USFL '25: World Tour and Season Schedule

 

Quick-ish Notes on the World Tour

Second league commissioner Grover Debs (1984-2009) recognized that international promotion was integral to the competition’s growth and survival in the face of the Fall Behemoth. He spurned internal and external “USSRFL” critiques in ‘88, accepting an offer from local party apparatchiks to play a game in Sochi. San Antonio and Oklahoma were really USFL teams in name only–beyond some low-level rookies from the active roster, taxi-squad hopefuls and tryout stragglers repped the clubs, hoping for a shot. The game proved a success despite make-shift stands, a patchy rugby union field, and H-Bar posts on the goal line.

After a few more Eastern Bloc experiments, the first World Tour hit both sides of the curtain in ‘91; exhibitions in Asia–Beijing, Tokyo, Pyongyang, Melbourne–followed in ‘92. The first international television contracts rolled in for ‘94 when BBC, France 2, NHK, and WDR signed on; USFL’s spring-summer schedule, bright colors, and faster play–partly thanks to dual-threat QBs and run and shoot offenses–saw success in Western Europe, where it didn't entirely run parallel to domestic competitions. Japan, China, the Soviet Union, and Australia proved more difficult–it would have to compete for attention with soccer, baseball, and dual football codes–but that Debs was willing to send teams every year greatly benefitted the competition early-on and led the latter markets to identify the gridiron style with his competition.

The still much larger NFL would squeeze springball at the turn-of-the-century through a series of roster raids, contract double-stabbing, and expansion. Debs kept USFL afloat via an austerity push. Clubs sold contracts of “name” players–Curtis Martin, Jerome Bettis, Marshall Faulk, Greg Lloyd to name a few–and negotiated salary cuts with the old guard of the player’s union. The Great Reaction of 2000 led to new internal shock therapy, which proved advantageous to long-tail strategies: the League took advantage of municipal asset dumps by buying old venues like RFK, Memorial Stadium, Astrodome, Silverdome, and the Thunderdome in $1 auctions and implemented renovations and improvements aided by Sino-Soviet “Friendship” Loans and Socialist tech. Benefits began to emerge post ‘08 crash, with facilities providing added revenue streams. This dovetail with immerging '70s and '80s nostalgia among Gen X contributed to some of the strongest attendance figures in league history. 

A great digression we apologize for; the austere aughts and the NFL’s full-fledged (Western) European summer competition saw Debb’s World Tour dialed back. Where as many as 12 clubs played an exhibition, 2003 and on saw a more modest pivot to Asia, with 1-2 games a year in China, Japan, and Australia.

Recent windfalls have seen a fuller revival. For the first time in league history–possibly buoyed by the money from Apple, clandestine state support, and a dangled 10-year, $250 million contract with Chinese Central Television–USFL sent all eighteen clubs overseas ahead of ‘25. Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders faced off for one series in their game in Osaka; Quinn Ewers–despite personal ideological reservations–led two drives for Houston in a win over Pittsburgh at the new Ernst Thalmann Dome in East Berlin. Though the Maulers lost, Slippery Rock back Idris Lawrence secured an active spot thanks to 25-243-2 performance. Rosters continued the formula first used back in ‘88. Taxi squad, late round draft picks, and hopefuls–refugees of the CFL or day dreaming forklift operators–mostly comprised rosters. Mike Riley named Isas Waxter of Villanova starter thanks to a three-pick performance in the General's overtime win over LA in Shanghai. That they came against Bryan Scott and Kedon Slovis didn't much matter.

Peter Thiel, former Finance Minister and now “First Consul” of The Free Republic of South Africa, offered the USFL $50 million for a World Tour match involving Birmingham in Pretoria. Commissioner Ollie Crowe-Code–Debs’ handpicked successor–declined, opting instead for a second PRC date, sending the Ponies and Wranglers to Tianjin. Crowe-Code mocked the lowball offer and suggested they'd play in Sun City for the ANC and Cuban commandos who’ve occupied the resort the last two years. 

