The 2022 USFL season will kick off Saturday, April 16. 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.
That said, those who do tune into the USFL's first contest will need to become familiar with the league's rules. They are not the same as the NFL's rules, and in certain areas they greatly differ.
Most of the rules of football will apply to the USFL, but much like the AAF and XFL before it, the USFL will experiment with some rule changes to create excitement and intrigue.
It appears that the USFL wants to create an exciting, offense-oriented league. Some rules are designed to create a faster-paced game that offers the potential for explosive scoring plays on offense and special teams.
Below is a rundown of some of the key rule differences that you'll see during the USFL's first weekend.
MORE: What is the USFL? Everything to know about latest spring start-up league
USFL overtime shootout
One of the most notable differences between the USFL and the NFL is how the USFL will handle overtime. The USFL is taking its inspiration from college football and the NHL by instituting a shootout to decide games.
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. If the teams remain tied after three attempts, they will alternate additional attempts one by one until a victor emerges.
Rules are HERE 🔥
— USFL (@USFL) March 23, 2022
First up: An Overtime like you've never seen before ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/6aGRsUalGt
The USFL's overtime is designed to limit excess player reps while also creating an action-packed finish to the game. This format worked well for college football in 2021, with the most memorable overtime contest being Illinois' nine-OT win over Penn State.
USFL 3-point attempt
The USFL is adopting this rule, in part, from the XFL and AAF. Both of those leagues introduced a tiered system for point-after tries that allowed teams to go for one, two or three points following touchdowns. The USFL will likewise have those three options available.
The USFL's rules for 1- and 2-point attempts will differ slightly from those of the XFL and AAF. While both of those leagues eliminated the NFL's standard extra-point kick, the USFL will be keeping it. It will also be keeping the standard 2-point conversion attempt, which will take place from the 2-yard line.
The 3-point attempt is the biggest difference between the USFL and NFL. Teams will have the option of attempting a pass or run from the 10-yard line after scoring. It's unclear whether teams will embrace making frequent 3-point attempts, but the change guarantees that teams will always be one score away from tying a game or winning it if they are trailing by single digits.
EXTRA POINTS 💪
— USFL (@USFL) March 23, 2022
In the USFL you can go for 1, 2 or 3 points after scoring a touchdown 🏟 pic.twitter.com/vtcmxsmx9H
Once a team elects to attempt a 1-, 2- or 3-point conversion, it cannot change its mind, even after a penalty or a timeout.
Additionally, if a team attempts a 3-point conversion and it is returned for a score by the other team, the return is worth only two points.
MORE: Ranking the USFL's best, worst uniforms in 2022
USFL kickoff, onside kick rules
The USFL's kickoff and onside kick rules will be much different than the NFL's rules. They will more closely resemble the XFL's approach of having a "set-up zone."
Kickoffs
Kickoffs in the USFL will take place from the kicking team's 25-yard line. This will ensure that almost all kicks will be returnable.
Though the USFL is creating more kick return possibilities, it is also taking precautions to limit the opportunities for high-speed collisions on special teams. One such precaution will be having the kicking team's personnel line up no farther than 1 yard behind the kickoff spot. The other will be the establishment of a "set-up zone" for blockers on the receiving team.
The set-up zone is located between the 35- and 45-yard lines. The receiving team must have at least eight of its blockers in that area. This will allow the receiving team a chance to set up blocking for the return while also creating fewer high-speed collisions.
A twist that the USFL is adding to the kickoff: Once the ball travels 20 yards, the receiving team must be the first to touch it. If no member of the unit touches it and the ball becomes dead, the receiving team gets the ball at the spot it was ruled dead.
Onside kicks
USFL teams will be allowed to attempt traditional onside kicks if they desire, but there is an alternative. Teams can choose to run a fourth-and-12 play from their 33 — the same place from which an onside kick would be attempted.
If the team converts on the fourth-and-12, it keeps the ball. If not, the defense gets the ball at the dead-ball spot.
A lot of risk, but a lot of reward 😏
— USFL (@USFL) March 23, 2022
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 NFL experimented with this rule change during the Pro Bowl in 2022. Now, fans will get to see it in action during regular-season USFL games.
Punts
Punts will, generally, be the same in the USFL as they are in the NFL, but with one small difference. Gunners aren't allowed to line up outside the numbers on punts in the USFL. The receiving team also is not allowed to double-team those players until the ball is kicked.
MORE: Full 45-man rosters for each USFL team
USFL pass interference rules
Defensive pass interference is a much more complex foul in the USFL than it is in the NFL. It will either be a 15-yard penalty or a spot foul, depending on the criteria applied.
In cases where a player is intentionally tackled beyond 15 yards, it is a spot foul. This is to dissuade defenders from intentionally grabbing receivers to prevent big plays, though it won't eliminate the practice entirely.
Defensive pass interference infractions beyond 15 yards where a player isn't intentionally tackled will only be a 15-yard penalty. Interference could occur 25 yards downfield but still be only a 15-yard walkoff.
DPI penalties committed within 15 yards will be spot fouls. If a player is tackled on, say, a slant route 5 yards from the line of scrimmage, it will be a 5-yard penalty.
There is also one key difference in terms of offensive pass interference. There are no OPI penalties on passes that don't cross the line of scrimmage. There are also no penalties for ineligible men downfield on such passes.
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.
🟨
— USFL (@USFL) March 23, 2022
Here's how pass interference rules will differ in the USFL this season ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/M6p26VBZvv
MORE: What happened to the original USFL, explained
Other notable rules differences between USFL and NFL
Here's a rundown of some of the other notable rule differences between the USFL and the NFL.
Game timing: The USFL will utilize a 35-second play clock and a 25-second clock after administrative stoppages. The NFL currently uses a 40-second play clock, so this change should, in theory, create more plays.
Additionally, the USFL is planning to stop the clock after first downs during the final two minutes of each half. This will allow teams to save time on two-minute drills and, again, create more plays.
The clock also runs after incomplete passes in the first and third quarters.
Two forward passes: The USFL is taking this rule from the XFL. Teams are allowed to throw the ball forward twice so long as the first pass is completed behind the line of scrimmage. Both passes must be thrown from behind the line of scrimmage.
Sensors inside the ball: The USFL is looking to accurately measure for first downs. How is it doing that? With sensors that will help officials decide whether the offensive team made the line to gain. The system is similar to what is used in tennis to determine whether a ball is in or out.
First down measurements that are more accurate than ever 🔥
— USFL (@USFL) April 9, 2022
Take a look at the first down technology that will be featured this season in the USFL ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/fLT2boDOVd
Replay review: Each coach will get just one challenge during the game, but the replay crew will be able to overrule incorrect personal foul calls and have the power to judge whether pass interference 15 or more yards beyond the line of scrimmage was intentional.
