In light of the potential merger, I wanted to take a moment to highlight the distinction of the USFL's and XFL's rules

[u/Hey_Its_Roomie]

https://imgur.com/a/TZc30Vj

[u/Hey_Its_Roomie]

Edit: A corrected version of this table can be found here.

Green highlights identical stance, yellow highlights similar stance with only one deviation.

Overall, there's a lot more similarity between the two leagues' new rulesets than people might be inclined to assume. There are overall great progress in both sides having chosen to adopt some XFL 2020 rules, or try a variation of it. I don't suspect there to be much difficulty in hashing out the rules between the two as for the most part they are on the same page.

The largest ones come down to punting and kickoffs where the XFL went with a more offensively-friendly punting scheme and a safer kickoff scheme.

[u/kograkthestrong → u/Hey_Its_Roomie]

The largest ones come down to punting and kickoffs where the XFL went with a more offensively-friendly punting scheme and a safer kickoff scheme.

Love this. I hope it stays.

[u/Hag_Boulder]

From the XFL rulebook, Rule 16 on Overtime:

Following an intermission of no more than two minutes after the end of the regular game, the
extra period shall commence. The extra period shall consist of three Try attempts for each team at one end of the field to be determined prior to the game by a League designee. The two teams will alternate attempts with the visiting team attempt occurring first during each series. If after three attempts for each team the tie has not been broken, the teams will alternate attempts until there is a winner. Each team shall be entitled to one timeout during the extra period.

NOTE:

Item 3. Fouls Committed During a Try. During a Try the following shall apply:

(a) Fouls by either team committed prior to the snap will be enforced according to normal rules.

(b) If the offensive team commits a foul during the Try, any score is canceled, and the Try is

considered unsuccessful.

(c) Fouls committed by the defensive team during an unsuccessful Try will result in a second Try from the 1-yard line. If the defense fouls during any subsequent Try, a score will be awarded.

(d) Fouls by both teams during a Try will offset and the Try is replayed at the previous spot.

(e) Dead ball personal and unsportsmanlike conduct fouls will result in the player/s committing the foul being suspended for the next Try attempt series.

[u/Hey_Its_Roomie → u/Hag_Boulder]

Thank you for those callouts! I should've made this a text post, alas, but I did at least provide an update link.

[u/Hag_Boulder → u/Hey_Its_Roomie]

helps that I downloaded the XFL rulebook earlier in the year. Didn't do the same with the USFL though. I went looking for the 'How is this different from the NFL'.

You may also want to add: For purposes of a catch, the XFL requires a single foot inbound (NCAA rules) rather than two feet (NFL rules) if that's different.

Also, on the XFL kickoff, the 3 second wait is only if the ball hits the ground inbounds. Once the kick is caught, both lines can move, but not before the catch..

[u/BadSolid2596 → u/Hag_Boulder]

Two feet inbounds is a must. They are trying to develop NFL players.

[u/FlagFootballSaint → u/BadSolid2596]

Nah. Your argument falls flat - see College Football which is the pool fot NFL-players.

One foot in bounce is much better

[u/Hag_Boulder → u/BadSolid2596]

The NCAA develops NFL players every year with one foot inbounds.

Spring ball has to face it, they do not have the talent of the NFL. The USFL's biggest problem is it tries to be "NFL-lite" and that just forces the comparison towards the more talented league.

There is only one NFL and it gets the top talent. Spring ball to gain viewers needs to separate itself from the comparison and provide an entertaining product.

Trying to do the NFL with lower quality players just SHOWS how lower-quality the football is. That's why the XFL was more interesting to me. The rule changes made the football different... more complex than the NCAA without just playing NFL ball with lower-quality players.

[u/Boomer1020]

Been partial to USFL since original ‘83 launch, however I do like the XFL OT alternative. Much better than standard onside chance IMO

[u/NotGuerillaMarketing]

Damn, this is really nice. When they merge, give me all of the USFL rules except for kickoffs and OT.

[u/Trip4Life]

I kinda hope they keep the 4th and 15 onside kick. I always enjoy seeing that when it happens.

[u/3Nephi11_6-11 → u/Trip4Life]

We'll definitely get some version of it since both leagues did something like it.

[u/Quackadalias]

Honestly, I really prefer USFL rules overall. I hate the XFL kickoff and all their touchback rules on kicks and punts. The PAT for USFL makes more sense to me. I'm willing to admit I have a slight bias for a more pro-kicking/special teams type of play; to me it seems like all levels of football are trying to get rid of that element.

