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. Tickets for the inaugural game are on sale now atTicketmaster.com. Sudden death takes place if there is a tie after three possessions. Two points for a successful scrimmage play from the two-year line. One, "Cover for me.". The kicking team can not line up further back than the one-yard, and receiving teams must have at least eight players between their 35 and 45-yard lines in the set-up zone. These include potential 3-point conversions after touchdowns, changes to onside kicks and overtime, the ability for an offense to complete two forward passes on a single play, and more. For all inquiries contact usfffaceoff@gmail.com. Birmingham is a relatively small market for professional sports. Furthermore, the league announced some changes to rosters amid some of the injuries teams face. 1 point kick attempt from the 15-yard line. If they come up short, the opposing team will take possession. Following Week 4, the USFLs Head of Officiating, Mike Pereira, issued a statement regarding Panthers HC Jeff Fisher not being able to change his mind on the extra-point attempt. 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. They should also be able to field separate punters and kickers on the active roster. USFL wagering is legal in 27 states and Washington, D.C. (click here for the full list). NFL competition committee chairman Rich McKay said recently that the league will watch the results of the USFL's punt scheme as it contemplates its own changes to the play. A one-point try is attempted from the 2-yard line; a two-point try comes from the 5-yard line; and a three-point try comes from the 10-yard line. The USFL will adopt a running clock after incomplete passes in the first and third quarters to keep games under the three hours. The receiving team also is not allowed to double-team those players until the ball is kicked. Instead, it is looking for ways to differentiate its product and provide the fans with an experience different than watching the NFL. 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. Fox Sports has the money to fund the USFL for multiple seasons, but there is a difference between having money and being willing to use it. ), Kiper's draft grades for every team The first option will be a traditional onside kick attempt from the 25-yard line. The receiving team must have at least eight of its blockers in that area. No kicking team member may line up any further back than one yard, while the receiving team must have a minimum of eight players in the set-up zone between their 35- and 45-yard lines. Pereira also announced some changes to the rules regarding the clock in the first and third quarters before Week 4. 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. This allows more time to potentially score in the two-minute drill which, again, would hypothetically make the game higher scoring and more exciting. If the second forward pass is dropped, it is also considered to be an incompletion. 32 NFL players who could change teams this offseason, Disputed loan at center of Commanders probe, 2023 NFL franchise tag tracker: Commanders' Payne first to be tagged, Meet the man scouring Nigeria for the next generation of NBA and NFL talent, 2023 NFL combine preview: 15 future fantasy football stars to watch, The renegade who took on the NFL (and the NBA and the NHL), New USFL rules: 3-point tries, overtime shootout, USFL to use NFL developmental refs in April, part of the NFL's officiating development program, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Covered Vikings for Minneapolis Star Tribune, 1999-2008. Each coach will be allowed one replay challenge. The USFL can keep eyeballs after the initial surge in interest by having fun quarterback play and competent offensive lines. "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. NFL vs XFL vs USFL : difference between NFL, XFL and USFL Rules. The team with the most conversions after those three attempts will be declared the winner. The USFL is drawing inspiration from college football and the NHL by holding shootouts to decide games. Where would [the XFL] be able to compete with us when we talk about the presentation of the product? Games will be played on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. If the team converts on the fourth-and-12, it keeps the ball. Effect: Reduce penalty yardage. However, they will be able to eschew that option and attempt a fourth-and-15 conversion in the fourth quarter if they are more comfortable trying to get the ball in that manner. Effect: Adds plays to offensive game plans. If a pass does not cross the line of scrimmage, there can be no pass interference or ineligible player downfield penalties. 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. The USFL has an agreement to split the broadcasts of all 43 games between Fox, NBC, FS1, USA and Peacock. 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The USFL will have a central replay center at FOX Sports in Los Angeles, where a singular crew makes all replay decisions. Meanwhile, the XFL is newer, founded in 2001. 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 . The league continues to make changes to the rules on the fly as issues arise. Well, the USFL gave teams some relief by changing some rules. According to the league, this should create more offensive plays during the end of each half while "adding excitement before halftime and at the end of the game.". The 3-point attempt is the biggest difference between the USFL and NFL. However, the XFL is known to get very creative regarding its rule book. Punts will, generally, be the same in the USFL as they are in the NFL, but with one small difference. Could the Cowboys look at a running back in first round again? Below is a rundown of some of the key rule differences that you'll see during the USFL's first weekend. Winners, losers: Day 1 | Day 2 The league's first attempt at becoming that came in 2001, but it never caught on. Two players from each team will wear helmet cams for every game and 16 players will be outfitted with microphones that will air audio from both before and after the snap. 