For all the nostalgia for the Merlin Olsen administration of ‘92-’96–the brief expansion of medicaid for everyone, a massive rollout of cable/multimedia network infrastructure, development/investment in solar and green technologies the delay of NAFTA, rapprochement with the Soviet Union and shared development with China–the inability to dislodge Apartheid rule in South Africa remains his great blight. Ross Perot–who stepped in for Reform/People’s Party–kicked the can down the road to appease Deep State lurkers, that can hurling through our century to now: the Afrikaners plotted Paul Wellstone’s assassination in ‘02 and may have helped with Great Reaction and subsequent Shock Therapy of the ensuing decades. 

A great migration of chuds–those who have escaped justice since ‘21–have helped the tumor grow, even though they've been gnarled by a nearly 40-year war with neighbors and a civil war brewing after Thiel’s exiling of co-consul Elon Musk to the puppet-state of Zaire–another unresolved blight. The NFL more politely declined a double offer for next fall, instead opting for an opportunity in Caracas, United Republic of Bolivar. 

Initially scheduled for Dublin, Sinn Fein suggested moving Chicago-Boston to Belfast as a symbol for the newly unified republic. San Antonio again agreed to play in France, where their merchandise is a top seller–the often maligned “gunfighter” logo resembles Belgian comic character Lucky Luke. This was Baltimore’s first European exhibition since 1999, when they played Tampa Bay in Moscow. Burt Reynolds received the Order of Lenin from future Primer Vladimir Putin for the star’s work with MosFilm and his commitment to International Peace and cultural exchanges. Vikings great Carl Eller also received an Order and was in attendance. We digressed again. The Ernst Thalmann match drew a record 78,000, near capacity. The failing of Docklands Stadium's cooling system–attributed to Orange sabotage–led to Bulls-Boats to be declare a tie at regulation despite Joe Milton’s dramatic 43-yard scud to Vinny Papale with two seconds left. It would be the last game for both in ElvisLand. Milton would be traded to Boston upon his return while Papale was cut in favor of Tennessee Oiler cast-off Treylon Burks. 

World Tour Results

Saturday, January 18th

Houston 43, Pittsburgh 22 (Ernst Thalmann Dome, East Berlin, Democratic Republic of Germany)

Washington 27, Oklahoma 9 (Westfalenstadion, Dortmund, Federal Republic of Germany)

Baltimore 24, San Antonio 14 (Parc Olympique Lyonnais, Lyon, France)

Tampa Bay 51, Michigan 13 (Grand Sports Arena of the Luzhniki Olympic Complex, Moscow, Soviet Union)

Chicago 31, Boston 29 (Windsor Park, Belfast, Republic of Ireland)

Saturday, January 25th 

New Jersey 27, Los Angeles 21 OT (Shanghai Stadium, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China)

Birmingham 35, Arizona 31 (Tianjin Olympic Center Stadium, Tianjin, People’s Republic of China)

Denver 45, Oakland 32 (Osaka Dome, Osaka, Japan)

Jacksonville 23, Memphis 23 (Docklands Stadium, Melbourne, Australia)

2025 Schedule and Season Notes

The league schedule dropped three weeks later than usual–a feverish collegiate signing season mostly to blame, with Apple hoping to plunk in a young-gun duel for the debut. Structure remained for season 43, with Apple running Friday and Monday nights, NBC in regional coverage Sunday, and Saturday reserved for local markets. The Restoration of Dignity of ‘21 saw industry smash-up/negotiated euthanasia and the ascendance of the Public Broadcasting System as a bonafide State Media–not much actually changed, however, as the national system still worked through a labyrinth of local stations. Just with actual, robust funding and management. 

