The UFL (United Football League) hasn’t even been around for a month yet, but has already made multiple headlines and has created a ton of buzz. With the announcement of the XFL-USFL merger to the dispersal drafts, the newly formed UFL is swiftly advancing. The next markers are training camp and the beginning of its spring season. Undoubtedly, fans of each of the previous leagues are looking forward to the UFL beginning this spring.
UFL Timeline
December 31, 2023
Surprisingly, the UFL was born out of the merger between the XFL and the USFL. After initially starting as an NFL alternative by Vince McMahon, the XFL was brought back last season after a long hiatus. The Arlington Renegades won the only championship in the most recent interaction of the XFL. The USFL also returned in 2022, after disbanding as a league in 1986. The Birmingham Stallions won both USFL titles since the league’s restart.
January 1, 2024
On New Year’s Day, the UFL revealed the eight teams across two conferences that will compete in its inaugural season, as well as the coaches who will lead each franchise. During College Gameday on ESPN, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson appeared and announced the eight teams that will participate in the inaugural season of the UFL.
An overlapping market between the USFL and XFL, Houston was one of the strongest markets for both leagues. As a result, the USFL’s Houston Gamblers have been rebranded as the Houston Roughnecks in the newly formed UFL.
XFL Conference
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Arlington Renegades
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D.C. Defenders
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San Antonio Brahmas
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St. Louis Battlehawks
USFL Conference
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Birmingham Stallions
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Houston Roughnecks
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Memphis Showboats
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Michigan Panthers
January 5, 2024
On January 5, the UFL announced the results of the first phase of its player dispersal process. In the first dispersal draft, each team protected 42 players from their 2023 rosters. Additionally, they were allowed to select up to 20 players from the teams within their leagues that will not be moving forward into the 2024 season.
During the first phase of player dispersal, teams protected multiple All-USFL and All-XFL selections. Also drafted were several former NFL players who have landed in the UFL. Among former NFL players include Vic Beasley, Reuben Foster, Corey Coleman, and D.J. Swearinger.
January 15, 2024
Following the initial dispersal draft, players who were not selected in the initial process were placed in a pool of players that were available to all UFL teams in the next round. As a result, in the Super Dispersal Draft, they were permitted to draft from the remaining USFL and XFL players eligible for selection.
The team with the worst record among the two leagues, the San Antonio Brahmas (3-7), had the first pick, while the defending USFL champion Birmingham Stallions (10-2) had the last selection. Afterward, each team moved into signing players via free agency.
January 16, 2024
After the dispersal drafts, Free Agency began on January 16 for players who were either not selected or who did not play in the XFL or USFL in 2023. Several of the elite XFL and USFL players are not currently available to the UFL, as they are on NFL and CFL rosters.
February 24, 2024
Now, the UFL will progress further towards the season and will begin training camp for the upcoming season on February 24.
March 30, 2024
The UFL season kickoff with a matchup between the Birmingham Stallions and the Arlington Renegades, last year’s champions of the USFL and XFL, respectively.
About the Author
Not only a writer and contributor of Total Apex Sports, Tom Harvey is also the co-founder of dynastyprosfootball.com
Tom has been writing about professional wrestling, college football, NFL, and fantasy football for over a decade and is an avid sports fan. A graduate of the University of Tennessee with a History degree, he loves all things Vols. Additionally, he is a massive Atlanta Braves and Dallas Cowboys fan. An “Army Brat,” Tom has lived all over the country and abroad, so he has an appreciation of most sports and fan bases.
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