After scoring a touchdown, USFL teams will have the choice of going for 1, 2 or 3 points. Listen to "Fantasy Football Podcast" on Spreaker. How is it doing that? The receiving team must have a minimum of eight players in the set-up zone between their 35- and 45-yard lines After a kickoff travels 20 yards, the first touch must be by the receiving team. Reason: Achieve accurate, consistent, and faster rulings. The second will be running a fourth down and 12 play from their own 33-yard line if the team makes a first down, it retains possession, if it fails, then the defense gets the ball. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. "Were excited to play our first playoffs and championship game at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium," said Edward Hartman, USFL Executive Vice President, Business Operations. USFL rules, explained: The biggest differences vs. NFL, including overtime, 3-point attempts & more, What is the USFL? 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. Currently, USFL games are averaging a little over three hours. Onside Kicks Upon scoring, teams will have two options in attempting to retain possession: Successfully recover a traditional onside kick attempt from the 25-yard line. Some USFL rules that will be different from the traditional NFL game include: ESPN Sports Analytics' new Draft Day Predictor tool uses various factors to project the most likely picks at each first-round draft slot, estimated ranges of where top prospects could fall and more. Analyst Brock Huard also weighs in from the sidelines in select USFL matchups. Play-by-play announcer Kevin Kugler and analyst Mark Sanchez also contribute to FOX Sports USFL coverage. The XFL will use the modified kickoff rules it used in 2020. The clock also runs after incomplete passes in the first and third quarters. We all know how unsuccessful onside kicks are. Defensive pass interference is a spot foul, maximum 15 yards (no half distance unless the ball was snapped at the 1), Intentional defensive pass interference can be called only by the replay official, which is a spot foul (or on the 1-yard line if in the end zone), If the defense returns a conversion to the offenses end zone, it is always 2 points. Odds are that plenty of football fans will be tuned in to watch the event, which will take place more than two months after the Rams won Super Bowl 56 to end the NFL season. Effect: Adds plays to offensive game plans. "I don't know if it's so much a race to see who gets there first," Johnston said. Pro Football Network, LLC. To add excitement and trick-play potential to USFL games, teams will be allowed to throw two forward passes from behind the line of scrimmage. NFL draft questions for teams in the top 10: Will the Colts trade up? If untouched, the kick becomes dead, and the ball belongs to the receiving team at that spot. After unveiling its overtime format via Twitter, the USFL highlighted a difference from the NFL in its timing rules. The 2020 edition of the XFL was on track to fare much better, but it was forced to shut down because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Indeed, but there is one quirk in the rule to remember. Ravens GM says he covets QBs, Colts GM pins moving up to 'guy worthy of it', McCarthy: 'New voice' calling plays will help Dak, Out of dark, Rodgers vows decision coming soon, Survey: Vikes, Fins, Raiders top FA report cards, Judge OK's some Flores claims vs. NFL for court, Chargers GM halts speculation: Allen staying put. Working the official? The penalty for defensive pass interference will mirror the NCAA rule with exceptions. The system is similar to what is used in tennis to determine whether a ball is in or out. USFL players and staff can enroll at Strategic Education's Strayer University and Capella University, both institutionally accredited universities that support working adults in achieving their academic goals. In Week 4, Michigan Panthers head coach Jeff Fisher was the center of a shift in some USFL rules. It will also spot foul if the penalty happens 15 yards or fewer from the line of scrimmage or a 15-yard penalty from the line of scrimmage if the spot of the foul is beyond 15 yards. Effect: Create more offensive plays during the final two minutes of each half. Every team's most impactful move All of these are great and will make this league enjoyable to watch! On Wednesday, the newly re-created USFL unveiled its own unique rule changes ahead of its spring season. The USFL will have a central replay center at FOX Sports in Los Angeles, where a singular crew makes all replay decisions. Now, fans will get to see it in action during regular-season USFL games. The top two teams in each division will play against each other in the semifinals followed a week later by the championship game. The league returned in 2022, ending an over 30-year absence. They are not the same as the NFL's rules, and in certain areas they greatly differ. 10-minute halftime splits the first and second halves. Reason: Decrease punitive nature of defensive pass interference penalties. The USFL aims to have fewer penalties, injuries, and enhanced player safety. Three options after scoring a touchdown 1 point kick attempt from the 15-yard line. For instance, an automatic first down is a successful onside possession, and any penalty enforcement from the previous spot changes the distance required. The USFL has had some injury issues as the season reaches the halfway point. In cases where a player is intentionally tackled beyond 15 yards, it is a spot foul. Defensive pass interference infractions beyond 15 yards where a player isn't intentionally tackled will only be a 15-yard penalty. Towards the end of the interview, they talked more about the USFL rules coming in 2022. Which first-round prospects should Raiders focus on at combine? With sensors that will help officials decide whether the offensive team made the line to gain. This rule is one that is unique to the XFL. - Two points for a successful scrimmage play from the two-yard line. but there is a difference between having money and being willing to