The USFL has wrapped their “inaugural” season 1 and with the XFL’s return in sight, who has the high ground? We bring on Ben Fischer of the Sports Business Journal and Mark Perry of USFL News Hub (fresh off his appearance at the USFL championship in Canton) to tackle USFL v. XFL, USFL year 2 expansion, and much more. We also preview CFL week 5 and chat all things Canadian football with Kristina Costabile of CFL.ca and Chris Ackie of the Montreal Alouettes.

The USFL has wrapped season 1, what’s next? We ponder this question, chat USFL TV/Championship ratings and compare/contrast their business model with the soon-to-be returning XFL with Ben Fischer of the Sports Business Journal. Ben Fischer discusses USFL team valuations vs. MLS and other professional sports, grades USFL season 1 as a whole, and looks forward to what the league could, should, and will do when they hit the field again in 2023.

Mark Perry, editor of USFL News Hub also makes a return appearance to the program to discuss his time at the USFL championship game in Canton, Ohio. We get some behind-the-scenes details of his time there and discuss ways the league can improve with media relations (amongst other things) as they look at ways to improve when they return for a second USFL season. We also cover rumors of expanded USFL 2023 rosters, October OTAs with players in their home cities and much, much more!

Kristina Costabile of CFL.ca makes an anticipated repeat guest spot on this week’s show to preview the big BC Lions hosting the Winnipeg Blue Bombers game this weekend in the battle of the two currently undefeated CFL franchises. We talk Tre Ford’s success in Edmonton, Nathan Rourke’s ascent in BC and why the BC Lions football team seems to be firing on all cylinders this 2023 CFL season. Chris Mackie of the Montreal Alouettes also sits down (pre-Khari Jones firing) to go over the Alouettes' bumpy season thus far, ways he’s looking to improve on the field coming off of injury, and what he makes of the QB dilemma in Montreal between Trevor Harris and Vernon Adams Jr.

0:00 The Markcast Episode Promo
2:29 Show Intro
8:33 Ben Fischer, Sports Business Journal USFL Expansion Interview
35:12 Mark Perry, USFL News Hub Interview, USFL Season 1 Recap, Season 2 Plans
1:28:33 Kristina Costabile, CFL.ca CFL Week 5 Interview
1:46:31 Chris Ackie, Montreal Alouettes Interview
2:00:06 Show Outro