RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — This year’s Puppy Bowl lineup is set, and a few all-star players are claiming homegrown roots in the Central Virginia area, according to an Animal Planet spokesperson.

Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl XIX airs on Sunday, Feb. 12 with Team Ruff and Team Fluff kicking off the most anticipated game of the year at 2 p.m. The pre-game show featuring exclusive interviews with the Ruff and Fluff coaches and players starts at 1 p.m.

The three-hour television matchup will feature a lineup of 122 puppies from 67 shelters and rescues across 34 states, who will bring all they’ve got to the gridiron in a fight for the coveted “Lombarky” trophy. Pups will also be competing to be named the BISSELL® MVP: Most Valuable Puppy, or win the SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. Underdog Award.

Five pups from the central Virginia area will be seen strutting their stuff on the field, take a look at Allison, Cheeky Tinker, Julius, Kayden and Velma from Green Dogs Unleashed, below.

Check out Allison, now June, playing for Team Ruff in the 2023 Puppy Bowl. June was saved from the Envigo breeding facility in Cumberland County by Green Dogs Unleased volunteers when she was just four weeks old. Now, she spends her days playing fetch and snuggling with her family. (Photo: Animal Planet)
Check out Cheeky Tinker, now Pepper, playing for Team Fluff in the 2023 Puppy Bowl. Pepper spends her days playing with her dog brother, Finn, at their home in Richmond, and destroying all the stuffed toys she can get her hands on. Although functionally deaf, Pepper can hear certain sounds, including her name! (Photo: Animal Planet)
Julius, now “Mako” is a def dalmatian puppy who now resides in his seaside Chesapeake home with his family. He plays for Team Ruff in the 2023 Puppy Bowl. (Photo: Animal Planet)
Kayden, now “Bear,” is a deaf great pyrenes mix. He is best described as a happy, bouncy, floppy boy who loves to explore all of the new things in the world. He now lives in Maryland with his people. Check him out duking it out for Team Ruff in the 2023 Puppy Bowl. (Photo: Animal Planet)
Velma, now “Quinnlynn,” is a mischievous inquisitive great dane puppy, and was chosen for the Puppy Bowl due to her sweet nature and easygoing personality. Check her out playing for Team Fluff in this year’s Puppy Bowl. (Photo: Animal Planet)