The Declaration of 2nd Reconstruction of ‘23 saw PBS fill in gaps of free press and media access across military districts in the Deep, Mid, and Frontier/”Spiritual” South. New PBS offices were setup in each district to coordinate with local affiliates and established new platforms for local culture; its popularity genuine with established and emerging talent retained. Spring’s southern clubs also got new local contracts, coverage, and distribution either directly from PBS or through new State Sanctioned Enterprises (SSES) delivering over revived cable lines or the traditional internet. New SSES outfits popped up across the country as well, all reviving long dormant cable network names. The New State felt breaking up old corporate structures while delivering national resources may lead to a revival of necessary regional cultural flourishing, not unlike the Soviets’ own reconstruction efforts or China's maintenance of their single village of many tribes. 

National audiences can continue to follow Saturday nights via the venerable Saturday Night Springball program; after rambling along on BYUTV the last six years, Apple has been cleared to take over–the Department of Sports, Culture, and Tradition(s) citing public benefit due to Apple’s increasing reach and the network’s willingness to offer the program as a local syndication package. Nick Mullen and Keith Olberman will be joined by potential third-heat Johnny Manziel for wrap-around coverage through the evening. 

NBC retained national broadcast rights under the ad-hoc production/revenue share model agreed upon post ‘08 economic collapse. This will be the last year of this agreement, as the network and the league will evaluate True Value ahead of hammering out a “hard money” deal as dictated by the Department. The Peacock saw strong ratings and ad sales in 2024 and projected similarly for ‘25, though revenue did take a hit at local market level (a theory is presented in our rookie round-up). USFL Central Office dismissed criticism, citing an array of international deals totaling $75 million for ‘25, more than making up for revenue gaps. 

Four games nationally at 3 pm once again. Washington will continue their Memorial Day tradition, hosting Pittsburgh. Last year’s Easter doubleheader has returned to a traditional post-ham lunch slot after early games suffered from poor ratings and in-game attendance in Protestant-majority markets (non-Mormon). There was greater effort to incorporate occupied clubs into the National schedule early in the season–when weather is less dangerous in the day–though controlled opposition still criticized relegation to Saturday nights later in the year. 

Network Key for Reconstruction Districts

1st and 2nd districts comprise parts of East Tennessee, southern Virginia and the Carolinas–places without USFL clubs; they will receive any and all PBS broadcasts. For those still confused by the District system:

3rd – Florida, Georgia, Alabama (Birmingham, Jacksonville, and Tampa Bay)

4th – Arkansas, Mississippi, West Tennessee (Memphis)

5th – Texas (Houston and San Antonio, though Dallas-based SSES Home Sports Entertainment will also carry Gunslingers games on occasion)

6th – Oklahoma, Kansas, non-Omaha Nebraska

WEEK 1

Friday, February 28

Oakland at Los Angeles, 9 PM EST/6 PM PST (Apple)

Saturday, March 1st

Oklahoma at Michigan 7 PM/6 PM CST (PBS 6th District/PASS)

Denver at Arizona 10 PM PST/7 PM EST (BYUTV/PRIME)

Sunday, March 2nd 

3 PM/12 PM PST 

Memphis at Baltimore 

Tampa Bay at Chicago 

Jacksonville at Boston 

Pittsburgh at San Antonio 

Birmingham at New Jersey 

Monday, March 3rd 

Houston at Washington 8 PM EST/5 PM PST (Apple)

WEEK 2

Friday, March 7th 

Tampa Bay at Michigan 8 PM EST/5 PM PST (Apple)

Saturday, March 8th 

Oklahoma at Baltimore 7 PM EST/4 PM PST (PBS 6th District/MASN)

Memphis at Birmingham 8 PM EST/7 PM PST (PBS 4th District/PBS 3rd District)

Sunday, March 9th

1 PM EST/12 PM CST (NBC)

Denver at Chicago

Houston at San Antonio 

4 PM/1 PM PST (NBC)

Jacksonville at New Jersey 

Washington at Los Angeles 

Pittsburgh at Oakland 

Monday, March 10th

Boston at Arizona 9 PM EST/6 PM PST (Apple)

