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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

ESPN sideline analyst Tom Luginbill interviews DC Defenders WR Chris Rowland after a Rowland touchdown – and initiates a FaceTime interaction with Rowland’s family. (ESPN)

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.”

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.”


ONE WORD THAT DESCRIBES THEIR FIRST UFL SEASON IN THE BOOTH

Jordan Rodgers (L) and Joe Tessitore will call the UFL Championship Game. (Terrance Williams/ESPN Images)
  • 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

Sideline analysts Sam Acho (L) and Tom Luginbill will report from the UFL Championship Game.
(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
THE UFL'S UNIQUE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME PERSPECTIVE: QBS WILL BE MIC'D
DC Defenders QB Jordan Ta’amu (10) will be wearing a live mic – as will his Michigan Panthers counterpart Bryce Perkins – during the UFL Championship. (Terrance Williams/ESPN Images)
Joe Tessitore: “This game gives us the chance to add two more broadcasters – and they just happened to be the star quarterbacks. To be able to listen in to Michigan’s Bryce Perkins and DC’s Jordan Ta’amu in-game is going to be a real treat. They are the top two talents in the UFL this year, and always give us unmatched access.”
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