Just when you thought professional football was wrapped up for the season, here comes the revived XFL 2020 season. This time around WWE head honcho Vince McMahon brought in prestigious names like Oliver Luck, father of recently retired Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, as commissioner, ex-Bills general manager Doug Whaley as vice president and former NFL officiating head Dean Blandino to add an air of legitimacy to the 2020 version. With eight brand new team stacked with many new — and some more familiar — faces, this weekend as the new upstart league kicks for the first time since 2001.

With eight brand new teams stacked with many new — and some more familiar — faces, this weekend as the new upstart league kicks for the first time since 2001. Let’s take a quick look at each team and their key players ahead of this weekend’s XFL 2020 opening kickoff.

Squad. #XFLTeams pic.twitter.com/Og4yKW07c4

— XFL (@xfl2020) August 21, 2019

DC Defenders

On paper, the DC Defenders have the potential to be one of the most explosive offenses in the entire league.

With Cardale Jones, a National Championship winner in 2015 with Ohio State, under center, Donnell Pumphrey, the NCAA’s all-time leader in rushing yards and yards from scrimmage, in the backfield and pass-catcher Rashad Ross, a standout now-defunct AFF, it’s entirely possible that the Defenders have some of the league’s best offensive weapons.

With former Colts offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton as head coach, the Defenders might be primed to be one of the most fun to watch XFL 2020 offenses.

Seattle Dragons

If you were a big fan of the AAF, then the Seattle Dragons will likely be the team for you. They’re perhaps the most AAF-heavy team in the XFL at current, stocked with standouts from the league like quarterback Brandon Silvers, along with running backs Kenneth Farrow, Ja’Quan Gardner and Trey Williams.

With former NFL coordinator and Seattle Seahawks Ring of Honor member Jim Zorn at the helm as head coach and a pair of NFL-experienced receiver in Keenan Reynolds and Kasen Williams to catch passes from Silvers, we expect the Dragons to be able to keep their heads above water this season and build for the future.

Los Angeles Wildcats

Just like the two other pro football teams based in the City of Angels, the Wildcats appear to have the offensive potential to make some noise in the Western Conference this year.

Rolling with well-seasoned journeyman Josh Johnson at quarterback, last seen starting a few games for the Washington Redskins this past NFL season, the Wildcats are the 15th professional franchise Johnson has gotten into uniform for. When it comes to years of playing experience, no other XFL team has that much experience leading their offense on the field.

Johnson will have weapons like Pac-12 receptions record holder Nelson Spruce and ex-North Carolina running back Elijah Hood to throw too, while head coach Winston Moss, a longtime linebackers coach for the New Orleans Saints and current Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy’s assistant head coach for over a decade, will look to lead the Los Angeles Wildcats to the same heights the Ram’s reached two years ago.

Houston Roughnecks

There are few more fitting cities in the country that fit the Roughnecks‘ run ‘n’ shoot offensive philosophy than the city of Houston.

Led by quarterback by Phillip Walker, Temple’s all-time passing leader in nearly every counting stat you can think of, and stacked with big skills position names like former Steelers wide receiver Sammie Coates, Houston has the potential to be explosive.

In fact, if potential bears out, Coates and Phillips could be the XFL’s first dynamic QB-WR combo, something that could win them the favor of fans in the Space City and blast the team into the stratosphere.

Tampa Bay Vipers

When it comes to a premium on coaching, Tampa Bay Vipers are in the argument for the biggest advantage in the league.

The team is led by Marc Trestman, a two-time CFL Coach of the Year, former head coach of the Bears and former offensive coordinator for the Ravens. Trestman looks to utilize offensive talent like starting quarterback Aaron Murray, the current SEC leader in touchdowns and QB/RB Quinton Flowers, a supreme athlete set to be used in a Taysom Hill-like role for the Vipers.

Both passers will have former Seattle Seahawks receiver Tanner McEvoy to throw too, so I’m looking forward to seeing what Trestman can cook up to optimize his offensive talent. At the very least we’re going to see some cool trick players and schemes from the Vipers offense.

New York Guardians

Another team projected to be a championship contender in the Eastern Conference, the New York Guardians look set to take the Big Apple and the XLF by storm.

Featuring both one of the most experienced head coaches and quarterback combos in the league in former Penn State Nittany Lion, Oakland Raider and Philadelphia Eagle quarterback Matt McGloin and former Chargers head coach Kevin Gilbride, it’s no wonder they’re one of the betting favorites to make a splash.

Along with McGloin and Gilbride is a stout defensive unit filled with veteran players like the AAF’s Jamar Summers and former NFL linebacker Ben Heeney, making the Guardians one of the most complete teams in the XLF.

We’ll have to see if they can capture the attention of the typically cynical NYC sports fan and make a splash in one of the league’s largest markets.

St. Louis Battlehawks

The city of St. Louis will finally have a football team to call their own again! The fresh-faced new franchise Battlehawks will try to be a shot in the arm for football fans with other newcomers like first-time head coach Jonathan Hayes, a former tight ends coach for the Bengals, and exciting young quarterback Jordan Ta’amu out of Ole Miss.

Both quarterback and head coach are set to make their pro debuts as figureheads for the Battlehawks franchise, backed by a supporting cast of seasoned NFL and AAF pros like running backs Christine Michael and Matt Jones, veteran tackle Matt McCants and AAF standout De’Mornay Pierson-El.

We’ll have to see if pro football’s return to St. Louis sparks the same passion from the fans as when the now-LA Rams did when they left.

Dallas Renegades

Last but certainly not least, we have the Dallas Renegades, one of the outright favorites to win the XFL’s inaugural championship game.

Longtime college head coach Bob Stoops has assembled a team featuring many of his former players and multiple former NFL talents, forming what many are calling one of the most complete overall rosters in the league.

With Landry Jones, a four-year starter for Stoops at Oklahoma, at quarterback, a pair od NFL-caliber running backs in Cameron Artis-Payne and Lance Dunbar and a little receiving dynamo in Jeff Badet, the Renegades offense has no shortage of speed. They have a stacked defense to go with the speedy offense, however, with former AAF stand-out safety Derron Smith as their leader.

If Jones can return quickly from a nagging knee injury, Dallas might be one of the favorites to win the whole thing this year.

With XFL 2020 set to kick off this weekend and all four games on network television, why not tune in and check it out. After all, something needs to pass the time until the NFL kicks off later this year.

Peep the full XFL 2020 opening week schedule here.