2023 USFL championship game

The 2023 USFL championship game was an American football game that was played on July 1, 2023, at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio. The contest determined the champion of the 2023 USFL season and was played between the Pittsburgh Maulers and the Birmingham Stallions, eventually crowning Birmingham the champion of the league for the second year in a row.

The game featured the number one defense in the league in Pittsburgh facing off against the number one offense in the league in Birmingham. After going up 3–0, the Maulers would fall after Alex McGough threw touchdown passes to Davion Davis and Deon Cain, the eventual MVP, and would never lead again. The Maulers would add additional field goals, though their continued lack of success on the offensive side of the ball would ultimately be the reason they lost the game. The Stallions eventually won the game 28-12 to repeat as USFL champions.

Background

The United States Football League was originally founded in 1982 as a professional spring and summer league. It completed three full seasons, from 1983 to 1985, before folding prior to its 1986 season, which was to be played in the fall, in direct competition with the National Football League (NFL). The direct competition, in addition to a failed antitrust lawsuit against the NFL, led to the league's decline. On June 3, 2021, the new United States Football League, a distinct league from its predecessor, announced that it would begin play with eight teams in spring 2022. The list of eight teams were unveiled on November 22, 2021, all of which shared their name and colors with a team that competed in the original USFL. As part of the USFL's salary structure, each member of the championship team received $10,000 in addition to their salary.

Host selection

On January 25, 2023, the league announced that the New Jersey Generals and the Pittsburgh Maulers (who sported a new gold-and-black uniform color scheme to emphasize the team's Pittsburgh identity) would play their home games at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, with the Generals as the host team. The stadium was also the site of both the North Division playoff game and the 2023 USFL Championship Game, as it was in 2022.

USFL playoffs

The two lowest-finishing teams from each division were excluded from participation in the playoffs. From the North Division, the New Jersey Generals were mathematically eliminated from playoff contention on June 17, and the Philadelphia Stars were eliminated from postseason contention on June 18. In the South Division, the Memphis Showboats were the first team ruled out of the postseason, on June 17, while the Houston Gamblers were eliminated from postseason contention on June 18.

The first semifinal game was held between the North Division first and second place teams, the Pittsburgh Maulers and the Michigan Panthers. The Maulers win in overtime 31–27 and clinch a berth in the championship game. The second semifinal game followed, which was contested by the Birmingham Stallions and the New Orleans Breakers. The Stallions clinched their championship game spot with a 47–22 win. With their playoff semifinal victories, the Stallions entered the USFL championship game 8–2, while the Maulers entered the USFL championship game 4–6.

Bracket

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Teams

Pittsburgh Maulers

Pittsburgh Maulers finished their second overall season, and first under head coach Ray Horton, going 4–6 and advancing to their first playoff berth to the division title game against Michigan Panthers.

Birmingham Stallions

Birmingham Stallions finished their second overall season under head coach Skip Holtz, going 8–2 and advancing to their first playoff berth to the division title game against New Orleans Breakers.

Game summary

Scoring summary

at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium • Canton, Ohio

• Date: July 1, 2023
• Game time: 8:00 p.m. EST
• Referee: Larry Smith
• TV announcers (NBC): Jac Collinsworth (play-by-play), Jason Garrett (analyst) and Zora Stephenson (sideline reporter)
• Source:

Statistics

Aftermath

Stallions wide receiver Deon Cain, previously named to the all-USFL team, was named the game's Most Valuable Player.

After the game, Fox officially announced that the league would return in April 2024, featuring the same eight teams that competed during the 2023 season.

Broadcasting

United States

The game was televised by NBC and Peacock.

International

The USFL employed the help of DAZN for international streaming.

• In the United Kingdom and Ireland, the game was televised through Sky Sports.
• In Australia, the game was televised through Fox Sports Australia.
• In Hungary, the game was televised through Network4.
• In Northern Europe, the game was televised through Viaplay.

See also

• UFL Championship Game
• USFL Championship Game
• XFL Championship Game