USFL 2023 playoff semifinals matchups, how to watch, preview: Breakers-Stallions rematch, Maulers surprise

The USFL’s 10-week regular season is nearly in the books, and three of the four playoff teams have been decided. With only one game remaining there’s still a postseason spot up for grabs, with the winner of Sunday night’s Philadelphia Stars vs. Michigan Panthers game (7 p.m. ET on Fox) getting in.

Here’s what we know about the postseason through 39 of the league’s 40 regular-season contests:

— At least one team that didn’t make the playoffs last year is in, as the Pittsburgh Maulers clinched a semifinal berth by beating the New Jersey Generals on Saturday, 26-6. Fittingly for a team from Pittsburgh, the Maulers have allowed the fewest points in the league. However, they finished with just a 4-6 record, and needed victories in the final two weeks to reach four wins.

— The defending champion Birmingham Stallions are favored to repeat. The Stallions, who beat the Memphis Showboats 27-20 on Saturday, have the league’s best record at 8-2. In two seasons of the rebooted USFL, the Stallions have gone 19-3.

— The New Orleans Breakers are the No. 2 seed in the South Division and will face the Stallions in the semifinals, a rematch of last year’s South semifinal. The Breakers clinched a playoff spot by beating the Houston Gamblers on Sunday, 17-10. At 7-3, New Orleans won one more game than it did last season and has the second-best record in the USFL. The Breakers did beat the Stallions in Week 3.

Below we’ll break down everything to know about the 2023 USFL playoffs, which will begin with the semifinals next Saturday and Sunday. Here’s how to watch:

North Division semifinal

Teams: Pittsburgh Maulers (4-6) vs. winner of Philadelphia Stars vs. Michigan Panthers
Location: Canton, Ohio
Date, time: Saturday, June 24 at 8 p.m. ET
TV: NBC

South Division semifinal

Teams: Birmingham Stallions (8-2) vs. New Orleans Breakers (7-3) 
Location: Birmingham, Alabama
Date, time: Sunday, June 25 at 7…

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