The 2025 NFL Draft is less than a month away, and the regular season doesn’t start for another six months. However, the 2025 UFL season is about to kick off for any football fans desperate for a fix.
The spring league will begin its second season after the merger of the second iteration of the USFL and the third iteration of the XFL. Many ex-NFL players make up UFL rosters, along with plenty of NFL hopefuls looking to impress decision-makers across the league. Here’s a look at the UFL schedule for Week 1.
Are There Any UFL Games Tonight?
Professional spring football returned in 2019 when long-time NFL general manager Bill Polian helped found the Alliance of American Football. The league folded after one season, but Vince McMahon reupped the XFL the following year.
After COVID-19 shut down the revamped XFL midway through its inaugural season, the league remained dormant until 2023. While the XFL was idle, the USFL was revived in 2022. This iteration had no legal connection to the original league but brought back team names from the 1980s.
The new USFL survived for a second season, largely due to its ownership connection to Fox Sports, which allowed for easy and accessible television coverage. The Birmingham Stallions won both championships and helped put multiple players into the NFL, including All-Pro kicker Brandon Aubrey.
The XFL returned in 2023, with the Arlington Renegades winning its only title. The two leagues merged for the 2024 season, and each league brought four teams to the UFL, creating a USFL and XFL conference. The new spring league secured television deals with Fox and ESPN and kicks off its second season this weekend.
UFL Week 1 Schedule
The league begins its second season with all eight teams in action over three days. There are two UFL games on Sunday, March 30. The Michigan Panthers visit the Memphis Showboats, and the DC Defenders host the three-time champion Stallions. Both of these games will be broadcast on ESPN.
Birmingham won its third championship in three years, defeating the San Antonio Brahmas in the inaugural UFL championship game. The spring football dynasty starts its quest for a four-peat on Sunday.
The UFL operates a 10-game schedule with the top two teams from each division making the playoffs. The championship game is slated for June 14.
Sunday, March 30
Michigan Panthers at Memphis Showboats
- Start Time: 12 p.m. ET
- Channel: ESPN
Michigan Panthers
The Panthers had a strong 2024 season, finishing 7-3 before losing to Birmingham in the USFL Conference championship game. Quarterback Danny Etling returns after leading the team with 786 yards and three touchdowns in seven games last season.
Safety Kai Nacua led the defense in tackles in 2024 and was tied for the league lead with three interceptions. The BYU product played for six NFL teams from 2017 to 2022 and returns for his third season with Michigan.
Memphis Showboats
Head coach Ken Whisenhunt decided to step away from the team on March 24, and offensive line coach Jim Turner was promoted with an interim tag. Whisenhunt was the team’s offensive coordinator, so Turner must find a new play-caller less than a week before the season begins.
The Showboats have gone through a lot of turnover after finishing 2-8 last season. They’ll look to get off to a hot start at home.
Birmingham Stallions at DC Defenders
- Start Time: 3 p.m. ET
- Channel: ESPN
Birmingham Stallions
Head coach Skip Holtz returns for his fourth season at the Stallions’ helm. Birmingham is looking to four-peat with quarterback Matt Corral leading the offense. Outside linebacker Kyahva Tezino led the team with 62 tackles in 2024, and the San Diego State product returns for another year in 2025.
DC Defenders
The Defenders came off a 4-6 season in 2024 and also went through some coaching turmoil shortly before the 2025 season was set to kick off. Reggie Barlow was the team’s head coach up until March 23, leaving to become the head coach at Tennessee State.
Quarterbacks coach Shannon Harris was promoted to head coach over defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, and Harris is expected to join Barlow once DC’s season ends.
Spring football veteran quarterback Jordan Ta’amu returns to lead the offense, but this team needs to get things figured out internally before they win any games.