A major announcement has been made concerning the future of spring football. The United States Football League (USFL) and NBC Sports have reached a multi-year agreement to present the new league’s regular and postseason games beginning in April 2022. The network will be joining Fox Sports, as the broadcast duo for all 43 games from the 8-team league.
The TV schedule has not been released yet, but NBC Sports will present 21 USFL games in 2022 (8 on NBC, 9 on USA Network, and 4 on Peacock), while FOX Sports will carry 22 games (12 on FOX and 10 on FS1). The announcement is a major move for the second incarnation of the USFL, during the first half of 2022, the combined coverage on NBC and FOX will give the USFL more national over-the-air broadcast windows (20) than any regularly scheduled sport in that timeframe.
“We’re excited to partner with the USFL and FOX Sports to present this new era of professional football,” said Pete Bevacqua, Chairman, NBC Sports. “With our multiple platforms across broadcast, cable, and streaming, football fans throughout the country will be able to experience the USFL’s opening season this spring.”
The re-launch of the USFL is controlled by Fox Sports and has no affiliation with the original organization from the 1980s. When the league re-debuts in 2022, its 8 teams will play in a yet-to-be-named host city. All 8 teams in the inaugural season are reincarnated versions of original USFL clubs. There will be two divisions, the South Division will be comprised of Birmingham Stallions, Houston Gamblers, New Orleans Breakers, and Tampa Bay Bandits, and the North Division will feature the Michigan Panthers, New Jersey Generals, Philadelphia Stars, and Pittsburgh Maulers.
“We’re thrilled to have NBC Sports join FOX Sports as an official media partner of the new USFL,” said FOX Sports CEO and Executive Producer Eric Shanks, who will serve as Chairman of the USFL’s Board of Directors. “Like FOX, NBC has a reputation for excellence in football production, and the exposure both companies have committed to the USFL, including a combined 20 games on broadcast television, will provide fans unprecedented access all season long.”
The 43-game season will include a 10-game regular season for each team, followed by a 2-game postseason, which is made up of a semifinal between the top 2 teams in each division, and a championship game between winners.