Puppy Bowl 2023: Date, Starting Lineup, TV Schedule and More

Who let the dogs out?

The official answer is Animal Planet. But the dogs won't officially be on the loose until Puppy Bowl XIX, which takes place on Sunday, Feb. 12, just a few hours before Super Bowl LVII.

The annual "football game" that features two paw-some teams (Team Fluff and Team Ruff) of competitive pooches with creative names like Jimmy Kibble facing off on the gridiron in Puppy Bowl stadium.

During the three-hour television broadcast, the game will showcase the largest number of adoptable dogs the game has ever had and the first-ever contestant from Dominica, West Indies.

Additionally, this game will have 11 special needs puppies and spotlight animal shelters, rescues and moving adoption stories.

On the line, of course, will be the Wayfair "Lombarky" trophy.

Another major attraction for the big game is the "Kitty Halftime Show," for all of the cat lovers out there.

So get ready animal lovers, here's everything to know heading into this year's Puppy Bowl.

Puppy Bowl XVIII Information

Mark Von Holden/AP Images for Discovery Communications

IMAGE DISTRIBUTED FOR DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS - Atmosphere at the Puppy Bowl X at the Discovery Times Square Experience in New York on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2014. (Mark Von Holden/AP Images for Discovery Communications)

Date: Sunday, Feb. 12

Start Time: 2 p.m. ET

TV: Animal Planet

Live Stream: Discovery+

Starting Lineups: A photo gallery of the starting lineups can be found at Discovery.com.

Preview

AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File

FILE - President Joe Biden, and first lady Jill Biden's new dog Commander, a purebred German shepherd puppy, arrives to meet virtually with service members around the world, Dec. 25, 2021, in the South Court Auditorium on the White House campus in Washington. Commander will make his TV debut on Super Bowl Sunday. The German shepherd and Jill Biden will appear in a commercial airing before the broadcast of “Puppy Bowl XVIII.” (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)

So what should dog lovers expect from this year's Puppy Bowl?

How about 122 energetic puppers from 67 shelters across 34 states representing Team Ruff and Team Fluff.

Outside of watching these dogs put points on the board by carrying a toy into any end zone, the game is meant to raise awareness about animals in shelters and the beauty of adoption.

And what better way to do that than by putting a bunch of cute adoption-ready pups on the broadcast to strut their stuff?

And the cherry on top? Snoop Dogg and Martha Stewart are back to host and coach Team Fluff and Team Ruff, respectively.

"I'm so excited that Snoop and I are back to kick off Puppy Bowl XVIII and help a bunch of deserving pups find their forever homes!" Coach Martha told Discovery.

"I'm honored to be co-hosting the only sporting event on the planet guaranteed to raise the 'woof' with the magnificent Martha Stewart!" Coach Snoop added.

In addition to hosting and coaching their pups toward the Lombarky, Snoop and Stewart will be out to get their "players" into as many loving, forever homes as possible.

The big game should be absolutely terrific, but before that, fans will be able to witness Puppy Mania, where running back Rashad Jennings and comedian Kym Whitley will join a panel of judges to decide which canine gets the Puppy Mania trophy.

Fans will also get to see the pups warm up in the Puppy Bowl Scrimmage, which will be streamed on TikTok.

All in all, this should be a fun event for the whole family to enjoy as a kick off to Super Bowl Sunday.