Soccer is back. Yes, the NFL season is over, but the XFL is set to kick off the regular season this weekend after being relaunched by an ownership group led by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
The spring soccer leagues have had a hard time holding up, but there is optimism surrounding the latest relaunch of the league first started by Vince McMahon.
Eight teams are set to compete, with former NFL players and college standouts on each roster. All eight teams will be in action on the opening weekend of the season, so football fans looking to fill the void left by the NFL will have plenty to watch.
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Below is a full look at the XFL Week 1 schedule.
XFL Schedule Week 1: What games are on today?
Here’s the full schedule for the first week of the USFL season, including the final scores and how to watch each game live.
Saturday, February 18
Match | Start Time (ET) | television channel |
Vegas Vipers vs. Arlington Renegades | 15:00 | abc |
Orlando Guardians vs. Houston Goons | 8:30 pm | ESPN, FX |
Sunday, February 19
Match | Start Time (ET) | television channel |
St. Louis Battlehawks vs. San Antonio Brahmas | 15:00 | abc |
Seattle Sea Dragons vs. DC Defenders | 20:00 | ESPN |
TV channel of the XFL games on Saturday, live broadcasts
Vipers vs. Renegades
The Vipers may be the most attractive team in the XFL in terms of looks, but they also have a lot of talent.
With former Packers backup Brett Hundley and AAF standout Luis Perez in the quarterback room, plus impressive former NFL receivers Martavis Bryant and Geronimo Allison, Vegas will have an offense worth watching. On the defensive end, having Hall of Fame defensive back Rod Woodson as head coach doesn’t hurt.
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The Renegades, led by veteran Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops, don’t have as many recognizable names. Former NFL preseason favorite Kyle Sloter could be Arlington’s quarterback, and they’ll be relying on Stoops’ coaching acumen to overcome what could be a talent deficit.
Former Ravens safety Will Hill and former Raiders punter Marquette King are among the notable names on the Renegades.
Guardians vs. Bullies
The Guardians have one of the most interesting quarterback situations in the league with the Broncos’ 2016 first-round pick Paxton Lynch and former Florida State standout Deondre Francois. Orlando also has an NFL wide receiver in Cody Latimer, and their kicker is the brother of the Chiefs’ Tommy Townsend. Will he have enough defense to win games?
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The Roughnecks are at the bottom of most XFL projections, especially given their uncertain quarterback situation. Cole McDonald and Brandon Silvers lead a group that isn’t the most inspiring, even though Silvers has plenty of spring football experience.
Still, with Super Bowl-winning defensive coordinator Wade Phillips as head coach in Houston, the Roughnecks might be a better option than the Texans.
Battlehawks vs. Brahmas
The Battlehawks have some of the best odds to win the XFL as a lot of faith is being placed in quarterback AJ McCarron. He spent time in the NFL after a terrific career at Alabama; he started and nearly won a playoff game for the Bengals. He will be the veteran leader of this St. Louis team, which has an inexperienced coach in former NFL tight end Anthony Becht, but NFL veterans on staff in Bruce Gradkowski and Ricky Proehl.
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The Brahmas should be fun to watch. San Antonio is a fun football market, and former Steelers receiver Hines Ward is at the helm.
There are some notable names on the list, including former Wisconsin and Notre Dame QB Jack Coan and former NFL running back Kalen Ballage, though the defense doesn’t get as much name recognition as other teams.
sea ​​dragons vs defenders
Former Saints head coach Jim Haslett brings his Sea Dragons to the District to close out the Week 1 schedule. Former Cowboys QB Ben DiNucci could make Seattle an interesting team to watch, and the Sea The Dragons have one of the top talents in the league in wide receiver Josh Gordon. There are NFL roots up and down the list, as well as on the coaching staff.
The Defenders may not be the best team in the XFL, but they may have one of the most exciting quarterback rooms in the league.
D’Eriq King and Eric Dungey stood out in the ACC as two threats and can add life to any offense, while Jordan Ta’amu has played well in spring football leagues before and spent some time behind Patrick Mahomes in the depth of the Chiefs. chart. We’ll see if the Defenders can surpass the Commanders as the most functional football team in DC.