Ever since the XFL and USFL merged in 2024, the United Football League took its season start que from the USFL with the season kicking off in the spring. The XFL 2.0 and 3.0 started its season a week after the Super Bowl. We take a look at the pros and cons on if the UFL should go back to that February timeline in 2026.
Historical Season Start Dates: XFL, USFL, and UFL
To understand the potential scheduling landscape for the UFL, it's essential to look at the past.
Here's a breakdown of the season start dates and structures for each spring football league:
| League | Year | Season Start Date | Championship Game Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| XFL | 2001 | February 3rd | April 21st |
| 2020 | February 8th | N/A | |
| 2023 | February 18th | May 13th | |
| USFL | 2022 | April 16th | July 1st |
| 2023 | April 15th | July 1st | |
| UFL | 2024 | March 30th | June 16th |
| 2025 | March 28th | June 14th |
The XFL positioned its 2020 and 2023 seasons with a February kickoff, starting immediately after the NFL's Super Bowl. The USFL, during its recent run, chose April for its season launch, placing it later in the spring sports calendar. There were pro's and con's for both of those start timeframes.
The UFL selected end of March start date for its 2024 and 2025 seasons, landing between the former XFL and USFL timeframes. This scheduling puts the UFL's kickoff at the tail end of March Madness and opening weekend of Major League Baseball.
Major Sporting Events: February to June
The question is how can the UFL strategically position itself amidst a crowded sports calendar.
Here's a look at major sporting events in the months under consideration, organized by sport:
| Month | Sport | Event | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| February | NFL Football | Super Bowl LIX | February 9th |
| Pro Bowl Games | February 2nd | ||
| NFL Combine | February 27th - March 2nd | ||
| Auto Racing | Daytona 500 | February 16th | |
| Basketball | NBA All-Star Weekend | February 17th-19th | |
| NBA All-Star Game | February 16th | ||
| Combat Sports | WWE Royal Rumble | February 1st | |
| UFC 312 | February 9th | ||
| UFC Seattle | February 22nd | ||
| March | NFL Football | N/A | |
| Baseball | World Baseball Classic | March 8th-21st | |
| MLB Opening Day | March 30th | ||
| Basketball | NCAA Men's and Women's Basketball Tournaments ("March Madness") | March 12th - April 2nd | |
| Combat Sports | WWE Elimination Chamber | March 1st | |
| UFC 313 | March 8th | ||
| Golf | The Players Championship | March 11th-16th | |
| Motor Sports | NASCAR Cup Series Race at Martinsville | March 30th | |
| Shriners Children's 500 | March 9th | ||
| Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube | March 16th | ||
| April | NFL Football | NFL Draft | April 24th-26th |
| Baseball | MLB regular season | N/A | |
| Basketball | NCAA Men's Basketball National Championship | April 3rd | |
| NCAA Women's Basketball National Championship | April 2nd | ||
| NBA Playoffs | April 15th | ||
| Combat Sports | WWE WrestleMania 41 | April 19th-20th | |
| Golf | The Masters Tournament | April 6th-9th | |
| Motor Sports | Food City 500 | April 13th | |
| Goodyear 400 | April 6th | ||
| Geico 500 | April 27th | ||
| Other | NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs | April | |
| Masters Tournament (Golf) | April 8th-14th | ||
| June | NFL Football | ||
| Baseball | MLB regular season | N/A | |
| Basketball | NBA Finals | June 1st | |
| NBA Draft | June 22nd | ||
| Combat Sports | |||
| Golf | US Open | June 15th-18th | |
| Horse Racing | Triple Crown horse races (Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, Belmont Stakes) | May 6th, May 20th, June 10th | |
| Hockey | Stanley Cup Finals (NHL) | June 3rd | |
| Tennis | French Open | May 25th - June 8th |
The reason why the San Antonio Brahmas only have four games in 2025 is because of March Madness. But ratings for the 2024 UFL season were good during this timeframe.
March proved to be troubling for the XFL in 2023, which saw a dip in its ratings and XFL executives burying games on little watched cable channels. But the XFL did have something, momentum in a post Super Bowl sports landscape.
