Last weekend the USFL hosted their first rivalry week. This started out slow on Friday night with the Generals edging out the Panthers 10-6. After that, the league saw three of the highest scoring games of the season to date. Add the rivalries into the mix, and there was a good amount of trash talking on the field, and even an event leading to a suspension.
The last week of events also saw the league host NASCAR night where fans could meet real-life drivers and get pictures with one of the cars.
This weekend, the USFL is hosting College Day. If you wear any college gear for the matchups this Saturday, you’ll receive a free USFL koozie. Well supplies last, of course.
Blazer Nation – This Saturday is College Day for the @USFL.
Let's paint Protective Stadium Green and Gold and cheer on the @USFLStallions as they take on New Orleans in a battle of two remaining undefeated teams!#WinAsOne | #GiddyUp pic.twitter.com/PsRn0ZB9ay
— UAB Football (@UAB_FB) April 28, 2022
Tampa Bay Bandits (1-1) at Houston Gamblers (1-1)
Saturday – 4PM EST – FOX – Stream – Tickets
The first game of the weekend will see two teams hoping to rebound off of week 2 losses. The Tampa Bay Bandits were demolished this past Sunday by the Breakers, and will surely want to get some motivation for their guys. The Gamblers came out on the losing end, but stayed in the game against the hometown Stallions, so they’ll be looking to build of off the pieces that worked last week.
As it stands now, it looks like Clayton Thorson will be starting for Houston, as Kenji Bahar came out of the game with a minor injury last week. Jordan Ta’amu will need to hope his receivers can follow their routes this week to get the long balls he’s been throwing down the field.
Birmingham Stallions (2-0) at New Orleans Breakers (2-0)
Saturday – 8PM EST – FOX – Stream – Tickets
Heading into week 3, the USFL has an unwritten storyline on their hands. The Birmingham Stallions and New Orleans Breakers are set to meet for the first time, and only one team can walk away undefeated. We’re early into the season, but already Kyle Sloter and J’Mar Smith are making quite the names for themselves.
Week 3 will be their biggest test to date, and it should be a fun game to watch. Originally, this matchup was set to take place early Sunday. But, between the records and Stallions crowd, FOX decided to move it to a potentially larger audience.
Pittsburgh Maulers (0-2) at Michigan Panthers (0-2)
Sunday – 2:30 PM EST – USA – Stream – Tickets
Unlike the match we just spoke about, the won will see a team secure their first win of the season. The Pittsburgh Maulers looked a lot better in week 2, but just couldn’t get enough going to pull it out over the Stars. The Panthers on the other-hand still struggled on offence, with their defense keeping them in the game.
This should be an interesting game to watch, and will definitely tell us a lot about how these teams may perform for the rest of the season.
New Jersey Generals (1-1) at Philadelphia Stars (1-1)
Sunday – 2:30 PM EST – Peacock – Stream – Tickets
Rounding out the action this weekend is the New Jersey Generals and the Philadelphia Stars. Although both teams share a 1-1 record, there’s no doubt that Philadelphia has looked more convincing while doing so. Coach Riley has been running a two QB system so far this year, with many wanting him to give Luis Perez a full game to showcase his skills.
The Generals defense has performed well so far this year, but they’re going up against the most offense heavy QB in the league. Bryan Scott currently leads the league in passing yards, and hopes to add to that lead this weekend. This is also the first USFL game to air exclusively on Peacock. So, if you don’t have a subscription yet, you may want to get that ready for Sunday night.
Game of the Week
Our USFL Newsroom “Game of the Week” has to go to the Birmingham Stallions and New Orleans Breakers. Both teams came out strong the first two weeks, and it should be fun to see which one can continue their undefeated streak. With FOX moving the game to Saturday, we should see a decent crowd for the game, which could lead to a home team advantage for Birmingham.
Another game were going to be watching closely is the Pittsburgh Maulers and Michigan Panthers. Unlike the first matchup we listed, this should give us more insight on how we’ll see these teams develop throughout the season. The Maulers came out much better last week, and if they can continue that momentum and secure a win, it could be the beginning of something for the franchise.
Which game are you most excited for this weekend? Let us know down in the comments below or join the conversation on Discord.
