2025 UFL season: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia
Article Images
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| logo = United Football League 2024 logo black.png
| caption =
| duration = Regular season:<br /> March 28 – June 1<br />Playoffs:<br />June 7 – 14
| duration =
| no_of_games = 43 (40 regular-season games, 3{{nbsp}}postseason games)
| no_of_teams = 8
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| conf2_runner-up =
| finals = [[2025 UFL championship game|2025 UFL Championship]]
| finals_venue = TBD
| finals_link =
| finals_champ =
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| draft = Draft
| draft_link = 2024 UFL draft
| top_pick = [[Jason Bean (American football)|Jason Bean]] (QB)
| top_pick_link =
| picked_by = [[Memphis Showboats (2022)|Memphis Showboats]]
}}
The '''2025 UFL season''' is the upcoming second season of the [[United Football League (2024)|United Football League]]. The [[2024 Birmingham Stallions season|Birmingham Stallions]] are the defending champions where they defeated the [[2024 San Antonio Brahmas season|San Antonio Brahmas]] 25–0 in the [[2024 UFL championship game|2024 UFL Championship Game]], the only shutout of the entire season, to win their third consecutive spring football championship, adding to their back-to-back championships in the rebooted USFL.
==Offseason==
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===Draft===
{{see also|2024 UFL draft}}
On July 11, 2024, the UFL announced they would hold theThe [[2024 UFL draft]] ahead of the 2025 season, was held on July 17th, 2024. The draft consisted of 10 rounds and eligibleof players will be those who were eligible for the [[2024 NFL draft]] in April but went undrafted.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theufl.com/news/2024/july/11/2024-ufl-college-draft-set-for-wednesday-july-17|title=2024 UFL College Draft Set for Wednesday, July 17|date=July 11, 2024|publisher=United Football League}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.si.com/fannation/ufl/ufl-news/ufl-sets-college-draft-includes-nfl-out|title=The 2024 UFL College Draft is Wednesday, with the Memphis Showboats owning the first pick.|first=Art|last=Garcia|website=Sports Illustrated FanNation|date=July 11, 2024}}</ref> Memphis, winner of the first overall draft pick as a result of its week 10 victory in 2024, chose quarterback [[Jason Bean (American football)|Jason Bean]] with the selection.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.kansascity.com/sports/college/big-12/university-of-kansas/article290154889.html|newspaper=Kansas City Star|date=July 17, 2024|title=Former Kansas Jayhawks quarterback Jason Bean picked No. 1 overall in UFL draft|first=Shreyas|last=Laddha}}</ref>
==Teams==
As one of the conditions for approving the merger of the XFL and USFL, federal regulators were said to have "prefer(red) more opportunities" (eventual [[expansion team]]s) than the eight teams that were included in the 2024 season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McCann |first=Michael |last2=Soshnick |first2=Scott |last3= |first3= |date=2023-11-30 |title=XFL, USFL Merger Approved by Federal Authorities |url=https://www.sportico.com/leagues/football/2023/xfl-usfl-merger-approved-1234748527/ |access-date=2024-06-26 |website=Sportico.com |language=en-US}}</ref> No such expansion is planned for 2025, nor are any relocations, as [[Daryl Johnston]] stated that the ticket sales in most of the poorer-selling markets could be improved by showing stability and following a more "traditional offseason calendar."<ref name=year2evolution>{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Eric |date=June 18, 2024 |title=UFL 2024: Year 2 evolution to include more innovation, player development |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/ufl-2024-year-2-evolution-to-include-more-innovation-player-development/ar-BB1oskN8 |website=Fox Sports on MSN}}</ref>
On September 13, 2024, the Houston Roughnecks announced that they would be returning to [[TDECU Stadium]] for the 2025 season, following renovations to that stadium. The previous incarnation of the [[Houston Roughnecks (2020)|Roughnecks]] had played at TDECU in 2020 and 2023; the current Roughnecks had played the 2024 season at [[Rice Stadium (Rice University)|Rice Stadium]] while TDECU Stadium was being renovated.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Anthony |date=2024-09-13 |title=Houston Roughnecks to Return to TDECU Stadium for 2025 Season |url=https://www.si.com/fannation/ufl/ufl-news/houston-roughnecks-to-return-to-tdecu-stadium-for-2025-season |access-date=2024-09-17 |website=UFL |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|author=Mark Perry|title=PR: Roughnecks to Play 2025 UFL Season at University of Houston’s TDECU Stadium|url=https://uflnewshub.com/ufl/pr-roughnecks-to-play-2025-ufl-season-at-university-of-houstons-tdecu-stadium/|website=uflnewshub.com|date=September 12, 2024|access-date=September 12, 2024|archive-date=September 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912172656/https://uflnewshub.com/ufl/pr-roughnecks-to-play-2025-ufl-season-at-university-of-houstons-tdecu-stadium/|url-status=live}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
