Getty USFL top draft pick Shea Patterson will try to make the Michigan Panthers instant winners.
A shootout looks more than likely when the Michigan Panthers host the Houston Gamblers in Week 1 of the USFL’s comeback season on Sunday. The Panthers have two standout quarterbacks, including former NFL starter Paxton Lynch, while the Gamblers have a dynamic, dual-threat running back in the form of Mark Thompson.
A plethora of playmakers on both offenses ought to mean there’s no shortage of points at Protective Stadium. The Panthers should be favorites thanks to the experience of a proven winner like head coach Jeff Fisher.
Yet, Fisher’s opposite number, Kevin Sumlin, established a reputation as a scoring mastermind, particularly during stints at Texas A&M and Arizona.
The game (Noon ET) will be televised on NBC, and it will also stream on Peacock TV (premium plan), which costs $4.99 per month.
If you don’t have cable, here’s a look at all the different ways you can watch a live stream of the Gamblers vs Panthers online, with the first two options offering a free trial:
Note: Heavy may earn an affiliate commission if you sign up via a link on this page
FuboTV
You can watch a live stream of NBC and 100-plus other live TV channels on FuboTV, which comes with a free seven-day trial:
Once signed up for FuboTV, you can watch the Gamblers vs Panthers live on the FuboTV app, which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One or Series X/S, Samsung TV, LG TV, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet. Or you can watch on your computer via the FuboTV website.
DirecTV Stream
DirecTV Stream has four different channel packages: “Entertainment,” “Choice,” “Ultimate” and “Premier.” NBC is included in every one, but you can pick any package and any add-on you want with your free five-day trial:
Once signed up for DirecTV Stream, you can watch the Gamblers vs Panthers live on the DirecTV Stream app, which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Samsung TV, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet. Or you can watch on your computer via the DirecTV Stream website.
Peacock TV
A total of 13 USFL games will be on Peacock this season, with this being one of them. You’ll need the Peacock Premium plan, which costs $4.99 per month:
Once signed up for Peacock, you can watch the Gamblers vs Panthers live on the Peacock app, which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One or Series X/S, PlayStation 4 or 5, Samsung TV, LG TV, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet. You can also watch on your computer via the Peacock TV website.
Sling TV
NBC is included in Sling TV’s “Sling Blue” bundle. This option doesn’t include a free trial, but it’s the cheapest long-term streaming service with the channels needed to watch USFL games, plus you can get $10 off your first month:
Once signed up for Sling TV, you can watch the Gamblers vs Panthers live on the Sling TV app, which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One or Series X/S, Samsung TV, LG TV, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), airTV Mini, Oculus, Portal, iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet. Or you can watch on your computer via the Sling TV website.
Hulu With Live TV
You can watch a live stream of NBC and 65+ other TV channels via Hulu With Live TV, which now also includes both ESPN+ and Disney+ as part of the bundle:
Once signed up for Hulu With Live TV, you can watch the Gamblers vs Panthers live on the Hulu app, which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One or Series X/S, PlayStation 4 or 5, Nintendo Switch, Samsung TV, LG TV, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet. Or you can watch on your computer via the Hulu website.
Gamblers vs Panthers Preview
Thompson is the player to watch for the Gamblers, a running back “compared to Derrick Henry in style, size and physicality,” according to RJ Young of Fox Sports. It’s reasonable to expect Sumlin to look to get the ball to Thompson early and often.
Backs like Trey Williams and J.J. Taylor thrived on Sumlin’s watch at the collegiate level. So did rushing quarterbacks, including Johnny Manziel. Sumlin tabbed Clayton Thorson to be his quarterback, and the one-time draft pick of the Philadelphia Eagles has a proven track record as a dual-threat signal-caller.
Those skills were established during Thorson’s days at Northwestern, where he was “the only quarterback in Big Ten history to pass for 10,000 yards and rush for 20 touchdowns in his career,” per CBS Sports’ Tyler Sullivan.
The Gamblers shared some of those highlights after selecting Thorson in February:
Counting down the days until we get to see Clayton Thorson take the field 📆😍 #Allin
Fisher’s presence on the Panthers’ sideline is one of the most high-profile developments of this USFL season. His lengthy and generally successful stint with the Tennessee Titans made 64-year-old Fisher a marquee get for the Spring league.
The chances of instant success for Fisher and the Panthers will rest on his ability to make it work with the right quarterback. Fisher recently responded to criticism of his history working with players at football’s most important position, during an appearance on The Number One Ranked Show with RJ Young.
In particular, Fisher emphasized how he patiently developed the late Steve McNair into a Super Bowl starter with the Titans: “He got all the experience he needed to get over a couple of years, and then we took off and we ran with him. And we did very well with him.”
Fisher may take a similar wait-and-see approach with Lynch, who lasted only four years in the NFL after being taken 26th-overall by the Denver Broncos in 2016. Lynch has good mobility and offers a different dimension than Shea Patterson.
The top pick in the USFL draft has the arm talent to hang in the pocket and make all the throws the Panthers need. Patterson, a one-time Wolverines standout, has already impressed during offseason scrimmages:
Shea was doing Shea things during last night’s scrimmage 🐾
Provided Fisher gets the call right at quarterback, the Panthers should make a winning start on home soil.