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. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Ben Austro is the editor and founder of Football Zebras and the author of. The semifinal contests will be held Saturday, June 25, featuring the top two teams in each division. The new United States Football League's inaugural season features a brand of football fans know and love, but with a modern twist. But Johnston said that the sheer size of this year's draft pool "maybe shifts things a little bit." The 2022 USFL season will kick off Saturday, April 16. Reason: Successfully executing and recovering an onside kick is rare, so this provides another option while increasing risk/reward strategy for coaches. Differences between USFL vs. NFL. Mike Pereira, the USFL's Head of Officiating, was a recent guest on the Green Light Podcast With Chris Long. "The first game played in any new league is itself historical, and having the USFLs inaugural game simulcast by NBC and FOX makes it even more so," said FOX Sports CEO and Executive ProducerEric Shanks. Adult tickets are $10. 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. The league allows teams to throw two forward passes on one play. If the team gets a first down, they retain possession from that spot. . The USFL, which hasn't played since 1986, is gearing up for a comeback. Tickets are $10 for adults and free for kids under the age of 15. The rulebook, for the most part, lines up with the NFL, while adding twists to common rules and adding more opportunities to keep the game exciting. Reason: Create more excitement and fairness with a designed shootout overtime period. Second, it hopes to leverage the resources of its owner to create a unique television product. 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. If the teams remain tied after three attempts, they will alternate additional attempts one by one until a victor emerges. There are also no penalties for ineligible men downfield on such passes. The only major difference is in the rules regarding stopping the clock. All Rights Reserved. The XFL and USFL have almost the same format as the NFL thanks to all three playing American football. 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). This rule is one that is unique to the XFL. Here are a list of the rules the USFL is employing that are different than the NFL rules set. USFL Replay Command at FOX Sports Control Center in Los Angeles will make all replay decisions. Answering big Round 1 questions Indeed, but there is one quirk in the rule to remember. 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. NFL vs. USFL vs. XFL Future After a kickoff travels 20 yards, the first touch must be by the receiving team. Each teams offense will alternate plays against the opposing defense from the two-yard line. The USFL. We learned about new partnerships, the location of the playoffs and championship game, all eight team uniforms were . Effect: Opens the offense; forgoes punishment for infractions unrelated to play. The coach-to-player communication is not shut down prior to the snap. Here are the 2022 team names, all of which reference original USFL markets: The decision to use USFL branding and team names has not come without controversy. Interference could occur 25 yards downfield but still be only a 15-yard walkoff. Player images are not owned by Faceoff Sports Network. The USFL's rules for 1- and 2-point attempts will differ slightly from those of the XFL and AAF. With a first down, this will be just like recovering an onside kick and they will keep the ball. That means that, if teams are throwing behind the line of scrimmage, blockers will be free to move downfield to set up opportunities to run after the catch. The only caveat is that the first forward pass must be. . Reason: Add late-game excitement by improving chances of comebacks. We've banged around a little bit. However, you don't just pick those two things up off the street. The 2022 USFL regular season will begin April 16 and run through mid-June, followed by the playoffs. The quarterbacks include Jordan Ta'amu (Tampa Bay), Kyle Lauletta (Pittsburgh), Shea Patterson (Michigan), Clayton Thorson (Houston) and Kyle Sloter (New Orleans), among others. Although they are both professional football leagues, there is one crucial difference between the two professional leagues: the NFL is a major football league whereas the USFL is a minor football league. 