WEEK 3

Friday, March 14th

Memphis at Jacksonville 8 PM EST/5 PM PST (PBS 3rd District/Sunshine/Apple)

Saturday, March 15th 

Houston at Oklahoma 8 PM EST/7 PM CST (PBS 6th District/PBS 5th District/HSE) 

Arizona at Oakland 10 PM PST/7 PM EST (AFZS/Pacific Sports)

Birmingham at Los Angeles 10 PM PST/7 PM EST (PBS 3rd District/PRIME)

Sunday, March 16th

3 PM/12 PM PST (NBC)

New Jersey at Washington

Boston at Tampa Bay

Baltimore at Pittsburgh

San Antonio at Chicago

Monday, March 17th

Michigan vs (at) Denver (Salt Lake City, UT) 9 PM EST/7 PM MST (Apple)

WEEK 4

Friday, March 21st

Arizona at San Antonio 9 PM EST/7 PM CST (Apple)

Saturday, March 22nd

Oakland at Memphis 8 PM EST/5 PM PST (Pacific Sports/PBS 4th District)

Chicago at Oklahoma 8 PM EST/7 PM CST (WGN/PBS 6th District)

Washington at Denver 9 PM EST/7 PM MST (Monumental Sports/BYU TV)

Sunday, March 23rd

3 PM EST/12 PM PST (NBC)

Los Angeles at Michigan

Baltimore at Boston 

Jacksonville at Houston

Tampa Bay at Birmingham

Monday, March 24th

Pittsburgh at New Jersey 9 PM EST/6 PM CST (Apple)

WEEK 5

Friday, March 28th

Chicago at Los Angeles 9 PM EST/6 PM CST (Apple)

Saturday, March 29th 

Birmingham at Jacksonville 8 PM EST/7 PM CST (PBS 3rd District/Sunshine)

Memphis at Tampa Bay (PBS 4th District)

Oklahoma at Pittsburgh (PBS 6th District/KBL)

Sunday, March 31st

3 PM EST/12 PM PST (NBC)

Denver at Baltimore

Boston at Washington

Oakland at San Antonio

New Jersey at Arizona

Monday, April 1st

Michigan at Houston 9 PM EST/8 PM CST (Apple)

WEEK 6

Friday, April 4th

Washington at Memphis 9 PM EST/8 PM CST (Apple)

Saturday, April 5th 

Oakland at Tampa Bay 8 PM EST/7 PM CST (PBS 3rd District/PacSports)

Oklahoma at Birmingham 9 PM EST/8 PM CST (PBS 6th District/PBS 3rd District)

Houston at Chicago 9 PM EST/8PM CST (PBS 4th District/HSE/WGN)

Sunday, April 6th

3 PM EST/12 PM PST (NBC)

San Antonio at Michigan

Los Angeles at Denver

New Jersey at Baltimore

Pittsburgh at Boston

Monday, April 7th

Jacksonville at Arizona 10 PM EST/7 PM PST (Apple)

WEEK 7

Friday, April 11th

San Antonio at Oklahoma 9 PM EST/8 PM CST (Apple)

Saturday, April 12th

Oakland at Washington 8 PM EST/7 PM CST (PacSports/Monumental)

Baltimore at Jacksonville 8 PM EST/7 PM CST (MASN/PBS 3rd District/Sunshine)

Arizona at Denver 9PM MST/8 PM PST (AFSZ/BYUTV)

Sunday, April 13th

3 PM EST/12 PST (NBC) 

Boston vs (at) New Jersey (Hartford, CT)

Tampa Bay at Pittsburgh

Michigan at Chicago

Memphis at Los Angeles

Monday, April 14th

Birmingham at Houston 9 PM EST/8 PM CST (Apple)

WEEK 8 

Friday, April 18th 

Denver at Tampa Bay 9 PM EST/7 PM MST (Apple)

