After posting a 2-8 mark during the 2022 season, the first year of the United States Football League (USFL) reboot, the Michigan Panthers were a few games better in 2023 posting a 4-6 regular season record that happened to be just enough to qualify for the USFL postseason.

The eight-team league pits the top two teams in the North and South Divisions against one another in the USFL Semifinals in the division championship round, and the winners of those games battle in the championship game the following week.

In the North Division Championship, the Panthers, who finished second in the North, squared off against the 4-6 Pittsburgh Maulers on the road and, ultimately, came up just a little bit short in overtime.

The 2023 USFL Championship Game features the Pittsburgh Maulers going up against the 2022 champion Birmingham Stallions, who finished the regular season at 8-2 and in the top spot in the South Division.