(Above Image Source: The Sporting News)

The NFL season is over, but football is just getting started.

The XFL returns this Saturday after a three-year hiatus with a new format and a new beginning. If you are a football fan and aren’t familiar with the concept of this league, this article will help you understand how different it will be compared to the NFL. The real question you will then have to ask yourself is, “Will everything be much better than the past two seasons?”

History of the XFL

The league was first founded in February 2000 by former chairman and CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), Vince McMahon. He promised that this version of football would be a better alternative to the NFL, or as he called it, “the no-fun league.” This, however, raised a lot of questions about how it would survive competing against the NFL since other leagues tried and failed. There were also questions about how legit the plays would be.

The league debuted a year later in Las Vegas and Orlando, and it seemed like there would be a lot to talk about. The most popular topic in the league was the nicknames on the back of players’ jerseys. They had strong ratings for the first week of games at first, but interest among the fans and media died quickly. Sources and fans eventually claimed that boring announcers, sloppy plays, and wrestling-like vibes were what ended the league’s run.

It wouldn’t be back until nearly 20 years later.

The 2020 Season

The XFL was given a second chance to start over, but that came to an abrupt end.

It was announced on December 2018 that the XFL would return in 2020. What they didn’t imagine was they restarted it at a very bad time. The new season began on February 8 and had strong ratings and positive fan feedback. It was suspended in its fifth week due to the strength of the COVID-19 pandemic. These factors along with a lack of a paying TV deal brought about another unhappy ending for the league.

Most people thought that the XFL filing for bankruptcy on April 10, 2020, would mean the end of the league itself. That is, until Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Dany Garcia, and RedBird Capital Partners purchased it on August 21, 2020.

What Are the Rules?

The XFL is bringing back some rules from their 2020 season and modifying others for this season. If you wish to see the full set of rules, click here. You’ll need a lot of time to read it.

Here are some notable rules that will be enforced this season:

  • The kicking and returning teams will be five yards apart during kickoffs. The return team will be at their own 30-yard line while the kicking team will be at the opponent’s 35-yard line. Only the kicker and receiver are allowed to move before the call is caught.
  • There are no coach’s challenges. All reviews will be initiated by replay officials. Head coaches are allowed to challenge one on-field ruling per game.
  • There are no extra point kicks after a touchdown is made. However, teams will have the option to score an extra one to three points. They can attempt for one point on the two-yard line, two points on the five-yard line, or three points on the 10-yard line.
  • If a team fumbles into their opponent’s end zone and the ball goes out of bounds without being recovered, it won’t be declared a touchback.
  • There will be a 35-second play clock.
  • Overtime games will consist of multiple two-point conversions from the opponent’s 5-yard line. Each team will get a minimum of three attempts. The game goes on until a winner is decided once the attempts are used up.

This Weekend’s Matchups

Saturday, February 18

Vegas Vipers vs. Arlington Renegades, 3:00 PM EST (ABC)

Orlando Guardians vs. Houston Roughbacks, 8:30 PM EST (ESPN/ESPN Deportes/FX)

Sunday, February 19

St. Louis Battlehawks vs. San Antonio Brahmas, 3:00 PM EST (ABC)

Seattle Sea Dragons vs. D.C. Defenders, 8:00 PM EST (ESPN/ESPN Deportes)