How the XFL/IFL & USFL/HUB Football Partnerships affect Alternate Football’s Future
We dive into the newest partnerships between the XFL & IFL and the USFL & HUB will change the course of ALT Football as we know it. (OPINION)
Groundbreaking news came out of the two biggest alternate football leagues in the United States last week. First, the XFL announced it had formally partnered with the Indoor Football League to create a wide-ranging player personnel partnership. While many details about the partnership are forthcoming, the XFL stated in its press release on October 12th that the partnership focuses on players transferring between leagues, as well as potential joint tryouts and the sharing of video and game film. The USFL followed the news of the XFL/IFL partnership with some news of their own. The league announced its own partnership the next day, inking a scouting data partnership with HUB Football. For those unfamiliar, HUB Football has become a mainstay in getting professional football players onto NFL and USFL teams. So, how, and more importantly, why, are these moves so significant in the future of alternate football? Let’s first delve into the details of each partnership and the thought processes behind them. We can follow that up by circling back to the sheer importance of these ventures and the positive ramifications they’ll present as 2023 seasons loom.
The XFL and IFL Partnership
While many XFL fans are up in arms over the news (or lack thereof) pertaining to the league’s return in 2023, another storied football league has joined forces with it. The Indoor Football League and the XFL announced a groundbreaking partnership for the 2023 season and beyond this past Wednesday. In a press release circulated by the XFL’s official website and social media pages, the two leagues will be collaborating and creating a pipeline to feed players into, and out of, each league:
“The partnership provides the framework for transferring players between leagues and the opportunity for players released from XFL teams to be transferred to IFL squads. The two leagues will also work together in scheduling joint tryouts and sharing video and game films.”
While this partnership may not seem like a huge deal to the average fan, the opportunities it creates for players in both leagues will be enormous. For starters, the IFL’s star caliber players will surely end up on XFL rosters in 2023. The great thing about this partnership is it creates a level of security within each league. XFL players who make an initial roster in 2023, but are released, appear to have a spot on an IFL roster as a “fallback” of sorts. IFL players who have showcased top-tier athletic traits and on-field success are likely to get “called up” to an XFL roster.
Let’s put this into different contexts for further clarity. First, we’ll compare this partnership similarly to a minor league farm system. We’ll call the XFL the “majors”, and the IFL the “AAA” affiliate. Let’s say one of the eight XFL teams in 3023 finds itself with a shortage in its Wide Receiver room. While the obvious place is free agency, the IFL acts as that free agency pool. A proven receiver from an IFL team can be plucked from his team and inserted onto an XFL roster. Taking this a step further, the IFL can act as an XFL practice squad in a way. With the league ditching the Team 9 strategy that it had in place during the 2020 season, the IFL partnership seems to fill that void. Instead of having an entire roster of players waiting in the wings, the XFL has an entire league of players who are in game shape at its disposal.
As we shift focus from the benefits the XFL is set to receive with the partnership, let’s not forget the other side of the deal. The IFL has many benefits coming out of the partnership, too. First off, exposure to XFL fans and the potential for the IFL’s fan base to expand is great. One must think that the IFL will see an uptick in viewership based off the partnership. Second, the IFL gets its top players more exposure with the pipeline to the XFL. Former MVP’s in years past and top prospects from across the IFL are presumably set to make the jump from the IFL to the XFL. Lastly, the talent pool in the IFL should see an uptick as well. It’s not out of the realm of possibility to think that players will join the IFL with a goal of lacing up their cleats on an XFL stage. The XFL-IFL partnership gives the IFL A “1 up” compared to other indoor football leagues. Leagues such as like the NAL, CIF, and others won’t have a similar partnership to offer would-be prospects coming into the league.
The USFL & HUB Partnership
Now that we’ve discussed the XFL-IFL partnership, lets shift to the other partnership announced last week. The USFL is coming off a successful first season, with upwards of 50 players seeing NFL contracts come their way following seasons end. With season two approaching, each of the eight USFL teams will need to replenish their respective rosters with young, exciting talent. Enter HUB Football. HUB was established in 2019 by legendary sports agent Don Yee. With upwards of 25% of athletes receiving a professional sports contract following the attendance of a HUB event, it’s clear that Yee’s vision is simple and clear-cut thus far. HUB creates opportunities for elite professional football players and athletes through tryouts and simulations of NFL practices, dubbed “The CAMP”, and games, dubbed “The GAME”, respectively. For more information on these events, here are blips of each event directly from HUB’s official website:
THE CAMP
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THE GAME
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Now that we know what HUB is, lets put this partnership in perspective as it relates to the upcoming USFL season. The USFL has a clear “leg-up” in comparison with the XFL in the 2022 offseason. With the XFL yet to have its 2023 player draft, the USFL is busy gathering intel and actively signing players ahead of its second season. With the HUB partnership in place, it should continue to scour the country for top-tier players for the upcoming 2023 season. HUB appears to be acting as a data “vetting process” for the USFL. With HUB events scheduled for November and in the coming months to follow, one must think that many HUB attendees will receive looks with a USFL team in 2023.
Comparing the Partnerships
As Alternate Football fans typically do (myself included) we like to knit pick and bicker over which league is better. Comparing these two leagues and these partnerships fits right in line with that. The XFL-IFL Partnership, in my opinion, sets up two leagues for sustained success. As previously outlined, both the XFL and IFL benefit from this deal. My one concern with this partnership is the talent level in the IFL. It’s clear that both the XFL and USFL are looking for elite-level talent to fill its rosters. The IFL has diamonds in the rough, as all leagues do, but depth of talent is surely an issue. HUB has also placed a precedent on elite traits and athletic ability. I do wonder how much the XFL will dip into the IFL as comparative to the typical free agency pool. The USFL-HUB partnership also concerns me slightly. The partnership references it being a “scouting data partnership”, so what does that mean exactly? Will it guarantee that USFL personnel will be at each HUB event? Sure. But will said personnel be limited as to what information they are given, opportunities to meet with these prospects, etc.? It does leave a gray area for interpretation and clarity. To the naked eye, I would lean towards the XFL partnership being the better long-term deal. Partnering with a league to create constant opportunity on both sides seems like the better move, in my opinion.
In Conclusion
There’s no doubt that while these partnerships have questions to be answered, it creates yet another lifeline for the world of Alternate Football. The future of these football leagues is, and always will be, questioned by many football fans. What cannot be questioned are the steps being taken by both the XFL and USFL to ensure the growth and continued development of talent coming into and out of its organizations. The XFL has already partnered with the NFL Alumni Academy to feed players into the league. Now by adding the Indoor Football League to its list of partners, it guarantees yet another resource for acquiring and developing talent. For the USFL, the success of its first season, coupled with the HUB Football partnership ensures no shortage of talent for its league, too. It’s an exciting time to be a fan of these leagues. With many professional athletes dreaming of playing football at the next level, the XFL and USFL are taking proactive steps to see players’ dreams come true. 2023 looks to be an exciting year in the realm of Alternate football, and these partnerships only add fuel to the fire of keeping these leagues afloat. The future of Alternate Football might be heading into its most successful and talked about time in history. These partnerships are continuing to build a rock-solid foundation for what’s to come in professional football as we know it. I look forward to watching these leagues have continued and sustained success in 2023 and beyond.