Can’t-miss games on the 2024 NFL schedule
USA TODAY Sports’ Mackenzie Salmon highlights a few must-see games on the 2024 NFL schedule.
Sports Seriously
On Sunday, the Birmingham Stallions and San Antonio Brahmas will decide once and for all which spring pro football league was better, the USFL or XFL.
Well, that’s a bit of a stretch, but it does present an intriguing matchup.
The first championship game of the merged USFL and XFL features one team going for a third consecutive championship — the Stallions — and another that is looking to play the spoiler for a second straight week — the Brahmas.
Last week, the Brahmas prevented the St. Louis Battlehawks from hosting the UFL championship by winning the XFL conference championship. The Stallions, meanwhile, kept their impressive season going by rallying for a win in the USFL conference championship.
Here’s what you need to know for the UFL championship game:
When is the UFL championship game?
The UFL championship game between the Birmingham Stallions and San Antonio Brahmas is scheduled to kick off at 5 p.m. ET on Sunday, June 16.
How to watch the UFL championship game on TV
FOX will provide coverage of the UFL championship game.
Curt Menefee (play-by-play), Joel Klatt (analyst) and Brock Huard (sideline reporter) will provide coverage for FOX Sports.
How to stream the UFL championship game
The UFL championship game can be streamed on the Fox Sports app. Streaming also available on fubo.
UFL championship game odds
According to BetMGM odds, the Birmingham Stallions are favorites to win the 2024 UFL championship.
- Spread: Stallions -3
- Moneyline: Brahmas +140; Stallions -165
- Over/under: 41.5
What to know about the Birmingham Stallions
➤ Regular-season record: 9-1
➤ Playoff results: Defeated Michigan Panthers in USFL conference championship
➤ Head coach: Skip Holtz. The son of legendary college football coach Lou Holtz, Skip Holtz has extensive experience coaching at the collegiate level, including head coaching stints at Connecticut (1994-98), East Carolina (2005-09), South Florida (2010-12) and Louisiana Tech (2013-2021). Holtz has been the Stallions’ head coach since 2022 and was the 2023 USFL Coach of the Year.
➤ Key players: Quarterbacks Adrian Martinez and Matt Corral — Martinez, an All-UFL selection, was a real dual-threat, leading the league in rushing yards (528) and finishing third in passing yards (1,749). Corral — a third-round pick by the Carolina Panthers in the 2022 NFL draft — played sparingly this season, but led a Stallions comeback in the USFL championship game. Tight end Jace Sternberger, who played two seasons in the NFL for the Green Bay Packers, was an All-UFL pick after finishing sixth in the league in receiving yardage (454). All-UFL defensive lineman Carlos Davis finished tied for second in the league with seven sacks. All-UFL safety A.J. Thomas tied for the league lead with three interceptions.
What to know about the San Antonio Brahmas
➤ Regular-season record: 7-3
➤ Playoff results: Defeated St. Louis Battlehawks in XFL conference championship
➤ Head coach: Wade Phillips. Son of legendary NFL coach Bum Phillips, Wade Phillips has been coaching football since starting out as a graduate assistant at the University of Houston in 1969. Since then he has coached everywhere from the high school level to the NFL. Phillips is best known for his stints as head coach of the Denver Broncos (1993-94), Buffalo Bills (1998-2000) and Dallas Cowboys (2007-2010). He was defensive coordinator for the Broncos when the team won Super Bowl 50.
➤ Key players: Quarterback Chase Garbers threw for two touchdowns in the Brahmas’ playoff win over the St. Louis Battlehawks. Running back Anthony McFarland — who played four seasons in the NFL for the Pittsburgh Steelers — had a 69-yard touchdown run in the playoff win, the longest such run during the 2024 UFL season. Linebacker Tavante Beckett was the lone All-UFL selection from the Brahmas’ top-ranked defense.
Previous spring pro football league champions
XFL
- 2023: Arlington Renegades (over D.C. Defenders)
USFL
- 2023: Birmingham Stallions (over Pittsburgh Maulers)
- 2022: Birmingham Stallions (over Philadelphia Stars)
XFL
- 2001: Los Angeles Xtreme (over San Francisco Demons)
World League of American Football/NFL Europe/NFL Europa
- 2007: Hamburg Sea Devils (over Frankfurt Galaxy)
- 2006: Frankfurt Galaxy (over Amsterdam Admirals)
- 2005: Amsterdam Admirals (over Berlin Thunder)
- 2004: Berlin Thunder (over Frankfurt Galaxy)
- 2003: Frankfurt Galaxy (over Rhein Fire)
- 2002: Berlin Thunder (over Rhein Fire)
- 2001: Berlin Thunder (over Barcelona Dragons)
- 2000: Rhein Fire (over Scottish Claymores)
- 1999: Frankfurt Galaxy (over Barcelona Dragons)
- 1998: Rhein Fire (over Frankfurt Galaxy)
- 1997: Barcelona Dragons (over Rhein Fire)
- 1996: Scottish Claymores (over Frankfurt Galaxy)
- 1995: Frankfurt Galaxy (over Amsterdam Admirals)
- 1992: Sacramento Surge (over Orlando Thunder)
- 1991: London Monarchs (over Barcelona Dragons)
USFL
- 1985: Baltimore Stars (over Oakland Invaders)
- 1984: Philadelphia Stars (over Arizona Wranglers)
- 1983: Michigan Panthers (over Philadelphia Stars)
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