Two upcoming UFL games have been flexed from ESPN-branded networks to NFL Network next month, marking the first time ESPN content will air on the channel since Disney’s acquisition.
The Birmingham-Houston game on April 5 will move from ESPN2 to NFL Network and has been rescheduled from Noon ET to 6 PM ET. The league’s first-ever Thursday night game, set for April 16, will air at 8 PM ET as originally planned on ESPN+.
NFL Network previously broadcast spring football through the Alliance of American Football in 2019, but subsequent leagues — including XFL 2.0 (2020), USFL (2022–23), and XFL 3.0 (2023) — did not appear on the network.
Production for the UFL broadcasts on NFL Network will follow the same approach used for all games on ESPN networks. No additional UFL games are currently scheduled for NFL Network this season, though more could be added in the future.
ESPN’s acquisition of NFL Network was finalized last year, but full integration, including staff and direct-to-consumer offerings, is expected to be completed by fall 2026.