2023 USFL championship game explained

2023
Type:usflc
Visitor:Pittsburgh Maulers
Visitor Abbr:PIT
Visitor Coach:Ray Horton
Visitor Record:4–6
Home:Birmingham Stallions
Home Abbr:BHAM
Home Coach:Skip Holtz
Home Record:8–2
Visitor Qtr1:3
Visitor Qtr2:6
Visitor Qtr3:3
Visitor Qtr4:0
Home Qtr1:0
Home Qtr2:14
Home Qtr3:7
Home Qtr4:7
Date:July 1, 2023
Time:8:00 p.m. EDT (UTC-4)
Stadium:Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium
City:Canton, Ohio
Referee:Larry Smith[1]
Attendance:N/A
Mvp:Deon Cain, Birmingham
Odds:Birmingham by 7
Anthem:Dylan Scott
Network:NBC & Peacock
Announcers:Jac Collinsworth (play-by-play), Jason Garrett (analyst) and Zora Stephenson (sideline reporter)
Rating:0.7 (1.157 million viewers) (NBC)
(1.2 million viewers) (Peacock)[2] [3]
Last:2022

The 2023 USFL championship game was an American football game that was played on July 1, 2023, at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio.[4] The contest determined the champion of the 2023 USFL season and was played between the Pittsburgh Maulers and the Birmingham Stallions, eventually crowning Birmingham the champion of the league for the second year in a row.

The game featured the number one defense in the league in Pittsburgh facing off against the number one offense in the league in Birmingham. After going up 3–0, the Maulers would fall after Alex McGough threw touchdown passes to Davion Davis and Deon Cain, the eventual MVP, and would never lead again. The Maulers would add additional field goals, though their continued lack of success on the offensive side of the ball would ultimately be the reason they lost the game. The Stallions eventually won the game 28-12 to repeat as USFL champions.

Background

USFL playoffs

The two lowest-finishing teams from each division were excluded from participation in the playoffs. From the North Division, the New Jersey Generals were mathematically eliminated from playoff contention on June 17, and the Philadelphia Stars were eliminated from postseason contention on June 18. In the South Division, the Memphis Showboats were the first team ruled out of the postseason, on June 17, while the Houston Gamblers were eliminated from postseason contention on June 18.

The first semifinal game was held between the North Division first and second place teams, the Pittsburgh Maulers and the Michigan Panthers. The Maulers win in overtime 31–27 and clinch a berth in the championship game. The second semifinal game followed, which was contested by the Birmingham Stallions and the New Orleans Breakers. The Stallions clinched their championship game spot with a 47–22 win. With their playoff semifinal victories, the Stallions entered the USFL championship game 8–2, while the Maulers entered the USFL championship game 4–6.

Bracket

Teams

Birmingham Stallions

See main article: 2023 Birmingham Stallions season. Birmingham Stallions finished their second overall season under head coach Skip Holtz, going 8–2 and advancing to their first playoff berth to the division title game against New Orleans Breakers.

Pittsburgh Maulers

See main article: 2023 Pittsburgh Maulers season. Pittsburgh Maulers finished their second overall season, and first under head coach Ray Horton, going 4–6 and advancing to their first playoff berth to the division title game against Michigan Panthers.

Game summary

Scoring summary

Statistics

Team statistical comparison[5]
StatisticPittsburghBirmingham
Total plays–net yards61–202 50–357
Rushing attempts–net yards17–98 23–150
Yards per rush5.8 6.5
Yards passing104 207
Pass completions–attempts24–38 18–25
Interceptions thrown0 0
Fumbles lost1 1
Time of possession33:51 26:09
Pittsburgh statistics
Maulers passing
24–37 143 0–0
0–1 0 0–0
Maulers rushing
Troy Williams 4 38 0
Garrett Groshek 9 35 0
Isiah Hennie 1 13 0
2 7 0
Duane Gary 1 5 0
Maulers receiving
Isiah Hennie 8 55 0
3 18 0
Tre Walker 2 18 0
Mason Stokke 3 16 0
Garrett Groshek 2 13 0
1 11 0
Madre London 3 9 0
Matt Seybert 1 6 0
Josh Simmons 1 −3 0
Birmingham statistics
Stallions passing
18–25 243 4–0
Stallions rushing
Alex McGough 9 64 0
8 48 0
Ricky Person Jr. 6 38 0
Stallions receiving
4 70 3
3 65 0
3 55 1
C. J. Marable 4 25 0
La'Michael Pettway 3 25 0
Josh Johnson 1 3 0

Aftermath

Stallions wide receiver Deon Cain, previously named to the all-USFL team, was named the game's Most Valuable Player.

After the game, Fox officially announced that the league would return in April 2024, featuring the same eight teams that competed during the 2023 season.

Broadcasting

United States

The game was televised by NBC and Peacock.[6]

International

The USFL employed the help of DAZN for international streaming.[7]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Larry Smith is the referee for the 2023 USFL Championship Game. Football Zebras. 29 June 2023 .
  2. Web site: Mike Mitchell. USFL 2023 Championship Game TV Rating Sees Significant Decline In Viewership From 2022. usflnewshub.com. 5 July 2023. July 5, 2023. July 5, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230705185846/https://web.archive.org/web/20230705161536/https://usflnewshub.com/usfl-news/usfl-2023-championship-game-tv-rating-sees-significant-decline-in-viewership-from-2022. live.
  3. Web site: Jon Lewis. Weekly sports ratings: NASCAR tops charts. 2023-07-05. Sports Media Watch. 5 July 2023 . July 5, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230705222612/https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2023/07/weekly-sports-ratings-charts-nascar-usfl-championship-wnba-ion/. live.
  4. Web site: Canton, Ohio To Host USFL Games During 2023 Regular Season. foxsports.com. en. January 25, 2023. January 28, 2023. January 28, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230128062330/https://www.foxsports.com/stories/usfl/canton-ohio-to-host-usfl-games-during-2023-regular-season. live.
  5. Web site: Pittsburgh Maulers vs. Birmingham Stallions – Box Score. USFL. July 2, 2023. July 2, 2023.
  6. Web site: USFL UNVEILS 2023 BROADCAST SCHEDULE WITH LEAGUE PARTNERS FOX SPORTS & NBC SPORTS TELEVISING ALL 43 USFL GAMES. March 13, 2023. April 24, 2023. nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com. en-US.
  7. Web site: USFL ANNOUNCES 2023 INTERNATIONAL BROADCAST SCHEDULE IN 200+ COUNTRIES AND TERRITORIES WORLDWIDE. April 14, 2023. April 24, 2023. nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com. en-US.