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| Date | July 1, 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||
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| 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] | ||||||||||||||||||
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
| 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 | |||||||
Teams
Birmingham Stallions
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
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
| 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]
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Statistics
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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
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
- ↑ "Larry Smith is the referee for the 2023 USFL Championship Game". Football Zebras.
- ↑ Mike Mitchell (5 July 2023). "USFL 2023 Championship Game TV Rating Sees Significant Decline In Viewership From 2022". usflnewshub.com. Archived from the original on July 5, 2023. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
- ↑ Jon Lewis. "Weekly sports ratings: NASCAR tops charts". Sports Media Watch. Archived from the original on July 5, 2023. Retrieved 2023-07-05.
- ↑ "Canton, Ohio To Host USFL Games During 2023 Regular Season". foxsports.com. January 25, 2023. Archived from the original on January 28, 2023. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
- ↑ "Pittsburgh Maulers at Birmingham Stallions – Play by Play". United States Football League. June 26, 2023. Archived from the original on June 26, 2023. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "USFL ANNOUNCES 2023 INTERNATIONAL BROADCAST SCHEDULE IN 200+ COUNTRIES AND TERRITORIES WORLDWIDE". nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com. April 14, 2023. Retrieved April 24, 2023.