The New USFL

[gilthethrill]

MBT's second game is in the books, a 38-31 win for the Breakers. MBT went 23/34 for 251 yards, 2 TDs and no INTs. Former Ticat Wes Hills scored three TDs for NO and rushed for 110 yards on 18 carries.

With divisional rival and defending league champ Birmingham Stallions losing their starting QB J’Mar Smith for the season, MBT could find himself in another league title game for the 2nd time in 6 months.

[ArgoRavi]

With divisional rival and defending league champ Birmingham Stallions losing their starting QB J’Mar Smith for the season, MBT could find himself in another league title game for the 2nd time in 6 months.

Is there a better QB in the USFL than MBT?

[paulwoods13]

Is there a better QB in the USFL than MBT?

TBD. McGough had a hell of a game for the Stallions on the weekend.

[AngeloV]

I've enjoyed watching the Breakers with MBT, Wes Hills (who was way better than the week 1 starting RB) and Vonte Diggs, I have adopted them as my team in that league. Having said that, both games they have played in their "home" stadium in Birmingham have been in front of I would say less than 500 fans each. It's tough to be into it. From my understanding, TV ratings have also been pretty bad. Will they eventually have all their teams playing home games in the cities they represent? Maybe in year 3 if they make it that far. This league has to be losing tons of cash.

[ArgoRavi]

I've enjoyed watching the Breakers with MBT, Wes Hills (who was way better than the week 1 starting RB) and Vonte Diggs, I have adopted them as my team in that league. Having said that, both games they have played in their "home" stadium in Birmingham have been in front of I would say less than 500 fans each. It's tough to be into it. From my understanding, TV ratings have also been pretty bad. Will they eventually have all their teams playing home games in the cities they represent? Maybe in year 3 if they make it that far. This league has to be losing tons of cash.

Agreed. Likewise, how can the XFL not be losing a tonne of money also, with mostly poor crowds and less than impressive TV numbers?

[paulwoods13]

Another big day for MBT (20/28/283/1/3/124.6) and a huge day for former Ticat Wes Hills (34/191/3). Breakers alone in first place after defeating the defending champion Stallions.

[matthew]

Clearly no room for two US Spring leagues and probably debatable if there is appetite at all for just one with the XFL only doing moderately better. Can't see the USFL carrying on much longer.

[AngeloV]

Clearly no room for two US Spring leagues and probably debatable if there is appetite at all for just one with the XFL only doing moderately better. Can't see the USFL carrying on much longer.

The irony is that the USFL games have been much better. I guess they just don’t have the same hype factor

[ArgoRavi]

Two USFL games were on national TV on Sunday. Bart Andrus' Philadelphia Stars kicked a last minute FG to beat Mike Riley's New Jersey Generals in Detroit, while MBT's New Orleans Breakers lost their first game of the season to the Memphis Showboats in Birmingham. There couldn't have been much more than 100 to 200 fans on hand at either game.

[paulwoods13]

Attendance for games involving a "home" team that isn't from that city has not been good. The Stallions draw OK in Birmingham; the Breakers draw flies.

On another subject, the drone cameras in use seem to be flying barely inches above the ground at times, judging by the shadows they cast. How long until one of them interferes with a play?

[ArgoRavi]

Attendance for games involving a "home" team that isn't from that city has not been good. The Stallions draw OK in Birmingham; the Breakers draw flies.

On another subject, the drone cameras in use seem to be flying barely inches above the ground at times, judging by the shadows they cast. How long until one of them interferes with a play?

I was told on Twitter that a drone camera was making a lot of noise at the game in Birmingham yesterday after I complained that it sounded like we could hear workers using electric tools at that game. With only a couple of hundred people at the game, you can hear everything.

[Will]

Paul Woods and I drove to Detroit yesterday to watch the Breakers and Stars game, which the Stars won 16-10. MBT threw a pick-six that ended up being the difference in the game and struggled to get any rhythm going offensively. He does not have a very good OL in front of him which, as we know, is important for him to succeed. Lirim Hajrullahu is the punter for the Stars and came over and said hello before the game.

[jerrym]

Questions remain about the XFL league's long term survival in terms of its viewer ratings compared to those of the USFL.

In total, the XFL playoffs averaged 576,500 average viewers across its two broadcasts on ESPN. In contrast, both USFL playoff games in 2022 averaged a combined 980,000 viewers on NBC and FOX. While the XFL was competing against the USFL regular season and both NBA and NHL playoff games, the audience size for two playoff matchups is a concerning development. the May 13 XFL Championship Game on ABC at 8 PM ET will need to pull in a much larger audience to avoid discussion about the XFL’s long-term viability.

https://sportsnaut.com/xfl-tv-ratings-2023/

[jerrym]

On the other hand the XFL did do well in its Championship viewership compared to last year's USFL' 980,000 viewers and will be back in 2024.

The XFL Championship Game averaged 1.43 million viewers, making it the most-watched game in the 2023 XFL season since Week 1. The numbers were right on par with the first games of the XFL 3.0 launch (1.5 million and 1.6 million average viewers). At its peak, Saturday’s championship game had 1.8 million viewers tuned in on ABC. Of note, the XFL wasn’t competing against the NBA Playoffs on Saturday night.
Will the XFL return in 2024?

The XFL will return in 2024, with its broadcasting partners ESPN and ABC both interested in the league sticking around. XFL co-owner Dany Garcia announced in May that they are in the planning stages for the 2024 season, but they saw sufficient enough interest to move forward into a second season.

https://sportsnaut.com/xfl-tv-ratings-2023/

[ArgoRavi]

If I am not mistaken, MBT has a must-win game to make the playoffs tomorrow at 1 pm (not on television in Canada) against the Houston Gamblers.

By the way, like the XFL, the USFL has one division that is considerably stronger than the other. In the North Division (at least I think that's what it's called), a 4-6 team is the first place team. Even in the much-maligned CFL East, on only one occasion (2016), has a first place team finished with less than a .500 record (Ottawa was 8-9-1 that season).

[gilthethrill]

In a must win game yesterday former respected CFL HC Mike Riley stayed the course with his starting QB and was rewarded with a 12-27 for 137 yards. Dakota Prukop watched this from the sideline. NJ Generals season is over.

[ArgoRavi]

In a must win game yesterday former respected CFL HC Mike Riley stayed the course with his starting QB and was rewarded with a 12-27 for 137 yards. Dakota Prukop watched this from the sideline. NJ Generals season is over.

Sounds like Mike Riley and Chris Jones had similar days on Saturday.

[gilthethrill]

The playoffs are set. Next weekend Michigan travels to Canton OH to face Pittsburgh while MBT and his New Orleans breakers travel from Birmingham to face the defending Champions Birmingham Stallions at home.

Bart Andrus and his Stars, who played in the Championship game last year lost on the final weekend to miss the playoffs with a 4-6 record.

[Will]

The playoffs are set. Next weekend Michigan travels to Canton OH to face Pittsburgh while MBT and his New Orleans breakers travel from Birmingham to face the defending Champions Birmingham Stallions at home.

Bart Andrus and his Stars, who played in the Championship game last year lost on the final weekend to miss the playoffs with a 4-6 record.

You hate to see it.

[ArgoRavi]

MBT's season has ended, as has his quest for a second championship in less than a year. The 8-3 Birmingham Stallions will take on the 5-6 Pittsburgh Maulers in the USFL championship game next Sunday.