Spring football is back, and the USFL and XFL are hoping that it's better than ever.
The two spring leagues that competed head-to-head last season merged into one entity intending to create one premier spring league that can last long-term.
The new league will be known as the United Football League (UFL) and be broadcast on Fox and ESPN. The league houses eight teams and will be split into USFL and XFL divisions in the hopes of stoking rivalry between the two former competitors.
While the UFL won't have the same star power as the NFL, there are still plenty of solid players in the league. Previous spring stars like Case Cookus, J'Mar Smith, and Mark Robinson are back for another season and will look to carry their teams to victory and, perhaps, get chances to go back to the NFL.
Even if only a couple of players eventually make it onto NFL rosters, football fans will still be happy to have some live games to watch as they bide time between the Super Bowl and the preseason.
Below is a complete look at the UFL's Week 1 schedule, along with previews for each game.
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UFL schedule Week 1: What games are on today?
Here's the full schedule for the first week of the UFL season, including how to watch each game live.
Saturday, March 30
Matchup | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream | Tickets |
Birmingham Stallions at Arlington Renegades | 1 p.m. | Fox, Fubo | Buy now |
St. Louis Battlehawks at Michigan Panthers | 4 p.m. | Fox, Fubo | Buy now |
Sunday, March 31
Matchup | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream | Tickets |
D.C. Defenders at San Antonio Brahmas | Noon | ESPN, Fubo | Buy now |
Memphis Showboats at Houston Roughnecks | 3 p.m. | ESPN, Fubo | Buy now |
Saturday UFL games TV channel, live streams
Stallions at Renegades
- Kickoff:1 p.m. ET
- TV channel:Fox
- Live stream:Fubo
The UFL's inaugural campaign will begin with a matchup between reigning USFL and XFL champions, the Stallions and Renegades.
The Stallions have been spring football's best team the past two seasons, posting a combined regular-season record of 17-3 under Skip Holtz and winning all four playoff games to earn two USFL titles. Holtz is running it back again with a supporting cast featuring quarterback J'Mar Smith, running back CJ Marable, and plenty of other championship-winning players like Deon Cain, Jace Sternberger, and Scooby Wright III.
The Renegades weren't as successful as the Stallions but managed to win the XFL championship despite posting a 4-6 regular-season record. Veteran coach Bob Stoops is returning Luis Perez as his team's starting quarterback, while veteran edge rusher Vic Beasley will lead what should be a strong defense.
The Stallions have an extra year of continuity and experience over the Renegades, so they should be favored in this game even though it's being played at the UFL hub in Arlington.
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Battlehawks at Panthers
- Kickoff:4 p.m. ET
- TV channel:Fox
- Live stream:Fubo
The Battlehawks failed to make the XFL playoffs last year despite a 7-3 record. The Panthers made the USFL postseason — and were an overtime away from heading to the USFL championship — with a record of 4-6. Such is life in spring football.
St. Louis will be looking to avenge its postseason denial from last season and should have a chance to do that thanks to its excellent passing offense. A.J. McCarron, the XFL's leading passer in 2023, is returning to the Battlehawks after spending the NFL season with the Bengals. He will have a full complement of receiving weapons at his disposal, including Hakeem Butler, Marcel Ateman, and former Seattle Sea Dragons rival Jahcour Pearson.
Michigan has struggled over the past two USFL seasons on offense but appeared to finally find a solid quarterback, E.J. Perry. He will be asked to spark a Reggie Corbin-less offense and support a Frank Ginda- and Breeland Speaks-led defense that should be one of the stoutest in the league.
The Battlehawks figure to have the advantage in this contest, but perhaps Mike Nolan can throw some wrinkles Anthony Becht's way that slow down McCarron as he reacclimates to the speed of the UFL game.
MORE: Everything to know about the UFL as it prepares for 2024 season
Sunday UFL games TV channel, live streams
Defenders at Brahmas
- Kickoff: NoonET
- TV channel:ESPN
- Live stream:Fubo
The Defenders were the XFL's best team in 2023. They logged a record of 9-1 and beat the Sea Dragons in the postseason before falling to the Renegades in the XFL championship game. They will look to avenge that defeat and bounce back against the Brahmas, who went 3-7 under Hines Ward in 2023.
San Antonio now has Wade Phillips at the helm, and his defense should give the Brahmas a higher floor this season. The offense is more of a question mark, as Chase Garbers — who spent time with the Raiders in 2022 and '23 after going undrafted out of Cal — is expected to start at quarterback.
Garbers will get to work with decent weapons in Cody Latimer and Jontre Kirklin, but it will be up to offensive coordinator AJ Smith to get everything to work in 2024.
The Defenders, meanwhile, return a loaded coaching staff of Reggie Barlow, offensive coordinator Fred Kaiss, and defensive coordinator Gregg Williams in 2024. Top quarterback Jordan Ta'amu and top running back Abram Smith also return. They will be a legitimate threat to win the UFL championship, and they should handle the Brahmas in Week 1, barring a Garbers breakout.
Showboats at Roughnecks
- Kickoff:3 p.m. ET
- TV channel:ESPN
- Live stream:Fubo
The Showboats underwent major changes during the 2023-24 UFL offseason. Former New Orleans Breakers coach John DeFilippo took over the team after the Breakers folded and many of his players joined the squad for 2024.
Memphis also got quarterback Case Cookus, who was arguably the UFL's second-best at the position in 2023 behind Alex McGough, to lead their team. The Cookus and DeFilippo pairing should give the Showboats one of the league's most explosive offenses based on the success the Breakers enjoyed with McLeod Bethel-Thompson last season.
The Roughnecks are comprised largely of the staff and players that made up the Houston Gamblers last season. The league simply decided to keep the Roughnecks branding. Curtis Johnson's squad has Chris Odom, who may be the league's best pass rusher and figures to once again field a defense that could carry it to a postseason berth.
The question for Houston is whether Reid Sinnett, Jarrett Guarantano, or Nolan Henderson can provide them with a solid starter in 2024. Sinnett figures to get the first crack at the role after he started some for the Brahmas last season, but it appears that the Roughnecks will need their defense to carry them again.
As such, the Showboats have the edge in this matchup, but they won't be guaranteed a win. The Showboats-Gamblers games in the USFL last season were often close, so this game should be a close one to round out the UFL's first week.