Lets look at the pros and cons of starting the UFL season in February.
Start UFL Season A Week Before The Super Bowl
The Pros
NFL fans are craving something to watch. Put UFL games on Friday, Saturday and Sunday after the Pro Bowl "Flag Football" game. This years game is on Sunday February 2nd at 3PM on ESPN. This would be a huge lead-in for the United Football League to follow it.
The media blitz aka "Super Bowl Week", the time leading up to the Super Bowl, is huge and media company's beat to death the Super Bowl matchup and need something else to talk about. The UFL could fill that void during that time.
Former XFL CEO and Commissioner Oliver Luck spent the whole week in 2020 talking to media about the UFL. That really hasn't happen for Spring Football Leagues since.
Super Bowl weekend you have one Friday Night game and three on Saturday or even one early game on Sunday. Again, cashing in on the hype around the most watch TV show of the year.
Daytona 500 is the next week on FOX which could be another good lead in. Giving the league three good TV weeks to kick start the season.
For the UFL players, it is why most of them are in the league in the first place. Getting an NFL camp invite. NFL training camps typically start in mid-to-late July. Since the season will finish in May. It give players a chance to heal up and get ready for NFL training camp.
The late finish of the USFL season was a knock against it because NFL camp rosters were almost full at the end of their season. Plus players were still a bit dinged up with little time to recover before camp.
The Cons
One simple one for me in DC is the weather. Here are average weather for some of the other locations;
Arlington, Texas
- February: Moderately chilly, average high of 60°F (16°C), low of 38°F (4°C) . There is a 21% chance of rain or snow on an average day . Â
- March: Mildly cool, average high of 70°F (21°C), low of 47°F (8°C) . There is a 23% chance of rain on an average day .  Â
Birmingham, Alabama
- February: Moderately chilly, average high of 59°F (15°C), low of 38°F (3°C) . There is a 40% chance of rain on an average day . Â
- March: Mildly cool, average high of 66°F (19°C), low of 45°F (7°C) . There is a 38% chance of rain on an average day. Â
Washington, D.C.
- February: Cold, average high of 45°F (7°C), low of 30°F (-1°C).
- March: Mild with occasional cold spells, average high of 55°F (13°C), low of 38°F (3°C).
Memphis, Tennessee
- February: Cool with occasional cold spells, average high of 54°F (12°C), low of 37°F (3°C).
- March: Mild, average high of 63°F (17°C), low of 44°F (7°C).
St. Louis, Michigan and San Antonio are in domes. The league could work around that and have more Dome games earlier in the season with the Defenders and Showboats on the road for the first two weeks.
The biggest con is March Madness, the season would be good for February and the beginning of March. But right when the UFL season has playoff implications, college basketball will be front and center.
The UFL final regular season weekend would be the same as the March Madness finals. Which the league could work around since there are less games. But that didn't help the XFL in 2023, which saw a big ratings drop during that weekend. The UFL TV ratings in 2024 however were good.
What To Expect In 2026
There will be some type of shift the the UFL schedule on 2026. There are two changes on the horizon.
One is the expansion of two new UFL teams. Would the UFL expand it season to 12 weeks or still keep it at 10. That is something we need to keep an eye on. From what he heard from sources at this point, they would want to keep it at 10 weeks. That could change.
The second, and a big factor is the 2026 FIFA World Cup. It is scheduled to take place from June 11th to July 19th and it is in the United States. This year, the UFL Championship game is taking place on June 14th.
The most important UFL game will be buried by the biggest sports story and games in the world in 2026. Some type of shift in the schedule should be expected.
If the UFL and the NFL can agree on letting the United Football League get some of the juice from the Super Bowl hype, it would be a huge win for Spring Football.
As much as I personally like the warmer weather for games, the powers within the UFL feel the league is more of a TV show than a sports league. Butts in seats don't matter as much as TV ratings. If you can piggy back of the biggest TV show of the year, then you need to do it and change in 2026.
Let us know your thoughts in the comments.