When does UFL season start 2025? Spring league schedule, more to know
NFL fans were sent into offseason mode when the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 in Super Bowl 59.
While there are plenty of events – including NFL free agency and the 2025 NFL draft – to tide fans over until the 2025 NFL season kicks off on Thursday, Sept. 11, football junkies will be antsy to see players actually get on the field.
That's why many will turn to the United Football League once its season begins. The spring league is entering its second year as the UFL following the USFL and XFL merger ahead of the 2024 season. It will feature the same format as its predecessors – a 40-game regular season with a two-week postseason to determine a champion.
When will the UFL's eight teams first be in action? Here's what to know about the 2025 spring football season as the NFL shifts into offseason mode.
When does UFL season start 2025?
- Start date: Friday, March 28
The first game of the 2025 UFL season will be played on Friday, March 28 between the Houston Roughnecks and St. Louis Battlehawks. The Roughnecks will host the game at TDECU Stadium. It will kick off at 8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. locally in Houston).
The Roughnecks are coming off a 1-9 season that saw them struggle to generate consistent offense, averaging a league-low 15.8 points per game. Quarterback Nolan Henderson and running back Kirk Merritt will likely be first in line to spark the team to a better finish in 2025.
Meanwhile, the Battlehawks will look to improve upon a 7-3 season that saw them lose in the XFL conference championship game to the San Antonio Brahmas. St. Louis moved on from starting quarterback AJ McCarron during the offseason, so one of Manny Wilkins, Chevan Cordeiro and new signee Max Duggan will end up taking the reins for Anthony Becht's squad.
UFL schedule 2025
The 2025 UFL regular season will feature 40 games played over a 10-week span. The league will have a three-game postseason featuring four of the league's eight teams.
Below is a complete look at the schedule for 2025:
(All times Eastern.)
Week 1
Friday, March 28
- St. Louis Battlehawks at Houston Roughnecks, 8 p.m., Fox
Saturday, March 29
- San Antonio Brahmas at Arlington Renegades, 4 p.m., Fox
Sunday, March 30
- Michigan Panthers at Memphis Showboats, 12 p.m., ESPN/ESPN+
- Birmingham Stallions at DC Defenders, 3 p.m., ESPN/ESPN+
Week 2
Friday, April 4
- Birmingham Stallions at Michigan Panthers, 8 p.m., Fox
Saturday, April 5
- Memphis Showboats at DC Defenders, 8 p.m., ABC/ESPN+
Sunday, April 6
- Houston Roughnecks at Arlington Renegades, 12 p.m., ESPN/ESPN+
- San Antonio Brahmas at St. Louis Battlehawks, 6:30 p.m., FS1
Week 3
Friday, April 11
- Arlington Renegades at Birmingham Stallions, 8 p.m., Fox
Saturday, April 12
- Houston Roughnecks at Memphis Showboats, 2:30 p.m., ESPN/ESPN+
Sunday, April 13
- San Antonio Brahmas at Michigan Panthers, Noon, ABC/ESPN+
- DC Defenders at St. Louis Battlehawks, 3 p.m., ABC/ESPN+
Week 4
Friday, April 18
- Memphis Showboats at Michigan Panthers, 8 p.m., Fox
Saturday, April 19
- St. Louis Battlehawks at Arlington Renegades, Noon, ABC/ESPN+
- Birmingham Stallions at Houston Roughnecks, 7 p.m., Fox
Sunday, April 13
- San Antonio Brahmas at DC Defenders, 5 p.m., Fox
Week 5
Friday, April 25
- Memphis Showboats at Birmingham Stallions, 8 p.m., Fox
Saturday, April 26
- Michigan Panthers at St. Louis Battlehawks, 7 p.m., ESPN/ESPN+
Sunday, April 27
- DC Defenders at Arlington Renegades, Noon, ESPN/ESPN+
- Houston Roughnecks at San Antonio Brahmas, 3 p.m., ESPN/ESPN+
Week 6
Friday, May 2
- Arlington Renegades at St. Louis Battlehawks, 8 p.m., Fox
Saturday, May 3
- Memphis Showboats at Houston Roughnecks, Noon, ABC/ESPN+
Sunday, May 4
- DC Defenders at Michigan Panthers, Noon, ESPN2/ESPN+
- San Antonio Brahmas at Birmingham Stallions, 4 p.m., Fox
Week 7
Friday, May 9
- DC Defenders at San Antonio Brahmas, 8 p.m., Fox
Saturday, May 10
- Michigan Panthers at Arlington Renegades, 1 p.m., Fox
Sunday, May 11
- Houston Roughnecks, Noon, ABC/ESPN+
- St. Louis Battlehawks at Memphis Showboats, 3 p.m., ESPN/ESPN+
Week 8
Friday, May 16
- Memphis Showboats at San Antonio Brahmas, 8 p.m., Fox
Saturday, May 17
- Michigan Panthers at Houston Roughnecks, 1 p.m., Fox
- Birmingham Stallions at St. Louis Battlehawks, 1 p.m., Fox
Sunday, May 18
- Arlington Renegades at DC Defenders, Noon, ABC/ESPN+
Week 9
Friday, May 16
- San Antonio Brahmas at St. Louis Battlehawks, 8 p.m., Fox
Saturday, May 17
- Arlington Renegades at Memphis Showboats, Noon, ABC/ESPN+
- Michigan Panthers at Birmingham Stallions, 3 p.m., ABC/ESPN+
Sunday, May 18
- DC Defenders at Houston Roughnecks, 4 p.m., Fox
Week 10
Friday, May 30
- St. Louis Battlehawks at DC Defenders, 8 p.m., Fox
Saturday, May 31
- Houston Roughnecks at Michigan Panthers, 3 p.m., ESPN/ESPN+
Sunday, June 1
- Arlington Renegades at San Antonio Brahmas, Noon, ABC/ESPN+
- Birmingham Stallions at Memphis Showboats, 3 p.m., Fox
Conference championship games
Sunday, June 8
- Conference championship game No. 1, 3 p.m., ABC
- Conference championship game No. 2, 6 p.m., Fox
UFL championship game
Saturday, June 14
- USFL champion vs. XFL champion, 8 p.m., ABC