Saturday, April 19th

Chicago at Birmingham 9 PM EST/8 PM CST (WGN/PBS 3rd District)

Oklahoma at Memphis 9 PM EST/8 PM CST (PBS 6th District)

Baltimore at Arizona 10 PM PST/7 PM EST (MASN/AZFS)

Sunday, April 20th

3 PM EST/12 PM PST (NBC)

Boston at Michigan

Los Angeles at Jacksonville

San Antonio at New Jersey

Houston at Oakland 

Monday, April 21st

Washington at Pittsburgh 8 PM EST/5 PM PST (Apple)

WEEK 9

Friday, April 25th

Memphis at San Antonio 9 PM EST/8 PM CST (Apple)

Saturday, April 26th 

Jacksonville at Tampa Bay 8 PM EST/5 PM PST (PBS 3rd District/Sunshine)

Arizona at Oklahoma 9 PM EST/8 PM EST (AFZS/PBS 6th District)

Birmingham at Oakland 10 PM EST/7 PM PST

(PBS 3rd District/PacSports)

Sunday, April 27th

3 PM EST/12 PM PST (NBC)

Washington at Michigan 

Baltimore at New Jersey

Los Angeles at Houston

Denver at Pittsburgh 

Monday, April 28th

Chicago at Boston 8 PM EST/7 PM CST (Apple)

WEEK 10

Friday, May 2nd 

Tampa Bay at Baltimore 8 PM EST/7 PM CST (Apple)

Saturday, May 3rd

Pittsburgh at Memphis 9 PM EST/8 PM CST (KBL/PBS 3rd District)

Oakland at Oklahoma 9 PM EST/8 PM CST (PacSports/PBS 6th District)

Boston at Denver 9 PM EST/7 PM MST (NESN/BYU TV) 

Sunday, May 4th

3 PM EST/12 PM PST (NBC)

San Antonio at Los Angeles

Birmingham at Washington

New Jersey at Chicago

Michigan at Jacksonville

Monday, May 5th

Arizona at Houston 8 PM EST/7 PM CST (Apple) 

WEEK 11

Friday, May 9th

Denver at Oakland 8 PM EST/5 PM PST (Apple)

Saturday, May 10th

Chicago at Jacksonville

Oklahoma at San Antonio

Tampa Bay at Arizona

Sunday, May 11th

3 PM EST/12 PM PST (NBC)

Washington at New Jersey

Memphis at Boston

Los Angeles at Pittsburgh 

Houston at Michigan

Monday, May 12th

Baltimore at Birmingham 8 PM EST/7 PM CST (Apple) 

WEEK 12

Friday, May 16

Los Angeles at Oakland

Saturday, May 17th

San Antonio at Baltimore 8 PM EST/7 PM CST (PBS 5th District/MASN) 

Jacksonville at Birmingham (PBS 3rd District/Sunshine/PBS 4 th District) 

Oklahoma at Denver 9 PM EST/7 PM MST (PBS 6th District/BYU TV, Salt Lake City)

Sunday, May 18th

3 PM EST/12 PM PST (NBC)

New Jersey vs (at) Boston (Hartford, CT)

Arizona at Memphis

Michigan at Pittsburgh 

Chicago at Washington 

Monday, May 19th

Houston at Tampa Bay 8 PM EST/7 PM CST (Apple) 

WEEK 13

Friday, May 23rd

Michigan at Arizona 10 PM EST/7 PST (Apple)

Saturday, May 24th

Tampa Bay at Jacksonville 8 PM EST/7 PM CST (PBS 3rd District/Sunshine)

Boston at Oklahoma 9PM EST/8 PM CST (NESN/PBS 6th District)

Baltimore at Oakland 10 PM EST/7 PM PST (MASN/PacSports)

Sunday, May 25th

3 PM EST/12 PM PST (NBC)

Chicago at Houston

San Antonio at Birmingham

Denver at Los Angeles

Monday, May 26th

Pittsburgh at Washington 3 PM EST/12 PM PST (NBC)

