2023 USFL championship game

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.

2023 USFL championship game

Pittsburgh Maulers (4–6) Birmingham Stallions (8–2) 12 28 Head coach: Ray Horton Head coach: Skip Holtz
1 2 3 4 Total PIT 3 6 3 0 12 BHAM 0 14 7 7 28
Date	July 1, 2023
Kickoff time	8:00 p.m. EDT (UTC-4)
Stadium	Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, Canton, Ohio
MVP	Deon Cain, Birmingham
Favorite	Birmingham by 7
Referee	Larry Smith^[1]
Attendance	N/A
Ceremonies
National anthem	Dylan Scott
TV in the United States
Network	NBC & Peacock
Announcers	Jac Collinsworth (play-by-play), Jason Garrett (analyst), and Zora Stephenson (sideline reporter)
Nielsen ratings	0.7 (1.157 million viewers) (NBC) (1.2 million viewers) (Peacock)^[2]^[3]
← 2022 USFL Championship Game

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

	Division Finals June 24–25, 2023					USFL Championship July 1, 2023
	N1	Pittsburgh Maulers	31
	N2	Michigan Panthers	27
						N1	Pittsburgh Maulers	12
						S1	Birmingham Stallions	28
	S1	Birmingham Stallions	47
	S2	New Orleans Breakers	22

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Teams

Birmingham Stallions

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

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

2023 USFL championship game

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Pittsburgh Maulers	3	6	3	0	12
Birmingham Stallions	0	14	7	7	28

at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium • Canton, Ohio

• Date: July 1, 2023
• Game time: 8:00 p.m. EST
• Referee: Larry Smith
• TV announcers (NBC): Jac Collinsworth (play-by-play), Jason Garrett (analyst), and Zora Stephenson (sideline reporter)
• Source:^[5]

Scoring summary

Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP Pittsburgh Birmingham 1 5:27 16 51 9:33 Pittsburgh 37-yard field goal by Chris Blewitt 3 0 2 10:39 6 85 2:54 Birmingham Davion Davis 42-yard touchdown reception from Alex McGough, Brandon Aubrey kick good 3 7 2 3:01 13 46 7:38 Pittsburgh 36-yard field goal by Chris Blewitt 6 7 2 0:31 7 68 2:30 Birmingham Deon Cain 3-yard touchdown reception from Alex McGough, Brandon Aubrey kick good 6 14 2 0:00 5 27 0:31 Pittsburgh 55-yard field goal by Chris Blewitt 9 14 3 10:29 8 83 4:31 Birmingham Deon Cain 20-yard touchdown reception from Alex McGough, Brandon Aubrey kick good 9 21 3 7:45 5 19 2:44 Pittsburgh 51-yard field goal by Chris Blewitt 12 21 4 6:28 2 40 0:54 Birmingham Deon Cain 40-yard touchdown reception from Alex McGough, Brandon Aubrey kick good 12 28 "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 12 28

Statistics

Team statistical comparison Statistic Pittsburgh Birmingham Total plays–net yards 61–202 50–357 Rushing attempts–net yards 17–98 23–150 Yards per rush 5.8 6.5 Yards passing 104 207 Pass completions–attempts 24–38 18–25 Interceptions thrown 0 0 Fumbles lost 1 1 Time of possession 33:51 26:09

Pittsburgh statistics Maulers passing C–A Yds TD–INT Troy Williams 24–37 143 0–0 Garrett Groshek 0–1 0 0–0 Maulers rushing Car Yds TD Troy Williams 4 38 0 Garrett Groshek 9 35 0 Isiah Hennie 1 13 0 Madre London 2 7 0 Duane Gary 1 5 0 Maulers receiving Rec Yds TD Isiah Hennie 8 55 0 Ishmael Hyman 3 18 0 Tre Walker 2 18 0 Mason Stokke 3 16 0 Garrett Groshek 2 13 0 Bailey Gaither 1 11 0 Madre London 3 9 0 Matt Seybert 1 6 0 Josh Simmons 1 −3 0

Birmingham statistics Stallions passing C–A Yds TD–INT Alex McGough 18–25 243 4–0 Stallions rushing Car Yds TD Alex McGough 9 64 0 C. J. Marable 8 48 0 Ricky Person Jr. 6 38 0 Stallions receiving Rec Yds TD Deon Cain 4 70 3 Jace Sternberger 3 65 0 Davion Davis 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]

• In the United Kingdom and Ireland, the game was televised through Sky Sports.
• In Australia, the game was televised through Fox Sports Australia.
• In Hungary, the game was televised through Network4.
• In Northern Europe, the game was televised through Viaplay.

References

1. "Larry Smith is the referee for the 2023 USFL Championship Game". Football Zebras.
2. Mike Mitchell (5 July 2023). "USFL 2023 Championship Game TV Rating Sees Significant Decline In Viewership From 2022". usflnewshub.com. from the original on July 5, 2023. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
3. Jon Lewis. "Weekly sports ratings: NASCAR tops charts". Sports Media Watch. from the original on July 5, 2023. Retrieved 2023-07-05.
4. "Canton, Ohio To Host USFL Games During 2023 Regular Season". foxsports.com. January 25, 2023. from the original on January 28, 2023. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
5. "Pittsburgh Maulers at Birmingham Stallions – Play by Play". United States Football League. June 26, 2023. from the original on June 26, 2023. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
6. "USFL UNVEILS 2023 BROADCAST SCHEDULE WITH LEAGUE PARTNERS FOX SPORTS & NBC SPORTS TELEVISING ALL 43 USFL GAMES". nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com. March 13, 2023. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
7. "USFL ANNOUNCES 2023 INTERNATIONAL BROADCAST SCHEDULE IN 200+ COUNTRIES AND TERRITORIES WORLDWIDE". nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com. April 14, 2023. Retrieved April 24, 2023.