Football fans looking for an on-field fix in May and June can watch some games from The Spring League, the development league returning for a fifth season.
That 2021 season is expanding from a four-week to a six-week schedule, beginning on May 6 with a doubleheader on FS1. And for the first time, TSL games will be shown on broadcast television with six regular-season matchups and the league’s championship game scheduled on Fox.
Each of the Fox telecasts will air on Saturday afternoons. FS1 and FS2 will televise the other 18 games in primetime on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Broadcast teams and production information (including whether announcers will work on-site or remotely) will be announced soon. Additionally, all TSL games can be viewed on the Fox Sports app and at FoxSports.com.
TSL is also increasing its number of teams from six to eight, adding the Lineman and Sea Lions. The league will divide those eight clubs between two central hubs in Indianapolis and Houston. (Last season, TSL played in a bubble set up in San Antonio.)
https://twitter.com/TheSpringLeague/status/1382130700007116802
https://twitter.com/TheSpringLeague/status/1382131270990303233
The developmental league will use the “spot and choose” overtime format that was proposed by the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens this year. Under those rules, the team that wins the coin toss for overtime will pick where the ball is spotted while the opponent chooses whether to play offense or defense.
Some familiar names will be coaching in TSL this season. Former Houston Oilers and Atlanta Falcons coach Jerry Glanville returns to lead the Conquerors. Mike Riley, most recently the head coach at Nebraska and also formerly with the San Diego Chargers, will be on the sidelines for the Sea Lions. Another former Chargers coach and longtime NFL offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride will lead the Jousters.
Whether or not any recognizable players will participate in the league has yet to be determined with rosters not finalized. Last season, former Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett and LSU signal-caller Zach Mettenberger were among those who played. Quarterback Johnny Manziel is probably TSL’s most famous alum.
The 2021 TSL broadcast schedule is as follows. All times are Eastern.
Week 1
May 6:
Alphas vs. Aviators – 7:00 p.m., FS1
Conquerors vs. Lineman – 10:00 p.m., FS1
May 7:
Sea Lions vs. Blues – 9:30 p.m., FS1
May 8:
Generals vs. Jousters – 3:00 p.m., Fox
Week 2
May 14:
Sea Lions vs. Generals – 7:00 p.m., FS1
Blues vs. Jousters – 10:00 p.m., FS1
May 15:
Conquerors vs. Alphas – 3:00 p.m., Fox
Linemen vs. Aviators – 7:00 p.m., FS2
Week 3
May 20:
Aviators vs. Conquerors – 7:00 p.m., FS1
Linemen vs. Alphas – 10:00 p.m., FS1
May 22:
Generals vs. Blues – 3:00 p.m., Fox
Jousters vs. Sea Lions – 7:00 p.m., FS1
Week 4
May 27:
Linemen vs. Conquerors – 7:00 p.m., FS1
Aviators vs. Alphas – 10:00 p.m., FS1
May 29:
Blues vs. Sea Lions – 3:00 p.m., Fox
Jousters vs. Generals – 9:00 p.m., FS1
Week 5
June 3:
Alphas vs. Conquerors – 7:00 p.m., FS1
June 4:
Aviators vs. Linemen – 8:00 p.m., FS1
June 5:
Generals vs. Sea Lions – 3:00 p.m., Fox
Jousters vs. Blues – 7:00 p.m., FS1
Week 6
June 11:
Blues vs. Generals – 7:00 p.m., FS1
Sea Lions vs. Jousters – 10:00 p.m., FS1
June 12:
Conquerors vs. Aviators – 12:00 p.m., Fox
Alphas vs. Linemen – 8:00 p.m., FS2
Championship Game
June 19: TBD – 3:00 p.m., Fox
About Ian Casselberry
Ian is a writer, editor, and podcaster. You can find his work at Awful Announcing and The Comeback. He's written for Sports Illustrated, Yahoo Sports, MLive, Bleacher Report, and SB Nation.