The XFL and USFL decided to stop competing against one another ahead of the 2024 season. They merged into one, eight-team spring league to establish itself as a dominant presence in the spring football market.
The UFL mixed not only the USFL and XFL teams, but it also took its rules from the two spring leagues. Sure, most of them are similar to the NFL, but, as has been the case with previous spring league start-ups, the UFL has sought rule changes to make the game different than the NFL.
Some football purists view these rule differentiations as gimmicky, but they have added extra excitement and intrigue to the spring game. They may confuse first-time watchers who tune in for the UFL playoffs, but rest assured the NFL is watching how these rule changes develop as they consider bringing some to their league.
Here is a breakdown of the key ways the UFL's rules differ from the NFL's.
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UFL overtime rules
The UFL is utilizing a format that will be familiar to college football and NHL fans alike. Rather than play a full extra period, each team will be given three attempts at a two-point conversion from their opponent's 5-yard line. The team with the most conversions after three attempts will be declared the winner.
If the score remains tied after three attempts, the teams will continue to alternate single possessions in a "sudden death" style until a winner is decided.
This rule difference shortens the game and makes the ending more exciting, as evidenced by the 2021 Penn State vs. Illinois game, which the Fighting Illini won in a nine-overtime thriller.
This method has been used during each new spring league iteration dating back to the 2020 return of the XFL. USFL fans got to see it in action during the 2023 East Division championship between the Michigan Panthers and Pittsburgh Maulers, and it was well-received.
UFL's 3-point tries and tiered extra-points
The UFL doesn't allow teams to kick extra points following touchdowns. Instead, team must try to get into the end zone to tack on either one, two or three points to their score.
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 coaches decide which type of conversion to attempt and declare it to the officials before the try begins.
That's simple enough, but what happens if the defense returns a conversion attempt for a score? They will receive points equal to the offense's designated conversion attempt. For example, if the defense intercepts a three-point try and scores, it's worth three points. If it's a one-point try, it's worth one point.
The most notable impact of this rule is that any game within 18 points in the UFL is just a two-score game. That has been a boon for the league as it has tried to create fourth-quarter excitement for fans.
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UFL's double forward pass rule
The UFL kept a gimmick from the XFL's playbook as part of its merger with the USFL. Teams are allowed to throw two forward passes on one play. The only caveat is that the first forward pass must be completed behind the line of scrimmage to make the second forward pass legal.
If either forward pass is dropped, it is considered an incompletion. That makes the double-pass play less risky than the NFL trick play during which teams execute a lateral behind the line of scrimmage before taking a shot downfield. If the lateral is dropped in that case, it is a fumble.
UFL kickoff rules
Ironically, the UFL adopted the USFL's kickoff method — a play that resembled a more traditional NFL kickoff. The NFL later adopted the XFL's kickoff model in an effort to create more excitement and avoid injuries.
The UFL model sees the kicking team kick off from its own 20-yard line. Eight receiving team players must line up in a setup zone that begins 10 yards away from the kickoff location and ends at the kicking team's 40-yard line.
All told, the kickoff will look something like this:
CHRIS ROWLAND CLAIMED THE UFL'S FIRST KICKOFF RETURN TD OF THE SEASON 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/JnchsFOq1F
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 2, 2024
If the ball goes out of bounds, the receiving team will get the ball at the 50-yard line. That incentivizes kickers to keep the ball in play and set up return opportunities. Touchbacks still come out to the 25-yard line, however, so kickers and punters with big legs can take aim at the end zone if they want to avoid return opportunities.
You can read more about the NFL's new kickoff rule here, but for a visual of what that will look like, here's a play from the XFL's 2020 season.
That iteration of the kickoff rule makes it safer, as the collisions between blockers and potential tacklers won't come at as high a speed.
UFL onside kick rule
For those wondering how the UFL kickoff rules impact onside kick attempts, the answer is simple. UFL teams can attempt onside kicks if they so desire, but if they are trailing in the fourth quarter, they can choose to attempt a fourth-and-12 conversion from their normal kickoff spot to retain the ball.
This change has created plenty of late-game excitement in the spring league, as several teams have successfully converted their fourth-and-12 attempts during the season. It further works to keep two-score games within reach, which has created the fourth-quarter excitement for which the UFL was searching.
UFL 'super challenge', replay review rules
The UFL uses a centralized replay system, meaning all plays are subject to review by replay officials. Mike Pereira and Dean Blandino lead the charge in the UFL replay center and coaches are allowed to challenge plays.
That said, the UFL has a unique "super challenge" that coaches can use once per game. This allows coaches to challenge anything on any given play, from false start penalties to pass interference calls to more traditionally reviewable elements like whether a player made the line to gain or score a touchdown.
A coach must explain exactly what he is challenging for a "super challenge" to be successful. For example, in the Brahmas vs. Battlehawks matchup in Week 10, Anthony Becht requested officials to examine whether San Antonio's left tackle Julie'n Davenport was illegally downfield before a go-ahead two-point conversion in the fourth quarter. The Battlehawks won the challenge and the game because of his specificity.
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UFL game timing
UFL games notably utilize a 35-second play clock rather than the standard 40-second clock used at the NFL level. This change will theoretically create more offensive plays during the contest.
Additionally, the game clock will continue running on incomplete passes and out-of-bounds plays before the two-minute warning in each half. This will keep the game from running too long if either team struggles to complete passes.
Finally, the game clock will also stop on first downs following the two-minute warning. This was adopted from college football's playbook and should allow teams to more easily mount a comeback even if they trail by two scores late.
Other notable UFL rule changes
Intentional pass interference
The UFL has three types of pass interference. Any penalty within 15 yards will be a spot foul. Any unintentional penalty that occurs 15-plus yards downfield will be a 15-yard penalty, which is the way the rule is handled at the college level.
However, the UFL has an intentional pass interference caveat in its rulebook. If the officials believe a player intentionally commits pass interference more than 15 yards downfield, it can be treated as a spot foul.
This call is typically reserved for egregious cases, as it is difficult to officiate intent, but it works to keep players from purposely dragging down receivers that have beat them in the hopes of getting only a 15-yard penalty.
Fumble out of the end zone
In the NFL, a fumble out of the end zone results in a turnover and a touchback rewarded to the defensive team. The UFL allowed the offense to retain the ball at the spot of the fumble should it go out of the end-zone.
For example, if a runner fumbles the ball at the 3-yard line and it careens out of bounds through the end zone, the offense would retain the ball at the 3-yard line. It would not constitute a new set of downs unless the previous play had resulted in a first down.
