The Return of the USFL
04/18/2022
By: Jeff Yoder
Takeaways From Week 1 of the USFL’s Much-Anticipated Return
Spring football has returned! After 37 years, the USFL is officially back. The league’s three-year run in the 1980s was short-lived, but could the revival of spring football be here to stay? Week 1 of the 10-week season featured three games decided by less than a touchdown, and a fourth game postponed to today due to weather. All three teams from the south beat their opponents from the north. It’s a new brand of football, and it’s here for (at least) the next three months.
3 Takeaways
1. The Run Game is Real
Teams’s run-pass ratio was 55-45 in Week 1. By comparison, no NFL team had a run-pass ratio that was heavier in the run game in 2021. It could just be that teams were simplifying the playbook out of the gate, but the run game is strong. Notable quarterbacks didn’t look great as teams are still testing their starters and finding their footing.
2. Big Names, But Not Players
One of the biggest challenges with the USFL is, and will be, the lack of stars. Almost all of the notable names in football reside on an NFL roster. The coaches might be the most notable names on the field — Mike Riley (Generals), Skip Holtz (Stallions) and Kevin Sumlin (Gamblers) and former NFL coach Jeff Fisher (Panthers) among them.
3. Ratings & Reactions
The initial ratings saw nearly 3 million viewers with a solid broadcast that featured unique sky-cam views and the chaotic helmet-cam that took fans right into the action. For reference, Week 1 of the XFL in 2020 saw roughly the same viewership. But hey, it’s spring football. Let’s embrace it.
Week 1 Highlights
Stallions def. Generals (28-24)
Gamblers def. Panthers (17-12)
Tonight: Bandits at Maulers (7:00 pm ET)
Additional Storylines
FOX Sports: USFL Week 1: Stallions Defeat Generals in Instant Classic
ESPN: What to Know for USFL Season: Rules, Coaches, QBs, Schedule & More
Photo: Carmen Mandato / Getty Images