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!scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | '''[[Houston Roughnecks (2024)|Houston Roughnecks]]'''
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Houston|Houston, Texas]]
| style="text-align:center;" | [[TDECU Stadium|TDECU Stadium]]
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Rice Stadium (Rice University)|Rice Stadium]]<ref name="SIBrandon">{{Cite web|title=UFL President Reveals League's Future Plans, Schedule, Vision|url=https://www.si.com/fannation/ufl/news/ufl-president-russ-brandon-future-plans-schedule-vision|website=SI.com |date=January 4, 2024 |language=en-US}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;" | 4740,000
| style="text-align:center;" | 2020
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Curtis Johnson (American football coach)|Curtis Johnson]]
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| style="text-align:center;" | [[Memphis, Tennessee]]
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 5850,325000
| style="text-align:center;" | 2023
| style="text-align:center;" | [[VacantKen Whisenhunt]]
|-
!scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | [[Michigan Panthers (2022)|'''Michigan Panthers''']]
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On August 12, 2024, the United Football League Players Association released a statement announcing that [[United Steelworkers]], which had represented the association (and its predecessor for the USFL), would no longer represent the league's players. The statement also strongly recommended that the players organize under another established union and not affiliate with the [[United Football Players Association]], with which the USW and UFLPA had fallen out in 2023, without a "confidential background check."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Perry |first=Mark |date=2024-08-12 |title=UFL Players Seek New Representation as USW/UFLPA Partnership Ends |url=https://uflnewshub.com/ufl/ufl-players-seek-new-representation-as-usw-uflpa-partnership-ends/ |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=UFL News Hub |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Coaches ==
Three of the four coaches who came into the UFL by way of the XFL—Arlington's [[Bob Stoops]], St. Louis's [[Anthony Becht]] and DC's [[Reggie Barlow]]—are believed to be reaching the end of their guaranteed XFL contracts, and will be subject to new terms that the USFL coaches and all assistants agreed upon in 2024 that were less generous than the 2023 XFL's were.<ref name="Pay">{{Cite web|title=UFL Pay Structure for Coaches, Players: What We Know|url=https://www.si.com/fannation/ufl/news/ufl-pay-structure-for-coaches-players-what-we-know-new-years-deadline-new-contracts-xfl-usfl-merger|website=SI.com |date=January 12, 2024 |language=en-US}}</ref> (The lone exception, San Antonio's [[Wade Phillips]], is on the second year of a two-year contract extension he signed prior to the merger.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mitchell |first=Mike |date=2024-08-12 |title=Which UFL Coach Will Be Next To Depart? |url=https://www.si.com/fannation/ufl/ufl-news/which-ufl-coach-will-be-next-to-depart |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=Sports Illustrated |language=en-US}}</ref>) Stoops, the league's longest-tenured coach and the only remaining coach from the inaugural 2020 XFL season, was noncommittal about returning after the 2024 season, stating he was open to returning for 2025 but that "you never know what the structure is going to look like."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Anthony |date=2024-05-30 |title=Arlington Renegades Coach Bob Stoops Addresses UFL Future |url=https://www.si.com/fannation/ufl/ufl-news/arlington-renegades-coach-bob-stoops-address-ufl-future |access-date=2024-06-28 |website=[[Sports Illustrated]] |language=en-US}}</ref> Becht announced he had committed to a third season as the Battlehawks' coach in August 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Florio |first=Mike |author-link=Mike Florio |date=2024-08-09 |title=Anthony Becht will spend UFL offseason working Jets games |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/anthony-becht-will-spend-ufl-offseason-working-jets-games |access-date=2024-08-11 |website=[[ProFootballTalk]] |language=en-US}}</ref>
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|Memphis Showboats
|[[John DeFilippo]]
|[[Ken Whisenhunt]]
|TBA
|Resigned
