XFL vs. USFL: Comparing the differences in the spring football leagues
It’s the middle of April, but there will be four spring football games Saturday and four more Sunday in big-time TV slots as the XFL and USFL seasons overlap for the first time.
The XFL is winding down with just two more weekends left before the Houston Roughnecks, D.C. Defenders and two other undetermined teams enter the postseason. The USFL, on the other hand, is just opening its 10-week schedule as it counts down to its championship game in July.
The leagues have their differences, and Houston is the only city with an entrant in both. The Roughnecks already have clinched an XFL playoff spot and can lock down home-field advantage in the league semifinal with one more win. The USFL’s Houston Gamblers are back after going 3-7 in their inaugural season in 2022. Betting odds make the Gamblers long shots to compete for a championship in Year 2 with only the Pittsburgh Maulers having worse odds.
Here’s a look at the differences between the XFL and USFL …
Where the teams play
This is probably the most obvious difference between the two leagues. XFL teams play in their home cities and stadiums with the Roughnecks hosting games at University of Houston’s TDECU Stadium, where they're averaging almost 12,000 fans per game. The USFL uses a hub system with teams practicing and playing games in places unrelated to their affiliated city. Last season, all eight teams played in Birmingham, Alabama. This season, it’s been spread to four host cities: Birmingham, Memphis, Detroit and Canton. The Houston Gamblers will play their “home games” at Memphis’ Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, home of college football’s Liberty Bowl.
XFL and USFL: How to watch on TV
Both leagues have big-time backing by TV networks. Every XFL game is televised by ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 or FX. This week’s Roughnecks game against the Las Vegas Vipers will be on ABC at 11:30 a.m. Saturday. All USFL games will be broadcast by NBC, Fox, FS1 or the USA Network. The league’s opening weekend starts with a Fox doubleheader on Saturday, followed by the Houston Gamblers’ season-opener against the Michigan Panthers at 11 a.m. Sunday on NBC.
Unique rules in the XFL and USFL
This is where both spring football leagues shine. Both have unique rules, but some of the best are how they treat onside kicks and two-point (or three-point!) conversions.
In the XFL, teams can attempt a traditional onside kick or, in the fourth quarter, can keep their offense on the field and try to convert a fourth-and-15 at its own 25-yard line to retain the ball. The USFL allows teams to opt for an onside kick or their more unconventional version — a fourth-and-12 play from the team’s own 33-yard line — at any point in the game.
The XFL has completely done away with extra-point kicks. After a touchdown, teams keep their offense on the field and have three options: Going for one from the 2-yard line, going for two from the 5 or trying for three points from the 10. The USFL also allows for teams to score as many as three points after a touchdown. In the USFL, you can kick an extra point with a 32-yard field goal attempt, go for two with a play from the 2-yard line or go for three with a play from the 10.
XFL or USFL: Which league has better players?
It’s hard to judge talent from different leagues, but the XFL definitely has the more recognizable names. XFL starting quarterbacks include several who have started NFL games including A.J. McCarron, Paxton Lynch, Brett Hundley and Ben DiNucci. Cody Latimer, a former NFL second-round draft pick and six-year NFL veteran, is one of the league’s best receivers.
The USFL got a big boost from the success KaVontae Turpin experienced with the Dallas Cowboys last season. Shortly after being named the USFL’s MVP, Turpin signed with the Cowboys last year and ended up making the Pro Bowl as a kick return specialist. The league still has some big names in its ranks including former Baylor star and No. 15 overall NFL draft pick Corey Coleman, who plays receiver for the Philadelphia Stars. Coleman played three seasons in the NFL and spent three weeks on the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad last year. Birmingham Stallions running back Bo Scarbrough didn’t make a big impact in the NFL, playing seven games with the Lions and Seahawks, but he was a big-time player in college, winning two national championships at Alabama. New Jersey's quarterback is De'Andre Johnson, who was a top recruit at Florida State before eventually finishing his college career at Texas Southern.
Coaches in the XFL and USFL
The USFL has three coaches with head coaching experience in the NFL: Michigan’s Mike Nolan (49ers), New Jersey’s Mike Riley (Chargers) and Memphis’ Todd Haley (Chiefs). The Houston Gamblers are led by former Tulane head coach Curtis Johnson, who took over after Kevin Sumlin left to become co-offensive coordinator at University of Maryland.
The Roughnecks’ head coach Wade Phillips and Seattle’s Jim Haslett are the only two former NFL head coaches in the XFL. When looking for head coaches, the XFL opted to go with big-name former players like Rod Woodson (Las Vegas), Hines Ward (San Antonio) and Terrell Buckley (Orlando), and a legendary college coach with Bob Stoops coaching in Arlington.
