 🤩🔥 @BradyWhite223

🎟 https://t.co/qwxgFAPvvZ pic.twitter.com/d7jL3IXr5d

— Memphis Showboats (@USFLShowboats) April 12, 2023

Week 7

Week 8

I N T R O D U C I N G…YOUR Memphis Showboats Mascot 🔥

WHAT SHOULD WE NAME HIM?! ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/ylGYtIw2bH

— Memphis Showboats (@USFLShowboats) April 5, 2023

Week 9

Week 10

🚨 It's time to name our mascot! 🚨

We gathered your top name suggestions to vote on below ⬇️⬇️ pic.twitter.com/S2vdefsa1K

— Memphis Showboats (@USFLShowboats) April 6, 2023

USFL playoffs schedule 2023

The 2023 season will end with the USFL playoffs starting right away. The playoffs’ first round will start on Saturday, June 24, and the final game will take place one week later, on July 1.

The championship game will take place at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, exactly like it did in 2022, according to a USFL announcement. The locations for the semifinal matches have not yet been chosen.

Semifinals

Championship

The Birmingham airport knows what's up! pic.twitter.com/Hl0y4FOQaj

— The UFL Podcast (@UFLPodcast) April 12, 2023

USFL team names for 2023

In 2023, the USFL will have eight teams once more. While one club, the Tampa Bay Bandits, has changed its name to the Memphis Showboats, seven of the players from the inaugural season will be back to compete once more.

Below is a look at the eight teams playing in the USFL during the 2023 season:

• Birmingham Stallions
• Houston Gamblers
• Memphis Showboats
• Michigan Panthers
• New Jersey Generals
• New Orleans Breakers
• Philadelphia Stars
• Pittsburgh Maulers

🗣 IT'S GAME WEEK

RT if you can't wait for KICKOFF this weekend 🙌 pic.twitter.com/q19DEzZQLr

— Memphis Showboats (@USFLShowboats) April 10, 2023

List of USFL coaches

North Division

• Michigan Panthers – Coached by Mike Nolan
• New Jersey Generals – Coached by Mike Riley
• Philadelphia Stars – Coached by Bart Andrus
• Pittsburgh Maulers – Coached by Ray Horton

South Division

• Birmingham Stallions – Coached by Skip Holtz
• Houston Gamblers – Coached by Curtis Johnson
• Memphis Showboats – Coached by Todd Haley
• New Orleans Breakers – Coached by John DeFilippo

Every USFL MVP in history 🔥

Who will join this list at the end of the 2023 season? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/n62O1VJNYi

— USFL (@USFL) April 11, 2023

It never gets old seeing the big USFL football pic.twitter.com/rq9UbXbvYH

— The UFL Podcast (@UFLPodcast) April 12, 2023

USFL 2022 season recap

North division standings

South division standings

Divisional round playoffs

• North: Stars 19, Generals 14
• South: Stallions 31, Breakers 17

Championship game

• Result: Stallions 33, Stars 30
• MVP: WR/KR Victor Bolden Jr.

USFL awards for 2022

• MVP: WR/KR KaVontae Turpin, Generals
• Offensive Player of the Year: RB Darius Victor, Generals
• Defensive Player of the Year: DE Chris Odom, Gamblers
• Coach of the Year: Mike Riley, Generals

Stay ready so you don’t have to get ready! 🐾😤 pic.twitter.com/4ekGGdJA67

— Michigan Panthers (@USFLPanthers) April 12, 2023

How Is USFL Different From NFL?

3-point conversion opportunity

The USFL will permit teams to make a 3-point conversion try if they so want from their 10-yard line. The customary extra point from the 15-yard line and the 2-point conversion from the 2-yard line will also be available to teams.

A team cannot alter its mind after deciding which conversion it wants to try without using a timeout. Additionally, a 3-point conversion attempt is only worth two points if the opposite team returns it for a touchdown.

🚨ATTN PANTHERS FANS🚨

We want to see YOU in the stands! 👀

Grab those tickets now ⬇️
🎟🔗: https://t.co/OUrWTsrM7P pic.twitter.com/N0qcHbpuwn

— Michigan Panthers (@USFLPanthers) April 12, 2023

Game timing differences

The play clock in the USFL will be 35 seconds, while the post-administrative halt time will be 25 seconds. The NFL presently has a 40-second play clock, so theoretically, this modification should result in more plays.

Additionally, during the last two minutes of the second and fourth quarters, the USFL intends to stop the clock following first downs. Teams will be able to construct better two-minute exercise scenarios and save time as a result.