|DeFilippo had coached the Showboats in 2024 after coaching the contracted [[New Orleans Breakers (2022)|New Orleans Breakers]] in 2023, with a combined record of 9-11 ({{winpct|9|11}}), with his season with the Breakers at 7-3 ({{winpct|7|3}}) and the Showboats at 2-8 ({{winpct|2|8}}). His resignation coincides with the resignation of general manager [[Bill Polian#Personal life|Dennis Polian]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-03 |title=Memphis Showboats GM Stepping Down After One Season |url=https://www.si.com/fannation/ufl/ufl-news/memphis-showboats-gm-stepping-down-after-one-season |access-date=2024-08-10 |website=Sports Illustrated |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-10 |title=John DeFillippo resigns as coach of Memphis Showboats |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/john-defillippo-resigns-as-coach-of-memphis-showboats |access-date=2024-08-10 |website=NBC Sports |language=en-US}}</ref>
Whisenhunt had spent the 2023 and part of the 2024 seasons as special assistant to head coach [[Kalen DeBoer]] at [[Alabama Crimson Tide football|Alabama]]; he had extensive experience as an offensive coordinator at the college and NFL levels, and two stints as an NFL head coach for the [[Arizona Cardinals]] and [[Tennessee Titans]]. He was hired along with new general manager [[Jim Monos]] September 23, 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dylan |first=Jonah |title=Former Cardinals, Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt hired by Memphis Showboats |url=https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/sports/2024/09/23/memphis-showboats-ken-whisenhunt-ufl-spring-football-jim-monos-john-defilippo/75349821007/ |access-date=2024-09-23 |website=The Commercial Appeal |language=en-US}}</ref>
|}
==Rules==
[[Mike Pereira]] and [[Dean Blandino]] will be in charge of the UFL's officiating and rules.<ref name="SIBrandon" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=UFL League Rules: NFL Testing Ground Through Spring Football|url=https://www.si.com/fannation/ufl/rumors/ufl-league-rules-nfl-testing-mike-pereira-dean-blandino-usfl-xfl-officiating|website=SI.com |date=January 12, 2024 |language=en-US}}</ref>
The league rulebook was released February 13, 2024. Though most of the UFL's unique rules were common to both the USFL and XFL (such as allowing a second forward pass if the first does not cross the line of scrimmage, and the treatment of a fumble through the end zone the same as other forward fumbles in that it is brought back to the spot of the fumble), a limited number required compromise or were changed entirely from both leagues' rules:<ref>{{Cite web |last= |last2= |first2= |last3= |first3= |date=February 13, 2024 |title=United Football League Rules for 2024 Announced |url=https://www.theufl.com/news/united-football-league-rules-for-2024-announced |access-date=February 13, 2024 |website=www.theufl.com |language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=An in-depth look at the UFL rules: Similarities, differences from the XFL, USFL, and more (part one)|url=https://uflboard.com/news/an-in-depth-look-at-the-ufl-rules-similarities-differences-from-the-xfl-usfl-and-more-part-one/|website=UFLBoard|date=February 17, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=An in-depth look at the UFL rules: Similarities, differences from the XFL, USFL, and more (part two)|url=https://uflboard.com/news/an-in-depth-look-at-the-ufl-rules-similarities-differences-from-the-xfl-usfl-and-more-part-two/|website=UFLBoard|date=February 20, 2024}}</ref>
*The league will use the USFL's [[kickoff (gridiron football)|kickoff]] rule, which resembles that used at most levels of the game but kicks off from the kicking team's 20-yard line instead of the 35-yard line used at the college and NFL levels (as opposed to the XFL rule which kicked off from the 30-yard line but had the opposing teams line up 35 and 40 yards downfield from the kick respectively and required the kicker to land the kick [[red zone (gridiron football)|within 20 yards of the end zone]] without [[touchback|going in]]).<ref>{{Cite web|title=UFL Head Coaches Looking for Distance in Kickoffs |url=https://uflboard.com/news/ufl-head-coaches-looking-for-distance-in-kickoffs/|website=UFLBoard|date=March 14, 2024 }}</ref><ref name=mccarrondecision>{{Cite web |last=Palermo |first=Gregg |date=January 16, 2024 |title=Expect a McCarron decision on a Battlehawks return in next two weeks |url=https://spectrumlocalnews.com/mo/st-louis/news/2024/01/16/battlehawks-prep-for-new-league-in-2024 |access-date=January 28, 2024 |website=spectrumlocalnews.com |language=en}}</ref> A rule proposal would replace the kickoff with a punt, thereby resembling the [[safety kick]] at other levels of the game, but this rule did not make it into the rule book.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Panthers Mike Nolan Talks UFL Evolution, Rules Next Week, and More|url=https://uflnewshub.com/ufl/panthers-mike-nolan-talks-ufl-evolution-rules-next-week-and-more/|website=UFL News Hub|date=January 26, 2024 |language=en-US}}</ref>
*The onside conversion option will remain available, with a team trailing in the fourth quarter allowed to attempt a single scrimmage play to gain 12 yards from its own 28-yard line. (The XFL used 15 yards from its own 25-yard line; the USFL used 12 yards from its own 33-yard line.)
