The USFL pulled off something last year that other football spring leagues could not: Completing a full season. This weekend the USFL kicked off another campaign, while the XFL continues to wrap up theirs.
The USFL season started off with a matchup between the Philadelphia Stars and the Memphis Showboats. The Stars made it to the championship last season, where they fell to the Birmingham Stallions, 30-17. The Showboats were the Tampa Bay Bandits in 2022, but relocated to Memphis this offseason. They lost quarterback Jordan Ta’amu to the XFL but replaced him with Memphis legend Brady White.
On Saturday night we saw arguably last season’s two best teams square off, as the Birmingham Stallions hosted the New Jersey Generals — two teams that finished 9-1 in the regular season in 2022. On Saturday, it was all Stallions, as they began their title defense with a bang.
Below we’ve got takeaways from each game so far. First, a look at the Week 1 scores and schedule:
Saturday
Philadelphia Stars 27, Memphis Showboats 23
Birmingham Stallions 27, New Jersey Generals 10
Sunday
Michigan Panthers at Houston Gamblers (in Memphis), Noon ET | NBC
Pittsburgh Maulers at New Orleans Breakers (in Birmingham), 6:30 p.m. ET | FS1
All odds are via Caesars Sportsbook
Stars 27, Showboats 23
The Stars returned star quarterback Case Cookus, running back Matt Colburn II and one of the best cornerbacks in the league in Channing Stribling. Fresh off of a championship run last year, Philly entered this matchup as 2.5-point favorites.
It was indeed the Stars who got off to a quick start, as Cookus and Co. scored touchdowns on three of their four first-half possessions to acquire a 20-10 halftime lead. However, the Showboats got back on track in the second half, and scored touchdowns on back-to-back drives to pull within three points.
White had a chance to lead a game-winning drive for Memphis, and the Showboats even got to the Philly 39-yard line with under a minute to play. However, the Stars defense then stood tall, and the Showboats turned the ball over on downs, which ended the game.
The USFL is the same as the NFL in that premier quarterback play leads to wins. Cookus was magnificent in his first action of the 2023 season, as he completed 20 of 29 passes for 212 yards, three touchdowns, and added 31 yards on the ground. If there were any questions about how he was feeling after breaking his…
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