Opening weekend for the USFL 2023 season is almost here. The Birmingham Stallions are the most recent champions and looking to repeat this season. Check out which games to be sure to mark on your calendar and which players to watch for. The team went 9-1 last season and looking to repeat its strong record. Here is a look at the Birmingham Stallions 2023 season.
Birmingham Stallions 2023 Season
The Stallions are one of the true teams to have a home-field advantage. In 2022, all the games were played in Birmingham, and this year, even with three hubs, one will still be in Birmingham. The Stallions’ first game will be this Saturday.
Birmingham Stallions WR Marlon Williams (17) – Vasha Hunt/USA TODAY Sports
Games to Watch
Week 1 vs. New Jersey Generals
Game one of the season is always a big deal, but now all the pressure is on the Stallions to keep it up. It is not only the season opener but a home game as well for the Stallions. The New Jersey Generals were the only other team to have the same record as the Stallions. The Generals will be looking to make a big comeback after losing in the semi-finals in 2022. This will be a big test for the Stallions right away and a must-watch game.
Week 3 vs New Orleans Breakers
While the Stallions were first in the South in 2022, the Breakers were in second with a 6-4 record. This is a big difference from 9-1, but now the Breakers will want to dethrone the Stallions. The regular season is just ten weeks long, making each week important. This will be the first returning team in the South division that the Birmingham Stallions face and it will impact the standings.
Week 8 vs. Philadelphia Stars
Week eight will finally be a rematch of the 2022 championship game. The Stars will head to the Birmingham hub to face the defending champions. One team will want revenge, while the Stallions will want to show why they were the champions in 2022. While the two teams may be in opposite divisions, it will be just as important, especially so close to the end of the season.
Birmingham Stallions QB J’Mar Smith (6) – Vasha Hunt/USA TODAY Sports
Players to Watch
While there will be a number of players to watch in 2023, here are a couple of Stallions who are expected to have a great season.
J’Mar Smith
Quarterback J’Mar Smith will be making his return in 2023, and based on his 2022 season, Smith is going to be a fun player to watch. Smith has all the potential to be this season’s league MVP. In 2022, Smith had 1,573 passing yards and ten passing touchdowns, according to Fox Sports. He also had 187 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. That was just the first season of this USFL; with year two starting, he can come back even stronger.
CJ Marable
Running back CJ Marble is another player to watch this season for the Birmingham Stallions. Marable was not the top running back in the league in 2022 but has shown a great amount of potential. In 2022, the running back rushed for 401 yards and five touchdowns. He also had 161 receiving yards, according to Fox Sports. While these may not be the greatest stats, nor was he the top Stallions’ player in 2022, in year two, Marable will be a player to watch as he pushes to do even better than last year.
Lorenzo Burns
Cornerback Lorenzo Burns may be a quiet player to watch this season for the Stallions. Burns had just nine tackles in 2022, according to Fox Sports, but he had two interceptions. Now that it is the second year in a row for the USFL returning offenses will be stronger with more chemistry. This will require a stronger defense, which brings Burns into the conversation. Watch for the Birmingham Stallions’ Lorenzo Burns this season to make a big impact on the field.
The Stallions’ season will begin this Saturday at 7:30 PM Eastern in Birmingham. Be sure to watch as the Birmingham Stallions fight to defend their title.
