What To Know About The USFL Season

The USFL returns this weekend, giving fans an opportunity to watch professional football games during the NFL offseason. It marks the third time in the last four years that a spring football league will attempt to complete an entire season.

The whole 2022 USFL regular-season schedule will be played in Birmingham, Alabama. Following the 10-game season, the playoffs are set to take place at the Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio.

The USFL features eight teams, each of which includes a 38-player roster and a seven-player practice squad. The teams are separated into the North division and the South division.

The top two teams in each division will advance to the playoffs. The single-elimination semifinals are scheduled for June 25. The two winners will meet in the USFL Championship Game on July 3.

A few of the USFL rules differ from the NFL. Instead of only being able to kick an extra point or go for a two-point conversion after scoring a touchdown, teams have the option of attempting a one, two or three-point try. In order to get three points, teams have to score from the 10-yard line in one attempt.

USFL teams kick-off from the 25-yard line compared to the 35-yard line in the NFL. In order to regain possession when they have to kick-off, teams can try an onside kick or attempt to convert a fourth-and-12 from their own 33-yard line.

Here’s a look at the complete USFL schedule for the 2022 season. Start times and TV channels beyond Week 3 have yet to be determined.

Week 1 (April 16-17)

New Jersey Generals at Birmingham Stallions, April 16, 7:30 p.m. ET (FOX, NBC, Peacock)

Houston Gamblers at Michigan Panthers, April 17, noon ET (NBC, Peacock)

Philadelphia Stars vs. New Orleans Breakers, April 17, 4 p.m. ET (USA)

Tampa Bay Bandits at Pittsburgh Maulers, April 17, 8 p.m. ET (FS1)

Week 2 (April 22-24)

Michigan Panthers at New Jersey Generals, April 22, 8 p.m. ET (USA)

Pittsburgh Maulers at Philadelphia Stars, April 23, noon ET (FOX)

Birmingham Stallions at Houston Gamblers, April 23, 7 p.m. ET (FS1)

New Orleans Breakers at Tampa Bay Bandits, April 24, 3 p.m. ET (NBC)

Week 3 (April 30-May 1)

Pittsburgh Maulers at Michigan Panthers, April 30, 4 p.m. ET (FOX)

Tampa Bay Bandits at Houston Gamblers, April 30, 8 p.m. ET (FOX)

Birmingham Stallions at New Orleans Breakers, May 1, 2:30 p.m. ET (USA)

New Jersey Generals at Philadelphia Stars, May 1, 8 p.m. ET (Peacock)

Week 4 (May 6-8)

New Jersey Generals at Pittsburgh Maulers

Houston Gamblers at New Orleans Breakers

Philadelphia Stars at Michigan Panthers

Tampa Bay Bandits at Birmingham Stallions

Week 5 (May 13-15)

Birmingham Stallions at Philadelphia Stars

Michigan Panthers at Tampa Bay Bandits

New Orleans Breakers at New Jersey Generals

Pittsburgh Maulers at Houston Gamblers

Week 6 (May 21-22)

Houston Gamblers at New Jersey Generals

Michigan Panthers at Birmingham Stallions

Pittsburgh Maulers at New Orleans Breakers

Tampa Bay Bandits at Philadelphia Stars

Week 7 (May 28-29)

Birmingham Stallions at Pittsburgh Maulers

New Jersey Generals at Tampa Bay Bandits

New Orleans Breakers at Michigan Panthers

Philadelphia Stars at Houston Gamblers

Week 8 (June 3-5)

Houston Gamblers at Tampa Bay Bandits

Michigan Panthers at Philadelphia Stars

New Orleans Breakers at Birmingham Stallions

Pittsburgh Maulers at New Jersey Generals

Week 9 (June 11-12)

Houston Gamblers at Birmingham Stallions

New Jersey Generals at Michigan Panthers

Philadelphia Stars at Pittsburgh Maulers

Tampa Bay Bandits at New Orleans Breakers

Week 10 (June 18-19)

Birmingham Stallions at Tampa Bay Bandits

Michigan Panthers at Pittsburgh Maulers

New Orleans Breakers at Houston Gamblers

Philadelphia Stars at New Jersey Generals

Photo: Joe Sargent/Getty Images