The 2023 XFL season is almost over, and just 2 teams remain in contention for the coveted championship trophy. On 13 May, the Arlington Renegades and the D.C. Defenders will take to the field at the Alamodome to fight for the league’s ultimate prize.
This final matchup was not what most fans expected. The Renegades, one of 3 representatives from Texas in the South Division, made it to the playoffs despite a losing record from the regular season. Houston Roughnecks, one of their in-state rivals, beat the Renegades soundly in both Week 2 and Week 10, and waited for them again in the South Division Championship. Although the Roughnecks were comfortable favourites to progress to the final game, the Renegades showed up when it counted and dominated Houston, winning 26-11 and scoring more points than they had managed in both regular season contests combined.
D.C. Defenders had a simpler route to the Championship. Quarterback Jordan Ta’amu led the team to an almost perfect regular season, marred by a single loss in Week 7 when the Orlando Guardians beat the Defenders by just one point. Ta’amu recorded the third-most passing yards in the XFL with 1,894, but D.C. has also been able to rely on a strong rushing game. Running back Abram Smith leads the league in rushing yards, and no other team has matched the Defenders’ total of 1,408 yards. D.C. faced the talented Seattle Sea Dragons in the North Division Championship, but the Defenders had already beaten the Sea Dragons twice in the regular season, and unlike the Roughnecks, they made it 3 with a convincing 37-21 victory in the division matchup.
The Defenders are certainly favourites going into the Championship, but anything can happen in a single game, and the Renegades will be confident that they can pull off another upset.
Tickets are still available for the XFL Championship. Kick-off is scheduled for 19:00 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, and fans can book their seats for just USD $30.
The rebooted XFL has seen a highly entertaining first season, and all that remains is crowning a final champion. Will it be D.C. or Arlington celebrating on 13 May?