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. One point for a successful kick from the 15-yard line. Let's say the product is the same on the field, which I think is going to be a challenge for them to be able to match us, but how do you then deliver that to the fan? They are not, however, the only differences between the two leagues. The USFL's overtime is designed to limit excess player reps while also creating an action-packed finish to the game. The concept is simple: If the game is tied after regulation, the teams will alternate 2-point conversion attempts from the 2-yard line in a best-of-three. In USFL games, the clock will stop when a first down is achieved during. To add more offense, but not undermine USFL defenses, if a pass doesn't cross the line of scrimmage, there can be no pass interference or ineligible player downfield penalties. Copyright 1995 - 2023 Rather than the coin toss that decides which team will have possession of the ball at the jump, one player from each team is placed at the 30-yard mark with the ball at the 50-yard mark. With sensors that will help officials decide whether the offensive team made the line to gain. Here's everything you need to know about the new USFL: How many teams will be in the league? Defenders intentionally tackling receivers beyond 15 yards becomes a spot foul. the measurements are done by computer imaging, 2 forward passes behind the line of scrimmage, USFL opens up offensive options with the double pass rule, USFL Week 1 officiating assignments and coverage, New angle shows jersey tug on crucial holding call in Super Bowl LVII, Officiating crews for the 2023 XFL season, Mob rule: USFL and XFL revise touchback rule on fumbles to give the ball back to the offense, 2017-18 bowl officiating assignments by conference, Special rules in place for the 2022 Pro Bowl, 6 officiating observations of Super Bowl LIV, Super Bowl LIV liveblog: 49ers vs. Chiefs. That system will require the two teams to line up five yards apart from one another. "Our association with the NFL Officiating Department clearly serves the USFL by supplying officials who are ready to call games at the highest level, and it also benefits the NFL by providing professional game experience for those who are just a step away from working Sundays in the fall. For this reason, gunners can't line up outside the numbers, and they can't be double-teamed or blocked until the ball is kicked. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. Towards the end of the interview, they talked more about the USFL rules coming in 2022. Copyright 2019-2023. The time crunch also forced coaches to prioritize some of the individual situations they prepared for. The all-inclusive USFL officials roster is also noteworthy, including 16 people of color and four women. "All I know is I'm going to run the officiating. None of the players in the USFL can be on NFL offseason rosters, based on the NFL's collective bargaining agreement. Now, fans will get to see it in action during regular-season USFL games. Attempt a 4th-and-12 play from their own 33-yard line. 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. Below you will find some USFL rules that I think could make big impacts in the game, and in fantasy points! (Each team will play 10 regular-season games with no bye weeks. There will be eight teams in the new USFL, split into two divisions: North and South. In an interview this week, USFL executive vice president of football operations Daryl Johnston said he expects the league to "be ahead of the curve" by the time the XFL gets back on the field. All replays are conduced at the Fox Sports command center in Los Angeles by Mike Pereira, Coaches are permitted one challenge per game, Replay can remove a personal foul, unnecessary roughness, or unsportsmanlike conduct called on the field, Defensive pass interference is a booth review, Scores and potential scores are booth reviews. How is it doing that? "On television," Johnston said, "it's going to be completely different to what people are accustomed to seeing. One of the most notable differences between the USFL and the NFL is how the USFL handles overtime. As the NFL moved into the final stages of its preparations for the 2022 draft, two new spring leagues began a long anticipated joust for attention. The USFL doesn't make things too complicated, and a casual fan of the NCAA or NFL won't get lost following an USFL game. The league's organizers are counting on two attributes to establish a foothold. The USFL is adopting this rule, in part, from the XFL and AAF. Where will regular-season games be played? The United States Football League (USFL) is an expert American football association that started play on April 16, 2022. First up: An Overtime like you've never seen before pic.twitter.com/6aGRsUalGt. The line-to-gain is established by the sideline chains, but, 5 kickoff players on either side of the kicker, all players must have at least 1 foot within 5 yards of the kicking teams restraining line, The receiving team setup zone is 10 yards from the receivers restraining line (10-20 yards from the ball), and 8-9 players must be in the setup zone. 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. The clock will stop following a first down during the final two minutes of the 2nd and 4th quarters. Game timing:The USFL will utilize a 35-second play clock and a 25-second clock after administrative stoppages. "The USFL will have the best officials not currently in the NFL," said Mike Pereira, USFL Head of Officiating. USFL players signed two-year contracts, which could lead to a legal challenge if they try to sign with the XFL next year. Experts weigh in | Fantasy spin The USFL uses a system of rules hybrid between the National Football League and College Football, with the only true difference being in the rules regarding stopping the clock. The NFL, being the most seasoned and the most settled association in North American . In Week 4, Michigan Panthers head coach Jeff Fisher was the center of a shift in some USFL rules. Michigan scored a touchdown with 5:27 left in the second quarter, and initially, Fisher was intent on kicking the extra point. ", Actually, no. The USFL has unique rules regarding extra points, kickoffs, overtime, punts, and more. 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