Inside ESPN’s UFL coverage: Tessitore, Rodgers, Acho and Luginbill share favorite moments
Before covering the UFL Championship Game Saturday on ABC, our game storytellers revel in the all-access insights, real-time decision-making and FaceTime with family celebrations from earlier this season

Saturday at 8 p.m. ET on ABC, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+, the UFL season culminates with the 2025 UFL Championship Game presented by Underdog between the DC Defenders and Michigan Panthers.
Play-by-play voice Joe Tessitore, booth analyst Jordan Rodgers and sideline analysts Sam Acho and Tom Luginbill will have the call from St. Louis. Before kickoff, the team reminisces on top all-access moments on ESPN and ABC and what to watch for as a champion is crowned.
ON THEIR FAVORITE MOMENTS
Arlington Renegades Head Coach Bob Stoops’ Challenge:
Tessitore: “The moment that blew me away was in our thrilling Arlington-DC game. There was a wild sequence that officials had to clean up. We had access to Renegades wide receiver Deontay Burnett telling Bob Stoops to challenge it. Burnett knew he was held.
“It was a great example of what I think is the best transparency in the officiating process of any league, let alone having access to the player-coach trusting relationship.”
WHAT A WILD TURN OF EVENTS IN @TheUFL
The strip sack got called back as a result of a coach's challenge pic.twitter.com/uSzvdrRHuG
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 18, 2025
Luginbill: “Mine is the same, but I’m focused on Sam’s sideline follow-up with Stoops during this super challenge that worked out masterfully.”
Sideline Conversation with DC WR Chris Rowland
Acho: “My favorite moment was Loogs’ [Luginbill] FaceTime with Chris Rowland and his family after Rowland scored a touchdown. The conversation was great.”
Memphis Showboats Defensive Coordinator Jarren Horton’s Play Call
Rodgers: “Horton was in the booth on a second down. He gave insight to the offense’s tendency, then the offense did exactly what he predicted and the defense made a good play.”
"They like to take shots on 2nd & long."
Hear the play call straight from the @USFLShowboats DC ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/g0bIFBYRJ1
— United Football League (@TheUFL) March 30, 2025
ONE WORD THAT DESCRIBES THEIR FIRST UFL SEASON IN THE BOOTH

- Tessitore: “Liberating. The way the UFL allows a production to go wherever it needs to, with a commonsense approach to serve the fan, gave me a freedom in the booth I’ve never had in football.”
- Rodgers: “Access! It’s the best thing about this league. For true football fans, getting to hear play calls, coaching strategy and what plays are coming before they even happen makes for such a different and better broadcast.”
ON WHAT TO WATCH IN THE UFL CHAMPIONSHIP

(Terrance Williams/ESPN Images)
- Acho: “Listen to the halftime speech Michigan head coach Mike Nolan gives. For the first time, I’ve seen him be animated on the sideline and that’s what has helped them win.”
- Player to watch: Michigan WR Siaosi Mariner
- Luginbill: “Michigan’s RPO [Run-Pass Option] game. It’s the best in the league and always has some creative wrinkles that allow for QB Bryce Perkins to be even more dangerous.”
- Player to watch: DC WR Seth Williams
