USFL playoffs bracket, explained: How does the 2022 postseason format work?

Believe it or not, the USFL's 10-week regular season is already winding to a close. That means that it will be time for the spring start-up league to host its inaugural postseason.

That will leave casual fans with one key question about the playoffs: How the heck are they going to work?

Luckily, the USFL is employing a rather simple postseason structure, so it will be easy for fans to comprehend. However, there are some quirks baked into the postseason, the most notable of which includes the league moving out of its host city Birmingham for the final three  games of the year.

How do the USFL playoffs work? Here's a breakdown of the league's postseason format and bracket as the USFL prepares for its championship game.

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How many teams make the USFL playoffs?

Four of the USFL's eight teams are set to make the playoffs in 2022. That means that 50 percent of the USFL's teams will play in a playoff game.

The USFL league chose a relatively simple method in helping to decide their postseason field. The top two teams from each of the USFL's two divisions — the North and South — made it into the playoffs. The division winners were each granted a No. 1 seed while the runners-up received the No. 2 seed.

For the USFL semifinals, the top two teams in the North Division will square off against one another before the top teams from the South Division do the same. That will guarantee an interconference championship game between the winner of each division.

USFL playoff bracket 2022

The USFL playoff bracket is fairly simple since there are only four teams in the postseason. The Nos. 1 and 2 seeds from the North will play against one another for the right to go to the championship game. Then, the Nos. 1 and 2 seeds in the South will do the same.

The winners will then play against one another in the USFL championship game.

Mark your calendars, the USFL Playoff schedule is officially SET 🙌🏆🗓

Which matchup are you most excited to watch?

Get tickets ➡️ https://t.co/3Dv7AoHVgR pic.twitter.com/il2aiYZPak

— USFL (@USFL) June 13, 2022

Below is a look at how those matchups will shake out:

USFL semifinals

North Division

1. New Jersey Generals vs. 2. Philadelphia Stars

South Division

1. Birmingham Stallions vs. 2. New Orleans Breakers

USFL championship game

North semifinal winner vs. South semifinal winner

Do any USFL teams get a first-round bye?

There are no first-round byes in the USFL playoffs. There are only four teams participating in the postseason, so giving a team a first-round bye wouldn't work logistically.

So, none of the four teams involved in the postseason will get a bye, as the USFL goes straight from the regular season into the postseason.

Is there any advantage to being the No. 1 seed?

Not particularly. The USFL played all of its regular-season games in Birmingham but is moving to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio for its playoff semifinals and championship game.

So, the No. 1 seed doesn't have a true home-field advantage, nor does it get a first-round bye. As such, there isn't really a fundamental advantage to getting the No. 1 seed.

Where are the USFL playoffs being held?

All 40 of the USFL's regular-season games were played in Birmingham, Ala. However, the three postseason games will all be held at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Why did the USFL move its postseason from Birmingham to Canton, Ohio? It's all about giving the players a chance to play "in the shadow of the Pro Football Hall of Fame."

"We're excited to play our first playoffs and championship game at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium," said Edward Hartman, the USFL's executive vice president of business operations, in February. "It's a beautiful stadium with all the facilities necessary to host football at the highest level, and we look forward to crowning our first champion in the shadow of the Pro Football Hall of Fame."

The decision also helps to level the playing field, as the Stallions will no longer have a de facto home-field advantage. That said, the USFL didn't know that the Stallions would be one of the league's top teams at the time of this decision, so that probably didn't play much of a role in their choice.

USFL playoff schedule 2022

USFL semifinals

Saturday, June 25

USFL championship game

Sunday, July 3