USFL '86: The Season That Never Was

Monday, April 27, 2020

'85 Chronology-'86 Schedule Released

Event Date: November 18th, 1985

Event Description: USFL Schedule Released

Source: PFW

The fourth United States Football League season opens Feb. 22nd when the New Jersey Generals host the Tampa Bay Bandits, the USFL announced Saturday.

The 14-team, 16-week regular-season schedule includes 112 games and ends Saturday, June 7th. The USFL championship game will be played June 29th in Jacksonville, Florida.

Down from 16 teams in 1985, the USFL will feature two seven-team conferences in 1985. The Eastern Conference includes the Baltimore Stars, Birmingham Stallions, Jacksonville Bulls, Memphis Showboats, New Jersey Generals, Orlando Renegades and Tampa Bay Bandits. 

The Western Conference consists of the Arizona Outlaws, Denver Gold, Houston Gamblers, Los Angeles Express, Michigan Panthers, New Orleans Breakers and Oakland Invaders.

The Stars have moved from Philadelphia to Baltimore and the San Antonio Gunslingers have suspended operations and are now under league control.

Each team plays a home-and-home series with teams in its conference, plus single games against four teams from the other conference.

For the fourth year, ABC will carry 16 weeks of USFL games. ABC will televise Sunday afternoons and provide playoff and championship coverage. 

ESPN, which entered into a new three-year agreement with the USFL after the 1984 season, will offer Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Monday night games.

The league has also reached an agreement with RCA regarding the televising  of league games via syndication.

The USFL playoffs begin June 14th with eight teams qualifying, four from each conference.

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