use it. Receivers and defensive backs could easily translate across, lineman of course, fullbacks/linebackers, running backs/safetys, etc. One point for a successful kick between the uprights snapped from the 15-yard line. The clock will stop for first downs inside two minutes of the second and fourth quarters pic.twitter.com/JhNdxjB9td. It will include, for example, two sky cams and multiple drone cameras. Both passes must be thrown from behind the line of scrimmage. The NFL toyed with a similar idea during the Pro Bowl, as teams had a chance to maintain possession if they were able to convert on a 4th-and-15 play from their own 25-yard-line. However, the XFL is known to get very creative regarding its rule book. The hardest thing facing teams right now is roster size. According to Johnston, Saturday night's opening game between New Jersey and Birmingham will have more production elements than any football game Fox Sports covers other than the Super Bowl. The featured image in this article is the thumbnail of the embedded video. MORE:What is the XFL? This will ensure that almost all kicks will be returnable. 3 point attempt ran as a scrimmage play but from the 10-yard line. As was the case with the AAF and XFL, however, the ultimate decision will be made by ownership's financial commitment. (Each team will play 10 regular-season games with no bye weeks. Let's have a look at XFL's budget. In this article, we will highlight the major differences between the two leagues in 2023. However, Fisher called a timeout after lining up and wanted to go for two instead. "What we find ourselves doing is prioritizing [some of] those and hoping [others] don't come up, because we just didn't have time to cover them. "Located downtown, it's within walking distance to the hotels where players will reside and many other amenities. Gunners may not line up outside the numbers and they cannot be double-teamed blocked until the ball is kicked. That game will air on both FOX and NBC, making it the first scheduled sporting event to air on competing broadcast networks since Super Bowl I in 1967, which was shown on both CBS and NBC. Simple enough, right? The USFL has officially unveiled a few changes to the traditional football rules, designed to bolster offense and big-play potential, improve game flow, give trailing teams more scoring opportunities as time winds down, enhance player safety, and get officiating calls right in a way thats fair for both teams. If the team makes a first down, they retain possession, and otherwise, the ball goes to the defense. But Johnston said that the sheer size of this year's draft pool "maybe shifts things a little bit." Eight Ways the Rules Are Different For USFL Games Sports NFL NFL Home Scores & Matchups Odds Props Futures Free Picks News & Analysis NFL Contest Super Bowl Injuries Teams Players Standings. Here's how pass interference rules will differ in the USFL this season pic.twitter.com/M6p26VBZvv. There are no OPI penalties on passes that don't cross the line of scrimmage. Each coach can issue a replay challenge once per game. Reason: Successfully executing and recovering an onside kick is rare, so this provides another option while increasing risk/reward strategy for coaches. Here's how kickoffs & punts will look this season pic.twitter.com/6zD8KMiFnI. It will also be keeping the standard 2-point conversion attempt, which will take place from the 2-yard line. The USFL will employ 35 officials, 32 of whom are members of the NFL's Officiating Development Program that provides opportunities for college-level officials who are ready to advance to professional football.The USFL will have five crews of seven officials (referee, umpire, down judge, line judge, field judge, side judge, back judge), with two crews each working two games on any given weekend. The NFL, being the most seasoned and the most settled association in North American . Strong backgrounds in College Football are represented as 33 of the 35 USFL officials have worked in Power Five Conferences (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, PAC-12, and SEC). A two-point conversation will take place from the 2-yard-line. Offenses will have more options than ever this Spring , Get ready for two forward passes from behind the line of scrimmage pic.twitter.com/JlpPLrbXLG. Rather than play a full extra period, each team will begiven three attempts at a two-point conversion from their opponent's 5-yard line. The league's first attempt at becoming that came in 2001, but it never caught on. Still, the rule ensures that an 18-point lead is just a two-score advantage, so that should add some excitement in what figure to be close games. Covers disclaims all liability associated with your use of this website and use of any information contained on it. The XFL, meanwhile, made a series of strategically timed announcements, culminating with naming all eight of its head coaches, to preserve interest in its plans to retake the field in 2023. The subsequent attempts become sudden death if the score is tied after each team runs three plays. Punts will, generally, be the same in the USFL as they are in the NFL, but with one small difference. The USFL has a reported budget of $150 million for the next three years, funded by its broadcasters, Fox Entertainment. First, its expenses will be minimized by having the single-site format. The USFL's rules for 1- and 2-point attempts will differ slightly from those of the XFL and AAF. Some of the rules are designed to be a fast-paced game that offers the potential for explosive scoring plays on offense and special teams. The United States Football League kicks off this week, and the new spring league aims to entertain football fans with some fresh twists on traditional rules. The question moving forward is not about talent as much as it is about competing for the eyes of a finite pool of interested fans. Reason: Add offense without undermining defense. There are going to be some situations that come up and it's going to be really fun to watch to see how teams will respond.". (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Ben