The USFL North division is currently all tied up at 2-3. In week five of the USFL, the teams in the North battled it out, resulting in an even division. Although they all have a losing record, there is a chance that this could help the USFL. Here is why the USFL North division being tied up in week five can be a good thing for the league, despite being filled with losing records.
USFL North Division
Pittsburgh Maulers vs. NJ Generals – Peter Holland Jr./The Repository
Week 5 Recap
The four teams that are a part of the USFL North division are the Philadelphia Stars, New Jersey Generals, Michigan Panthers, and the Pittsburgh Maulers. The Maulers beat the Panthers other over the weekend, while the Stars defeated the Generals. It was these two key games that tied up the entire division.
Despite the Generals keeping it close in the fourth quarter, the Stars had a much better performance. Their offense ran all over New Jersey’s defense, especially when it mattered the most. In a tie game with less than a minute left, the Stars were able to get downfield and kick the field goal for the win.
As for the Maulers and the Panthers, Michigan had an overall poor performance. The Panther’s offense was the downfall of their game. While more about the Maulers vs. Panthers game can be read here, the lack of offense made it too hard for the defense to carry the game. Between these two games, the USFL North Division may seem weak, but this can be beneficial for the league.
Michigan Panthers RB Cameron Scarlett (15) – Butch Dill/AP Photo
Why a tie in Week 5 is okay
The 2023 XFL season is officially over, as the league’s championship game took place over the weekend. This means that the USFL is the only professional spring football league taking place in the United States. This is the USFL’s chance to bring in higher TV ratings, thanks to less competition. If the USFL North Division had one team with just one loss and the rest with a losing record, new viewers would notice the competitive difference and maybe care less about the league.
Going into the USFL, seeing a division all tied up, new viewers may be more intrigued by the competition. Even the South division is fairly close, with the top team 4-1 and the bottom team 2-3. While the Breakers seem to be the top team in the league this year, they only have two more wins than the lowest team in the South, the Memphis Showboats.
The league reached the halfway mark, and the only team that is the current favorite is the New Orleans Breakers. When it comes to the North, there really is no way to predict it based on how the teams are playing. While it would be better if all the teams currently have a winning record, the element of competition is crucial.
The next game for the New Jersey Generals is against the Houston Gamblers. With the number of points that they have scored this season, they do rank at one in the USFL North division standings. This matchup could be a challenge with the Gamblers having three wins, but anything can happen.
The Pittsburgh Maulers will be facing the Showboats. This is a game that the Maulers could potentially win, as the Showboats have the same record, just play in the South division. Memphis has had 119 points scored against them this season, which is something the Maulers can use against them.
Philadelphia Stars WR Chris Rowland (12) – Butch Dill/AP Photo
The Michigan Panthers and the Birmingham Stallions will be facing each other this weekend. These are the two teams that went into the season with the highest hopes, but following the first two weeks have caused a loss in faith. There are still five weeks in the season, and these two can rise back up, but this game will be crucial for both teams.
The Philadelphia Stars will be facing the top team this weekend, the New Orleans Breakers. The Stars are not expected to win this weekend but could use their momentum to make it closer than some may believe. If the Stars manage a win this weekend, it can change the whole narrative of the 2023 USFL season.
The four USFL North division teams facing the South division teams on the first week of no more XFL competition is big. Anything can happen in the standings. The teams can either remain tied if they all win or all lose. They can also go in a direction no one expected. While yes, having four teams with a losing record halfway through the season seems rough, it can also help the USFL grow in viewership.
