The 2026 UFL season has been a wild ride — with ESPN’s coverage extending far beyond what happens between the whistles. From beer snakes to mid-play sideline interviews, this season has delivered content that makes the UFL appointment viewing.
Now it all comes down to the United Bowl, set for Saturday, June 13 at 3 p.m. ET at Audi Field in Washington, D.C., with the defending champion DC Defenders taking on the Louisville Kings in their inaugural UFL season, live on ABC and ESPN Deportes.
What’s part of the secret sauce behind that access? ESPN’s UFL field analyst role is one aspect. Ahead of Saturday’s championship game, Tom Luginbill and Sam Acho — who have built relationships and captured moments that no camera alone could deliver — look back at the season and ahead to Saturday’s season finale.
Unmatched access
For Luginbill, some of the best content came from walking through drives with the teams’ backup quarterbacks.
“The ability to hear the play and have the QB tell you exactly what should happen is invaluable,” he said. “It puts you in the mind of what the QB sees.”
And, yes, adding to the Defenders’ iconic beer snake made Luginbill’s list, too.
Acho’s standout moment had more drama, “Trying to interview [then] Kings [quarterback] Jason Bean immediately after he was taken out of the game [Week 2 at the Orlando Storm].”
It wasn’t the smoothest interview, Acho admits, but it’s an example of the real access being offered to fans in the UFL. Now Bean is preparing to face his former team in the championship. This scenario promises more must-watch sideline conversations.
Acho also interviewed St. Louis Battlehawks quarterback Brandon Silvers’ mom, Rae Ann Silvers, mid-game. When Silvers threw an interception, she barely flinched.
“She’s used to the highs and lows,” Acho said.
United Bowl plans
Acho has his sights on interviewing Defenders defensive end Andre Mintze’s boss.
“[Mintze] took two weeks of vacation from work to play for the Defenders in the playoffs. Apparently, his boss didn’t know before!”
Now his boss is coming to the United Bowl.
Just got off the phone with my boss. He said he’ll come to the CHAMPIONSHIP GAME😎 next Saturday!! @UFLDefenders https://t.co/nAozX6XKQv
— Andre Mintze (@dremintze) June 8, 2026
Luginbill is challenging UFL owner Mike Repole to contribute to the Audi Field beer snake, adding, “We really need to lean into DC’s fantastic fanbase all game long.”
Expanding role
Both analysts — each in his fourth spring football season as part of ESPN’s coverage — say the access has improved as relationships have deepened.
“You have to know quickly whether or not you have something good. If you do, lean into it,” Luginbill said.
Acho echoed that, noting a player recently asked him about television ratings from the sideline before making a big play.
“I told him they were great all season! He’s invested,” Acho said. “I’ve made it more about intertwining different aspects of the game when the moment comes.”
