Who’s ready for some playoff football?
The XFL’s relaunch season is already nearing a close, and a champion will be crowned three years after the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the league’s initial relaunch.
The Defenders enter the playoffs with the XFL’s best record, while the Roughnecks finished at the top of the South division and will have home-field advantage in the semifinals.
No team is perfect, but D.C.’s combination of a terrific running game and impressive defense – along with a fan base that produces some of the best beer snakes in any sport – might make the Defenders the favorite.
MORE: Watch the XFL playoffs live on Fubo (free trial)
Here’s a complete look at the XFL playoff schedule, including TV channels and start times.
XFL playoff bracket 2023
Below is the four-team playoff bracket for the XFL playoffs. Division title games will decide which two teams will play for the championship.
North division
(1) D.C. Defenders vs. (2) St. Louis Battlehawks OR Seattle Sea Dragons
South division
(1) Houston Roughnecks vs. (2) Arlington Renegades OR San Antonio Brahmas
XFL playoff schedule
Below is the full XFL playoff schedule:
Division championships
Saturday, April 29
| Matchup | Time (ET) | TV | Live stream |
| (1) Houston Roughnecks vs. (2) St. Louis Battlehawks/Seattle Sea Dragons | 7 p.m. | ESPN2 | ESPN+, Fubo |
Sunday, April 30
| (1) D.C. Defenders vs. (2) Arlington Renegades/San Antonio Brahmas | 3 p.m. | ESPN | ESPN+, Fubo |
XFL Championship
Sunday, May 13
| Matchup | Time (ET) | TV | Live stream |
| North winner vs. South winner | 8 p.m. | ABC | Fubo |
The North and South division championship games will be played April 29 and 30 at the home sites of the regular-season division winners: the Roughnecks in Houston and the league-leading Defenders in Washington, D.C.
The XFL Championship will be played on Sunday, May 13 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. The game will air on ABC.