*[[Pass interference]] penalties will be classified as two types of penalties.
** Regular defensive pass interference penalties will be limited to 15 yards from the previous line of scrimmage or the spot of the foul, whichever is less.
** Intentional defensive pass interference is a spot foul, regardless of it being more than 15 yards from the previous line of scrimmage. Similar to a [[flagrant foul]] 1 in basketball, where it is called for a foul to stop a breakaway that would lead to a score, intentional pass interference is called when a defensive player commits pass interference against an intended receiver who would make a gain of over 15 yards or score a touchdown were he to catch the ball. This eliminates defensive players from taking advantage of the 15 yard penalty for pass interference on a play that would have gained more than 20 yards.
*The league will use the XFL's variable-distance [[two-point conversion|conversion]] rule, offering one, two or three points depending upon how far away from the goal line the offense chooses to attempt the play, and prohibiting kicking for the [[extra point]]. (The USFL had allowed the two and three point scrimmage conversions but allowed for an extra point kick.)
*All [[touchback]]s will come to the receiving team's 25-yard line. Any [[coffin corner punt]] that goes out of bounds beyond the 25-yard line will be treated as a touchback, a rule previously used in the XFL (though that league had used the 35-yard line for its touchbacks).
*The league will use the [[National Football League]] rule requiring a receiver to land both feet in bounds for a forward pass to be counted as complete. This was a change from both the XFL and USFL, along with most other professional leagues other than the NFL, that only required one foot in-bounds for a completed pass. This puts the league in line as a developmental league.
*The league will use [[Goal-line technology|remote sensing technology to determine whether the ball has advanced across the line to gain]], negating the need for an official [[chain crew]]. The USFL had used similar technology, which in 2024 will be provided by BOLT6,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Michael David |date=March 30, 2024 |title=UFL uses six 4K cameras, not two sticks and a chain, to measure for first downs |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/ufl-uses-six-4k-cameras-not-two-sticks-and-a-chain-to-measure-for-first-downs |access-date=March 31, 2024 |website=NBC Sports |language=en-US}}</ref> a company that had originally signed a partnership with the XFL.<ref>{{Cite web |title=XFL Announces Bolt6 as Official Instant Replay Partner |url=https://www.xfl.com/xfl-latest-news/xfl-announces-bolt6-as-official-instant-replay-partner |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230217201151/https://www.xfl.com/xfl-latest-news/xfl-announces-bolt6-as-official-instant-replay-partner |archive-date=February 17, 2023 |access-date=February 17, 2023 |website=XFL}}</ref>
*The XFL [[overtime (sport)|overtime]] rule will be carried over, in that tie games will involve a best-of-three [[penalty shootout|shootout]] of two-point conversion attempts from each 5-yard line. If the tie persists, multiple attempts will be played until one team scores, which wins it. One timeout can be called per attempt. The overtime has no game clock, but the play clock will still be used.