Austro is the editor and founder of Football Zebras and the author of. The league's 45-man roster limit required some creative scheduling and practice planning for coaches who are accustomed to 80 or more players in camp. The broadcasts will also introduce new technology to display ball placement relative to the line to gain -- among other innovations -- but officials will not use it to measure first downs. USFL Replay Command will also be responsible for determining whether the act of pass interference is obviously intentional when it occurs 15 yards beyond the line of scrimmage. If it's a one-point try, it's worth one point. Along with implementing several innovations, the original USFL produced several future prominent NFL figures that included futureBillscoach Marv Levy, quarterbacks Steve Young and Jim Kelly, running back Herschel Walker, pass rusher Reggie White, linebacker Sam Mills, and offensive lineman Gary Zimmerman, among others. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: media | arena: usfl | pageType: stories | Each team will play a 10-game schedule, with teams in the same division playing each other twice and teams in the other division once. 3 point attempt ran as a scrimmage play but from the 10-yard line. In the USFL you have another option on top of the onside kick: A 4th & 12 scrimmage play from the 33-yard line pic.twitter.com/zGprwoSlHD. Joining the new USFL as Head of Officiating is former NFL Vice President of Officiating and FOX Sports' NFL and College Football Rules analyst Mike Pereira. There will be eight teams in the new USFL, split into two divisions: North and South. The only way it could be over 15 yards is if the defender "deliberately tackles the receiver". Asked what success would look like, Johnston said: "Crowning a champion in Canton, Ohio, on July 3, and then popping a bottle of champagne and starting to talk about Year 2. So now, both the USFL and XFL can take center stage if they play their cards right. If the score remains tied after three attempts, then the teams will continue to alternate single possessions until a winner is decided. Football fans got quite a treat this week. Saturday's opener, in fact, will be simulcast by Fox, NBC and Peacock in what the USFL said will be the first scheduled sports competition to be aired simultaneously by competitors since NBC and CBS both televised Super Bowl I in January 1967. If they can get 12 yards, they will keep the ball. The NFL consists of 32 different teams from across the country, which are divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). Here are a list of the rules the USFL is employing that are different than the NFL rules set. USFL Rules: 8 Ways USFL Rules Differ From Traditional Football, USFL Championship Odds: Stallions and Generals Co-Favored in Season 2, Stallions vs Stars Championship Picks and Predictions: The Stars Are Aligned, Stars vs Generals Semifinal Picks and Predictions: New Jersey Advances While Covering Spread, Breakers vs Stallions Semifinal Picks and Predictions: Back Underdog Breakers in Round 1, USFL Week 10 Odds, Picks, and Predictions: Going Out With a Bang, USFL Week 9 Odds, Picks, and Predictions: Breakers Best Bandits, Clinch Final Playoff Spot. One of the most notable differences between the USFL and the NFL is how the USFL handles overtime. The USFL is adopting this rule, in part, from the XFL and AAF. One of the most notable differences between the USFL and the NFL is how the USFL will handle overtime. They should also be able to field separate punters and kickers on the active roster. This will allow for more playing time, giving us the opportunity for more fantasy points. DPI penalties committed within 15 yards will be spot fouls. The USFL will adopt a running clock after incomplete passes in the first and third quarters to keep games under the three hours. "We are extremely fortunate to have this extraordinary team of experienced executives to guide the new USFL's development as we move toward launch this spring," Shanks said. Game timing Halftime is 10 minutes in length Play clock will use 35 seconds, 25 seconds after a stoppage Timing rules for a runner out of bounds apply after the 2-minute warning One such precaution will be having the kicking team's personnel line up no farther than 1 yard behind the kickoff spot. The USFL's rules for 1- and 2-point attempts will differ slightly from those of the XFL and AAF. A lot of risk, but a lot of reward Can I watch the games outside of the United States? However, you don't just pick those two things up off the street. In an effort to differentiate itself from other leagues, the United States Football League released its rulebook last week with a number of different on-field changes for the upcoming inaugural season. Where would [the XFL] be able to compete with us when we talk about the presentation of the product? Reason: Increase big-play potential with more returned kickoffs rather than touchbacks. Following a scoring play, teams can attempt a standard 25-yard-line onside kick or run the ball on fourth down and 12 from their 33-yard-line. Stay up to date on the latest from the USFL at PFN, regarding Panthers HC Jeff Fisher not being able to change his mind on the extra-point attempt, some changes to the rules regarding the clock in the first and third quarters. When a kickoff travels 20 yards, the receiving team must make the first touch. Below is a run down of some of the minor differences between the two leagues. The USFL is making tweaks to how it hands out penalties. Breaking down differences in USFL rules vs. NFL. You can see the Week 1 lines here, the odds to win the championship for every team here, and find out how sportsbooks are setting lines on a brand-new league here then head over to our three simple rules for betting on the USFL from former NFL player Geoff Schwartz. As a condition of using this website, you agree to hold the owner of this website harmless from any claims arising from your use of any services on any third party website that may be featured by Covers. 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