Last season the USFL did something other Spring football leagues could not. Finish a season and have a championship. The USFL did that done that. Now the USFL will be doing something that no Spring league has done in 40 years. Coming back for year two. Last time, the original USFL did it. The USFL will return with 8 teams and have 4 hub cities playing home games instead of all the games last year centralized in Birmingham. As always, we roll out the power rankings of the USFL and try to see if anything we write sticks.

#8. HOUSTON GAMBLERS: Last Season (3-7)

Last season the Gamblers lost a few games having a lead in the 4th quarter, but they just could not close out these contests. It seems like the entire Gambler defense is playing all over the XFL. The defense this season has 14 new players which could be asking a lot from that side of the ball. The Gamblers have a new head coach in Curtis Johnson, former Sean Payton disciple during the Saints days.

Johnson replaces Kevin Sumlin. The Gamblers offense was average last season while their defense was talented. The Gamblers may be a work in progress and we take a wait and see approach to see if they climb the ladder of the USFL power rankings.

#.7. MICHIGAN PANTHERS:Last Season (2-8)

Panthers have a new head coach in Mike Nolan as Jeff Fisher is out. The Panthers will have a home field advantage as they are one of the hub cities so they will play their home games in Detroit at Ford Field. Panthers have a great running game and Reggie Corbin returns to run the rock who had 500 yards on the ground last year for Michigan, the former Fighting Illini running back.

Can Carson Strong be the man behind center for the Panthers? Will the Panthers choose Josh Love who bounced around the USFL last season?

#6. PITTSBURGH MAULERS: Last season (1-9)

I’m swinging for the fences on this number six ranking for the Maulers. New color scheme, new coach, different results?

Black and Gold which are Pittsburgh’s color scheme to their entire sports landscape. Kirby Wilson, last year’s head coach, was by far the worst and may go down in USFL history as the bottom of the sludge pond hire. It is Ray Horton former NFL player and coach and has ties to the Steelers. This team will be swinging the hammer this season.

#5. MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS: Last Season they were the Tampa Bay Bandits (4-6)

The USFL is bringing back the Showboats and Memphis is a hub city. The Bandits will transform into the Showboats and Tampa Bay may be back in the future when the league expands. It’s the same team with a different wrapper. The Show Boats lost their starting quarterback from last season to the XFL, Jordan Ta’amu to the DC defenders. Todd Haley is still the head coach which in my opinion not good for Elvis town. The Show Boats are going with local flavor and not a BBQ joint.

Let’s hope Haley does not ruin the local kid, Brady White, from Memphis University. Brady is a very successful quarterback name though.

#4. NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS: Last season (6-4) Loss in first round of the playoffs

The Breakers lost their starting quarterback, Kyle Sloter, to the XFL which may be a good thing because he did bad and eventually was cut by the Arlington Renegades.

The Breakers have brought in two time Canadian Champion of the CFL, McLeod Bethel-Thompson, to be the man behind the center. The Breakers have a new head coach in John DeFilippo who was the Eagles quarterbacks coach when they won the Superbowl. Breakers defense which was solid last season has stayed intact. The Breakers could break out and be even better in year two with some changes.

#3. NEW JERSEY GENERALS: Last season (9-1) Last season, the Generals lost their first game to the Stallions & then won nine straight to get knocked off in the first round of the playoffs by the Stars. The Generals had dueling quarterbacks last season and they were very successful at using them. De’Andre Johnson may have to be the man behind center who is a duel-threat quarterback & most of the time more successful with his legs than his arm. Luis Perez left for the XFL. The Generals also have a former NFL quarterback in Kyle Lauletta who did not really do well last year in Pittsburgh uniform.

The Generals have the best head coach in the league in Mike Riley and you know he figures it out. The Generals Offensive player of the year, running back Darius Victor, is back so New Jersey may rely heavily on their explosive running game.

#2. PHILADELPHIA STARS: Last season (6-4) Loss in the Championship

The Stars coming in have the best quarterback in the USFL with Case Cookus. The Stars averaged 26.2 points per game with Cookus behind center and as a starter, Case went 6-3.

If Cookus does not break his leg in the first ever USFL reboot championship, the Stars could have won the title game. The Stars did knock off a very talented Generals team to get into the championship. Cookus will have his running back, Matt Coburn, back and one of his targets throwing the ball to Jordan Suell.

#1. BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS: Last season (9-1) Won Championship

I have the Stallions number 1 as they won the entire enchilada last season. Some other team will need to knock the Stallions off their perch if they want to be number 1 in the power rankings. The Stallions will be targeted being the team to beat or a measuring stick on how you stand. They have their starting quarterback, J’Mar Smith, back behind center and experience matters. The Stallions roster is still intact without any major losses. Last season, Stallions built up a following as they were the only hub city that featured all regular season games. This year the USFL has 4 hub cities, which once again includes Birmingham.