What is the UFL? Everything to know about the 2025 United Football League

With the 2025 UFL season right around the corner, we've rounded up everything you need to know about the spring football league.

The United Football League (UFL) is a professional American spring football league created by merging the now defunct United States Football League (USFL) and Xtreme Football League (XFL). The 2024 season was the inaugural campaign of the rebranded league, which became an instant hit with football and sports fans alike.

There are eight total teams in the UFL — four former USFL and four former XFL teams. (There was one overlapping market in 2024, and the UFL opted to rebrand the USFL Houston franchise with the XFL Houston team name.)

The USFL Conference is made up of the defending champion Birmingham Stallions, Houston Roughnecks, Memphis Showboats and Michigan Panthers. The XFL Conference includes the Arlington Renegades, DC Defenders, San Antonio Brahmas and St. Louis Battlehawks.

[Read more: UFL announces the team matchups for 2025 season ]

Action begins with UFL Kickoff Weekend on Friday, March 28, with the Battlehawks visiting the Roughnecks. The kickoff game will be the first of many games held on a Friday this year, as the league adds Friday night football to its 2025 campaign. All games in the new time slot will be broadcast on FOX.

Opening weekend continues with the Brahmas facing the Renegades on Saturday, March 29. Then, on Sunday the 30th, the Showboats host the Panthers, followed by the Stallions hitting the road to battle the Defenders. 

[Read more: 2025 UFL schedule: Dates, times, when does the regular season start? ]

The UFL is owned by FOX Sports, RedBird Capital Partners, Dany Garcia and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. FOX Sports owns half of the league, while