2023 UFL rankings and league preview.
4 min read
Brien Mitchum
Press Box Report
The UFL (United Football League) is going into it’s second year as a 3A league, the UFL had it’s share of ups and downs in its inaugural 2022 season but ultimately finished the season and crowned its first ever champion the Motor City Outlaws. So going into 2023 the League looks to build on the 2022 season.
UFL Power Rankings
- Motor City Outlaws
- Grand Rapids Surge
- Lansing Lightning
- West Michigan Patriots
- Calvary Knights
- Mid-State Titans
- Central Michigan Bengals
- West Michigan Venom
- Motor City Tarheels
- Lansing Crusaders
#1 Motor City Outlaws-Liberty Conference
It is no surprise that the Outlaws are coming into 2023 season ranked #1 in the league and no matter who does the rankings they will be #1 until they get beat there is no way that they can be ranked any other pace but the #1 spot. Rolling through the league with ease and all the way to the championship, then just this past weekend a national championship in Miami against the PFA’s Pitbulls, and the big match up for the pre-season they will take on the Indy Bison and I think the Bison will probably go home with their tales tucked, we shall see how their “All-Star” squad does against a top ranked team.
As for the regular season, it will be a tough task for any team to beat the Outlaws and the returning teams it is hard to say who would have the best chance, I guess I would have to say the Grand Rapids Surge or the West Michigan Patriots have the best chance and that is probably a pretty slim one, as far as the new UFL teams it will be hard to say as they have not played a game yet. I think the Outlaws will stat the king of the league until someone can show that they can be beat.
#2 Grand Rapids Surge-American Conference
The Surge did show promise late in the 22 season so they get the #2 spot. They have improved tremendously and should be a top team in the American conference and get a decent seed into the playoffs, but that is a long ways away of course and anything can happen.
#3 Lansing Lightning-American Conference
The Lightning look to improve on the 22 years as well they will also be in the American conference with the Surge who both teams always play each other well, so look for the Lightning to be neck and neck with the Surge for that top spot in the American conference.
#4 West Michigan Patriots-American Conference
One of the main reasons that the Patriots did not get ranked higher by me was that they came into the league in an odd way in 22 about halfway through the year they were allowed to jump in, while the league had some teams that folded up and had open spots they played a water down schedule and got knocked out early in the playoffs, so #4 it is.
The Patriots are in the American Conference and will also be a tough opponent and are looking to get back to a championship, and they could be top in that conference depending how the Surge and Lightning come out of the gate.
#5 Calvary Knights-American Conference
The Calvary Knights played a tough schedule last season and made It to the end, despite losing more games than they won they toughed It out and finished, going into 2023 they look to improve on last season, they will have to come out strong in week one and get on a roll to be able to do that.
#6 Mid State Titans-American Conference
The Titans did not play a full season in 22, but they are back to play in 23. Its hard to say how they will do or if they will even finish the season or not, another team that needs to come out of the gate strong and have a decent start if they want a chance to finish above .500.
#7 Central Michigan Bengals-American Conference
The Bengals are one of 4 new teams that have joined the UFL, but they are full of enthusiasm and are ready for the challenge and I pick them as my sleepers of the American Conference, if they get on a hot streak the other teams in their conference better look out, they could climb their way to a top seed in the end.
#8 West Michigan Venom-Liberty Conference
Another new UFL team that is young and ready, with great ownership and coaching and young talent, but will also have a tough task ahead of them, but from talking to some of them they seem like they are up for the challenge, as they are in the same conference as the Outlaws and that is not going to be an easy task for any team.
Look for the Venom to come out swinging when the season starts to try to climb up the rankings.
#9 Motor City Tarheels-Liberty Conference
I do not have much info on the Tarheels, other than that they are another Detroit team and are in the same conference as the Outlaws, and will they be a threat to the champs throne, I cant say yes or no on that until I see them play.
#10 Lansing Crusaders
Coming in last but not least, yet another team who will have a big challenge ahead of them in the 23 season, again if they can come out swinging, they could possibly have a chance at climbing the rankings, we shall see.
These rankings do not reflect that of the UFL or its board members, these are based on my own facts.
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