The league also intends to continue the game clock even after completed passes, with the exception of the last five minutes of each half. Why? According to Mike Pereira, head of officiating for the USFL, they aim to restrict the length of the games to three hours or less.

Almost S H O W time 🤩 pic.twitter.com/jEdtF6dueL

— B2B CHAMPIONSTALLIONS 🏆🏆 (@USFLStallions) April 11, 2023

Alternate onside kick attempt rule

Teams in the USFL will be permitted to attempt onside kicks if they so want, but there is another option. In addition, teams have the option of running a fourth-and-12 play from their own 33-yard line, which is eight yards in front of the onside kick attempt.

The team keeps possession of the ball if they convert on fourth-and-12. If not, the ball is given to the defence at the dead-ball location.

Tuesday WORK 🔥💯 pic.twitter.com/G12GUYn4Gg

— Memphis Showboats (@USFLShowboats) April 11, 2023

Punting rule changes

Gunners are prohibited from lining up outside the numbers on punts, and the receiving team is not permitted to double-team those players until the ball has been kicked.

How overtime works in the USFL — OT shootout

By implementing a shootout for games that go into overtime, the USFL is drawing influence from both college football and the NHL. What does that involve? In a best-of-three series, if the score is tied after regulation, the teams will exchange two-point conversion tries from the two-yard line. We go to sudden death if a winner cannot be determined after three tries.

Welcome to the Stallions, @Thaddeusmoss‼️🐎 pic.twitter.com/reVj1PNVAk

— B2B CHAMPIONSTALLIONS 🏆🏆 (@USFLStallions) April 10, 2023

Replay review differences

One challenge will be given to each coach to utilise throughout the match. The replay crew will have the authority to overturn questionable personal foul judgements and decide whether pass interference is deliberate if it occurs 15 or more yards behind the line of scrimmage.

Mike Pereira, who will be in charge of the replay review system, will inform the broadcast of any calls that are made and those that are not.

How kickoffs will work in the USFL

The USFL has created its kickoffs such that they produce returns while also minimising undue forced contact.

So how do they function? Starting at their own 20-yard line, the kicking team will make the first kick. To prevent a rushing start, the whole kicking team must be set up no more than one yard from the 20.

Nine blockers from the receiving team must be in the “set-up zone,” which is situated between the 35- and 45-yard lines of the kicking team. These formations are designed to reduce the likelihood of high-velocity collisions on special teams.

A new twist to the kickoff is that once a ball travels 20 yards, the receiving team must be first to touch it. If no member of the receiving team touches it or a member of the kicking team touches it, it is a dead ball.

During the 2022 season, the USFL had its kickers kick off from the 25-yard line. However, they wanted to make sure more than 90 percent of the kickoffs were returned, so that necessitated moving the kicker back an extra five yards to make touchbacks that much more difficult.

USFL’s two forward passes rule

In 2020, the USFL adopted this regulation from the XFL. The first pass must be made from behind the line of scrimmage, and the second pass must also be made from behind the line of scrimmage for teams to be permitted to toss the ball forward twice.

This might result in some odd-looking moves, but it will keep defences and spectators alike on their toes.

.@NBCSports has announced its commentators for the 2023 @USFL season, which kicks off this weekend.

Details on the full commentary roster for NBC Sports' 18-game schedule across NBC, @peacock & @USANetwork:https://t.co/eycHCZfUys

— NBC Sports PR (@NBCSportsPR) April 11, 2023

Sensors in the USFL ball

Each first down will be precisely measured by the USFL. How do they accomplish that? The ball has sensors that will allow referees to determine if the offensive team crossed the gain line. The method used to assess whether a ball is in or out is comparable to this.

THE USFL IS BACK IN 1 WEEK‼️👏🏈 pic.twitter.com/AYyQ4lOSEK

— USFL (@USFL) April 8, 2023

Intentional vs. unintentional pass interference

Why is it so important to determine whether pass interference was intentional? Pass interference is handled differently in the USFL than it is in the NFL, I suppose.

When a player is purposefully tackled more than 15 yards out during a defensive pass interference, it is a spot foul. There will only be a 15-yard penalty for any more defensive pass interference infractions that extend beyond that. Additionally, spot fouls will be assessed for pass interference penalties that occur inside 15 yards of the line of scrimmage.

There are no offensive pass interference penalties on passes that do not reach the line of scrimmage, though. Ineligible man downfield penalties are not present either. Blockers will have unrestricted movement if teams are throwing behind the line of scrimmage.

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