The United Football League's inaugural season kicks off this weekend.
What is the UFL?
The UFL was formed after last year's merger between the XFL and USFL, and football-deprived fans are excited for the spring league to get underway.
How can I watch UFL games?
ESPN and ABC platforms will showcase 21 UFL games this season, all of which will stream on ESPN+ and the ESPN app.
ESPN's UFL coverage kicks off on March 31 with an afternoon doubleheader:
D.C. Defenders at San Antonio Brahmas, 12 p.m. ET on ESPN: The Defenders return to action against the Brahmas after winning the 2023 XFL championship.
Memphis Showboats at Houston Roughnecks, 3 p.m. ET on ESPN: After advancing to last year's XFL semifinals, the Roughnecks host the Showboats to kick off their season.
The following weekend, ESPN will bring fans three games, including Week 2 matchups for the defending XFL champion Renegades and USFL champion Stallions. Check out ESPN's complete 21-game slate here.
How many UFL teams are there?
The inaugural UFL season will include eight teams across two conferences.
The USFL conference features:
Birmingham Stallions (head coach Skip Holtz)
Houston Roughnecks (head coach Curtis Johnson)
Memphis Showboats (head coach John DeFilippo)
Michigan Panthers (head coach Mike Nolan)
The XFL conference features:
Arlington Renegades (head coach Bob Stoops)
D.C. Defenders (head coach Reggie Barlow)
San Antonio Brahmas (head coach Wade Phillips)
St. Louis Battlehawks (head coach Anthony Becht)
Each team will play a 10-week schedule. The UFL championship will be held on June 16.
Who is the favorite entering this season?
According to ESPN BET, the Stallions (+300) are the preseason favorite to win the UFL championship. Led by Holtz, the Stallions won back-to-back USFL championships in 2022 and 2023. They have several former NFL players such as quarterback Matt Corral, linebacker Travin Howard, wide receiver Gary Jennings and wide receiver Amari Rodgers.
The next-best odds belong to the Defenders (+380) and Battlehawks (+380). Barlow and the Defenders played in the XFL championship game last year, while the Battlehawks have notable names such as quarterback A.J. McCarron, running back Wayne Gallman and wide receiver Hakeem Butler.
The Panthers (+1200) and Brahmas (+1200) have the worst odds entering the season.
Where can I find more UFL coverage from ESPN?
Check out ESPN's UFL page, which features breaking news, game schedules, uniform breakdowns, and more.