The USFL playoff bracket is set after a 10-week regular season. The playoffs begin on June 25, 2022, and conclude on July 3, 2022. With the playoff teams decided, let’s examine the format and who makes up the bracket for the 2022 USFL season.
Explaining the USFL playoff format in 2022
The USFL playoff format is extremely simple. In other football leagues, there are more complicated playoff setups, such as the NFL’s 14-team and the CFL’s six-team designs. However, the USFL decided to keep it simple when choosing which of their eight teams would finish the first season of the league’s return as playoff contenders. The simple playoff format the USFL adopted is just one of a number of differences between the NFL.
How many teams make the playoffs?
With only eight teams in the league in 2022, the USFL has sent four teams to the playoffs. That means just half of the league will take part in the final fight to be crowned USFL Champion this year. The four teams are made up of two from the North Division and two from the South Division.
How many rounds are there in the USFL playoffs?
With four teams in the playoffs, the USFL has gone for a simple two-round playoff format. The first round will see the two teams from each division face off to decide who wins their respective division in 2022. The winner of each of those games will then face off in the USFL Championship Game on Saturday, July 3, 2022, at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Current USFL playoff bracket
The 2022 USFL playoff format will see the only four teams with a record above .500 heading into the bracket. The four teams to qualify for the finals are the New Jersey Generals, Birmingham Stallions (both 9-1), the Philadelphia Stars, and New Orleans Breakers (both 6-4). That leaves the following two matchups for the first round of the USFL playoffs in 2022.
Philadelphia Stars vs. New Jersey Generals
June 25, 3 p.m. ET | FOX
North Division Final
New Orleans Breakers vs. Birmingham Stallions
June 25, 8 p.m. ET | NBC
South Division Final
The USFL Championship will then see the winner of each game face off with the winner of the North final designated as the home team.
Breakers/Stallions vs. Stars/Generals
July 3, 7:30 p.m. | FOX