NFL Network will carry UFL games for the first time this season after ESPN moved two Houston Gamblers home games off its platforms and onto the league-owned channel it acquired earlier this year.
The schedule changes, announced last week by the UFL and first reported by Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio, represent the first time ESPN-affiliated programming has been distributed through NFL Network since Disney's equity deal for the channel closed in February.
What Changed
The Gamblers' home opener against the Birmingham Stallions on Sunday, April 5 shifted from a noon ET kickoff to 6:00 p.m. ET. That time change moved the broadcast from ESPN2 to NFL Network.
The second change involves the UFL's first Thursday night game. Houston hosts the Louisville Kings on April 16 at 8:00 p.m. ET. That game was originally set to stream on ESPN+ and will now air on NFL Network instead.
Both games will use the same production setup as all other UFL telecasts on the ESPN family of networks.
Why This Matters for the UFL
The UFL's broadcast setup already covers all 43 games this season across FOX, ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, FS1 and the ESPN App. FOX carries 21 of those games and the ESPN family handles the other 22. NFL Network now slots into that lineup as an additional distribution point.
The channel's audience has been built over two decades around one sport — the same sport the UFL is trying to leverage. That could put UFL games in front of a more engaged football viewer than the general sports audience tuning into FOX or ESPN.
The league averaged 645,000 viewers per game in 2025, down 20 percent from its first season. FOX's Friday night windows were even lower at 608,000 viewers per game — well below the WWE programming those time slots previously carried.
NFL Network last carried spring football during the AAF's lone season in 2019. None of the leagues that followed — XFL 2.0 in 2020, the USFL in 2022-23, XFL 3.0 in 2023, or the first two UFL seasons — aired games on the network.
ESPN's NFL Network Integration Still in Progress
ESPN's ownership of NFL Network became official more than a month ago. But the full integration is still months out. NFL Network staffers are not expected to become ESPN employees until next month. The channel may not join ESPN's direct-to-consumer platform until the fall.
No additional UFL games are currently planned for NFL Network this season, though that could change. NFL Network could serve as a spillover option for ESPN and ESPN2 when programming conflicts arise. The channel has a history of carrying college football regular season and bowl games, making it a natural landing spot for additional football programming.
Broadcast Teams Set for 2026
ESPN announced its UFL broadcast teams last month. All 13 voices from the 2025 season return. Joe Tessitore and Jordan Rodgers lead the top booth. Brock Osweiler and Max Browne join as sideline analysts for select games. Tyler Fulghum and Pamela Maldonado will appear as sports betting analysts on telecasts throughout the season.
2026 Season Overview
The 2026 UFL regular season kicks off Friday, March 27 when the Louisville Kings host the Birmingham Stallions at Lynn Family Stadium. Houston opens on the road Saturday, March 28 against the Dallas Renegades on FOX at 4:00 p.m. ET.
UFL CO-Owner Mike Repole has pushed to grow the league's footprint through three new markets — Columbus, Louisville and Orlando — along with rule changes like the four-point field goal and a ban on the tush push. Eight teams will play a 10-game schedule, with the UFL Championship set for ABC.