Yahoo Sports 2023 XFL championship game: TV, live stream info for DC Defenders vs. Arlington Renegades
The 2023 XFL season ― with version 3.0 ushered in by Dany Garcia and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson ― has reached its pinnacle.
The XFL championship game will take place Saturday in San Antonio, where the Arlington Renegades will play the D.C. Defenders.
The Renegades upset the Houston Roughnecks in the South Division championship, 26-11, on April 29 to earn their trip to the title game. The Renegades are the first professional football team from the Dallas-Fort Worth area to play for a league championship since the Dallas Cowboys won Super Bowl 30 during the 1995 NFL season.
The Defenders defeated the Seattle Sea Dragons, 37-21, in the North Division championship on April 30. It's been even longer since Washington has had a pro football team win a championship. The last title for Washington's NFL team came during the 1991 NFL season when it won Super Bowl 26.
This will be the first XFL championship game since 2001, when the Los Angeles Xtreme defeated the San Francisco Demons at the historic LA Memorial Coliseum. The second version of the XFL was shut down midway through its season in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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When is the 2023 XFL championship game?
The 2023 title game will be played on Saturday, May 13. Game time is set for 8 p.m. ET.
How to watch the 2023 XFL championship game
The XFL championship will air on ABC. ESPN+ will carry a live stream of the game. The Spanish-language broadcast will be available on ESPN Deportes.
Where will the XFL championship game be played?
The 2023 XFL championship game will be played on a neutral site in San Antonio. The Alamodome ― which was the home stadium for the XFL's Brahmas ― will host the game between the Defenders and Renegades. The Alamodome has hosted three regular-season NFL games, which occurred in 2005 when the New Orleans Saints were forced to play home games outside of the Superdome because of Hurricane Katrina. The Alamodome has hosted college football's Alamo Bowl since 1993, with Washington defeating Texas, 27-20, in the most recent game.
What to know about the Arlington Renegades
Regular-season record: 4-6
Playoff results: Defeated Houston Roughnecks in South Division championship
Head coach: Bob Stoops. Stoops led the Oklahoma Sooners to the 2000 college football national championship.
Key players: Quarterback Luis Perez ― who has bounced around the spring pro football league circuit, playing for the AAF's Birmingham Iron in 2019, XFL's Los Angeles Wildcats and New Jersey Guardians in 2020, USFL's New Jersey Generals in 2022, and XFL's Vegas Vipers this season before being traded to the Renegades ― had three touchdown passes in the Renegades' playoff win over the Roughnecks. Wide receiver JaVonta Payton caught two of those touchdown passes against Houston while posting 121 yards receiving. Defensive lineman Davonte Lambert was an All-XFL selection, the only Renegades player to receive such recognition.
What to know about the DC Defenders
Regular-season record: 9-1
Playoff results: Defeated Seattle Sea Dragons in North Divison championship
Head coach: Reggie Barlow. Barlow — who played seven seasons in the NFL as a wide receiver/return specialist — is in his first season as a pro football head coach. Barlow was the XFL's coach of the year.
Key players: Quarterback Jordan Ta'amu, the XFL's offensive player of the year, also is well-traveled, having played for the XFL's St. Louis BattleHawks in 2020 and USFL's Tampa Bay Bandits in 2022. The Defenders had a league-high seven All-XFL selections: Ta'amu, running back Abram Smith, wide receiver Lucky Jackson, guard Liam Fornadel, defensive lineman Davin Bellamy, defensive back Michael Joseph and punter Daniel Whelan.
What are the odds for the 2023 XFL championship game?
According to Tipico Sportsbook, the D.C. Defenders are favored (+6.5) over the Arlington Renegades with the money line set at -110 and over/under at 48 points.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: XFL championship game 2023: Arlington Renegades vs. DC Defenders info