*A USFL rule regarding [[draft (sports)|draft]] position was carried over: if the two teams with the worst regular season record face each other in the final week of the regular season, the winner of that game will receive the first overall selection in the following year's draft. This rule was introduced in the [[2022 USFL season]] and was invoked again in 2024, with the Houston Roughnecks and Memphis Showboats facing each other for the final game of the season.<ref>{{cite tweet|number=1795602535086190601|title=In the UFL you're going to have to earn the first pick of the draft 👀 This Sunday, the winner of @XFLRoughnecks vs @USFLShowboats will not only get the first-overall pick in the 2025 UFL Draft, but they will also receive the first pick in EVERY round of the Draft ✅🙌|user=TheUFL|author=United Football League}}</ref>
==Season structure==
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===Regular season===
The league is divided into two conferences, the [[United States Football League (2022)|USFL Conference]] and the [[XFL (2020)|XFL Conference]], each a continuation of its respective league. Each team will play a ten-game schedule with no bye weeks, playing two games against each conference rival (one home and one away) and one game against each team in the other conference, all eight teams playing in their home markets, starting on March 28.<ref name="SIBrandon">{{Cite web|title=UFL President Reveals League's Future Plans, Schedule, Vision|url=https://www.si.com/fannation/ufl/news/ufl-president-russ-brandon-future-plans-schedule-vision|website=SI.com |date=January 4, 2024 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=year2evolution/><ref>{{Cite web|author=Mark Perry|title=PR: United Football League (UFL) Returns March 28, Friday Night Games|url=https://uflnewshub.com/ufl/pr-united-football-league-ufl-returns-march-28-friday-night-games/|website=uflnewshub.com|date=September 17, 2024|access-date=September 17, 2024|archive-date=September 17, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240917235524/https://uflnewshub.com/ufl/pr-united-football-league-ufl-returns-march-28-friday-night-games/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|author=Sue Levine|title=All The UFL Needs For A Great 2025 Is Fantasy Football|url=https://uflnewshub.com/ufl/all-the-ufl-needs-for-a-great-2025-is-fantasy-football/|website=uflnewshub.com|date=September 18, 2024|access-date=September 18, 2024|archive-date=September 20, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240920194301/https://uflnewshub.com/ufl/all-the-ufl-needs-for-a-great-2025-is-fantasy-football/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Due to an increase in stadium conflicts with the [[Alamodome]] in 2025 compared to previous years, in particular the dome's hosting of the [[2025 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament]] Final Four, the [[San Antonio Brahmas]] will only host four home games in 2025. Both of the Brahmas' in-division games against the [[St. Louis Battlehawks]] will be hosted at [[The Dome at America's Center]] in St. Louis, giving the Battlehawks six home games.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schneider |first=Joey |date=August 21, 2024 |title=St. Louis Battlehawks to host extra sixth home game in 2025 season |url=https://fox2now.com/sports/battlehawks/st-louis-battlehawks-to-host-extra-sixth-home-game-in-2025-season/ |access-date=August 21, 2024 |website=[[KTVI]]}}</ref>
===Postseason===
The postseason will have four teams, with the first and second-ranked team in each conference playing in the [[XFL Championship|XFL Championship Game]] and [[USFL championship game|USFL Championship Game]], the winners of which will advance to the [[2025 UFL championship game|2025 UFL Championship Game]] on June 14, which will be held at a neutral site chosen among the league's eight markets as a reward for strong fan support and attendance.<ref name=wowitsback>{{Cite web |last=Durando |first=Stu |date=March 14, 2024 |title='Wow, this market is back': St. Louis gets UFL championship game |url=https://www.stltoday.com/sports/professional/other/wow-this-market-is-back-st-louis-gets-ufl-championship-game/article_913892f4-e213-11ee-ad36-cf56a046343f.html |access-date=March 14, 2024 |website=STLtoday.com |language=en}}</ref>
<!--==Standings==
{{2025 UFL standings}}
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===Postseason===
The playoffs will start on June 87 and 98 and will end with the championship game on June 1614.
{{2025 UFL playoffs}}
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==Media==
===Television===
In the United States, the television rights for the UFL are held by [[Fox Sports (United States)|Fox]] and [[ESPN]] (which is under its third season of a five-year deal),<ref>{{Cite web |last=Steinberg |first=Brian |date=May 17, 2022 |title=Disney Strikes Deal to Put XFL on ESPN, FX, ABC |url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/disney-xfl-rights-deal-espn-fx-1235269996/ |access-date=April 23, 2024 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> OnFor season two, someone gamesgame areeach expectedweek towill be movedcontested toon the Friday night broadcaston windows,main [[Fox Sports (United States)|Fox]] in order to accommodate Fox’s new [[IndyCar]] deal and to fill a [[Friday night death slot#Fox| notoriously difficult-to-fill void on the Friday schedule]] left when ''[[WWE SmackDown]]'' returned to [[USA Network]].<ref name="2024-season-recap" /> Most of the advertising revenue the networks will collect is being sold as part of bulk agreements with Fox Sports and ESPN Inc. and not as a standalone television series.<ref name="2024-season-recap" />
<!--==Reception==
{{Empty section|date=June 2024}}-->