The XFL is following in the footsteps of its spring-league successors and is trying to do things a bit differently than the NFL does. That includes the way that they handle overtime.
While the changed kickoff rules, scoring changes and the legality of a double-forward pass are the most notable differences between the two leagues in general, their overtime procedures are also quite different.
The NFL's overtime isn't that different than the game itself. It comes with a timed, 10-minute period and requires teams to drive the length of the field to get touchdowns. The NFL no longer has a true sudden-death format — the team that first receives the ball can only end the game with a touchdown — but it can quickly become a do-or-die period for either team.
The XFL's overtime will be a bit more structured. The league will take a more college-centric approach to its extra period to avoid overextending the game and make its finish more exciting.
How exactly does the XFL's overtime work? Here's a breakdown of the league's official overtime rules for the 2023 season.
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XFL overtime rules 2023
The XFL's overtime rules are vastly different than those employed in the NFL. They are more akin to the rules used to decide games in college football and the NHL.
The XFL will use an overtime shootout to end the contest, per the league's official rulebook. Rather than play a full extra period, each team will be given three attempts to notch two-point conversions from their opponent's 5-yard line. The team with the most points after those three attempts will be declared the winner.
If the score remains tied after three attempts, then the teams will continue to alternate single two-point conversion attempts until a winner is decided.
The goal of this overtime procedure is to shorten the game and make it more exciting. It will also prevent regular-season ties, something that the NFL has not been able to legislate out of its rulebook.
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It's worth noting that the USFL used a similar overtime method to that of the XFL. The procedure worked to create an exciting endgame in the New Orleans Breakers' 31-27 victory over the Michigan Panthers.
At the college level, the overtime shootout rules have led to some exciting finishes in their brief history as well. Perhaps none were better than the 2021 Penn State vs. Illinois game.
After a hard-fought defensive battle, the Nittany Lions and Fighting Illini battled intensely through nine overtimes — eight of which were part of the two-point shootout — before deciding a winner. It was Illinois that came through with the upset, as you can see below.
The XFL's attempts will come from the 5-yard line, so the two-point conversion success rate may be lower than it was in these two instances. Even still, the XFL's overtime rules will have the potential to thrill its fans if they are needed during the 2023 season.
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Are XFL overtime rules the same in the playoffs?
The XFL overtime rules are the same in the playoffs as they are in the regular season. That means that the North and South Division championships could be decided by a two-point shootout. The XFL championship game will be eligible for the same treatment.
Comparatively, the NFL's overtime rules are different in the postseason. Both teams are guaranteed a chance to possess the ball; in the regular season, the receiving team can end the game if it scores a touchdown on its first possession.
It will be interesting to see if the XFL keeps this procedure in place for the postseason or if it eventually adopts a new system for the playoffs. For now though, the league has just one, overarching overtime policy.