New Jersey at Memphis 8 PM EST/7 PM CST (Apple)

WEEK 14

Friday, May 30th

Denver at San Antonio 8 PM EST/7 PM CST/6 PM MST (Apple)

Saturday, May 31st

Washington at Baltimore 8 PM EST (Monumental/MASN)

Jacksonville at Oklahoma 9 PM EST/8 PM CST (PBS 3rd District/Sunshine)

Los Angeles at Arizona 11 PM EST/7 PM EST (Prime/AFZS)

Sunday, June 1st

3 PM EST/12 PM PST (NBC)

Houston at New Jersey

Oakland at Chicago

Boston at Pittsburgh

Memphis at Michigan

Monday, June 2nd

Birmingham at Tampa Bay 8 PM EST/7 PM CST (Apple)

WEEK 15

Friday, June 6th

Houston at Denver 9 PM EST/8 PM CST/7 PM MST (Apple)

Saturday, June 7th 

Jacksonville at Washington 8 PM EST (Sunshine/Monumental)

Arizona at Birmingham 9 PM EST/8 PM CST (AFZS/PBS 3rd District, Sub-Channel 2)

Tampa Bay at Memphis 9 PM EST/8 PM CST (PBS 3rd District, Sub-Channel 1)

Sunday, June 8th

3 PM EST/12 PM PST (NBC)

Pittsburgh at Baltimore

Oklahoma at Chicago

New Jersey at Oakland

Michigan at San Antonio 

Monday, June 9th

Los Angeles at Boston 8 PM EST/5 PM PST (Apple)

WEEK 16

Friday, June 13th

Michigan at Oakland 10 PM EST/7 PM PST (Apple)

Saturday, June 14th

Pittsburgh at Jacksonville 8 PM EST (KBL/PBS 3rd District/Sunshine)

Baltimore at Washington 8 PM EST (Monumental/MASN, “Battle of Old Bay”) 

Oklahoma at Houston 9 PM EST/8 PM CST (PBS 5th District/PBS 6th District)

Sunday, June 15th

3 PM EST/12 PM PST (NBC)

Arizona at Chicago

Birmingham at Boston

Memphis at Denver

New Jersey at Los Angeles

Monday, June 16th

San Antonio at Tampa Bay 8 PM EST (Apple)

WEEK 17

Friday, June 20th

Arizona at Los Angeles 10 PM EST/7 PM PST (Apple)

Saturday, June 21st

Jacksonville at Memphis 9 PM EST/8 PM CST (PBS 3rd District/Sunshine/PBS 4th District)

Pittsburgh at Birmingham 9 PM EST/8 PM CST (KBL/PBS 4th District, Sub-Channel 2)

Michigan at Oklahoma 9 PM EST/8 PM CST (PASS/PBS 6th District)

Sunday, June 22nd

3 PM EST/12 PM PST (NBC)

Baltimore at Houston

Chicago at San Antonio

Tampa Bay at New Jersey

Oakland at Denver

Monday, June 23rd

Washington at Boston 8 PM EST/5 PM PST (Apple)

WEEK 18

Friday, June 27th

Birmingham at Memphis 9 PM EST/8 PM CST (Apple)

Saturday, June 28th 

Denver at Jacksonville 8 PM EST/6 PM MST (BYU TV/PBS 3rd District/Sunshine)

Los Angeles at Oklahoma 9 PM EST/8 PM CST/6 PM PST (Prime/PBS 6th District)

Oakland at Arizona 10 PM PST/7 PM EST 

Sunday, June 29th

3 PM EST/12 PM PST (NBC)

Washington at Tampa Bay

Boston at Baltimore

Chicago at Michigan

San Antonio at Houston

Monday, June 30th 

New Jersey at Pittsburgh 8 PM EST/5 PM PST (Apple)