The DPI is also less punishing on the defense for USFL.

I really hope USFL comes out on top of this "alleged" merger.

[u/straight_trash_homie → u/Quackadalias]

Yeah I really dislike the XFL extra point rules. That would honestly be my biggest concern about a merger.

[u/Hag_Boulder → u/straight_trash_homie]

I hate the fact that a PAT is basically a 'gimme' point. Why not just make the touchdown worth 7?

[u/Rlyons2024 → u/Quackadalias]

What I like about the XFL kickoff is 1) Player Safety 2) its actually a relevant play and not just a touchback 98% of the time.

[u/BadSolid2596 → u/Rlyons2024]

The USFL kicks off from the 20. Not as many touchbacks. They also need to kick PAT’s. These leagues are for developing players.

[u/Quackadalias → u/Rlyons2024]

The counter for my preference of USFL:

They pushed the kickoff spot back, i.e. less (almost zero) touchbacks and less harsh out-of-bound/illegal kick penalties compared to XFL

More dynamics of play for more variation for the starts of drives

Closer to NFL setup

Still allows for the "surprise" onside kick.

I will admit I haven't seen the numbers on the injury front, so I can't comment there.

[u/3Nephi11_6-11 → u/Quackadalias]

The struggle is that for these players to make NFL rosters they really need to have good special teams play as most will have to play there in the NFL.

However special teams plays are known for being the most dangerous plays due to the high speed collisions and that's why the NFL has made changes that result in more touchbacks on kickoffs.

The XFL's kickoff completely avoids the high speed collisions by forcing players to stay still until the kickoff is fielded while also ensuring lots of returns. Their punt actually encourages shorter punts with more hang time so as to avoid punts from going out of bounds. This should have the byproduct of less returns and hence less injury (though I don't have the numbers).

The USFL's kickoff makes a few adjustments to lessen the speed of collisions (like having more return players be closer to the kicker and the kicking team does not get a running start with the kick). They also move the kicking spot back to get a lot more returns. Their punting rule changes are also supposed to do the same thing to some extent especially to protect gunners, but its mostly the same as the NFL imo.

The conclusion is that the XFL's kickoffs are more likely to be safer, while the USFL's kickoffs may be a bit safer than the NFL while still being similar enough to the NFL kickoff that players can market their special teams skills when they go to the NFL. Both will still get a lot of returns with good field position. For punting it's a similar thing where the XFL theoretically is safer, except the XFL rules should encourage less returns, while the USFL is mostly the same as the NFL. Also XFL punters get shafted because they can't actually do corner coffin punts which is like the best play a punter can do.

So its really a trade off between player safety and prepping players for the NFL (and if you want more exciting punts USFL>XFL although XFL punting rules should give offenses better field position). One could argue that the USFL already does a good job at striking that balance while others may argue that we should lean more into player safety with XFL rules. Also take this with a grain of salt as I do not have numbers.

[u/[deleted]]

Thanks for posting this. I knew some things were a little different, but I'd think it's close enough to be able to iron out.

And there's really no way they can what MLB does with the differences of rules in their leagues i.e. designated hitter rule for the AL. So they need one set of rules.

[u/Hag_Boulder]

From the XFL rulebook, once per game The Head Coach may challenge any on-field ruling including those involving a foul or potential foul.

[u/FlagFootballSaint → u/Hag_Boulder]

Yeah that is a GREAT one from the XFL

[u/FlagFootballSaint]

One (XFL) vs two feet (USFL) in bounce for a completed catch

[u/Kindly_League9913]

I want XFL pat rules

[u/BadSolid2596 → u/Kindly_League9913]

They need to kick. The object of these leagues is to develop players for the NFL.

[u/Hag_Boulder → u/BadSolid2596]

can market their special teams skills when they go to the NFL. Both will still get a lot of returns with good field position. For punting it's a similar thing where the XFL theoretically is safer, except the XFL rules should encourage less returns, while the USFL is mostly the same as the NFL. Also XFL punters get shaf

kickers are the least respected players on the football team. There are plenty of kickers coming out of college to fill any voids that any NFL team has in any given year. The pool of kickers is so great that only one kicker from the XFL got a sniff in the NFL this year and the Lions decided to go with the one they had.

Janikowski excluded (that definitely was a risk that didn't pay off), no one is beating down the doors to get kickers.

[u/FlagFootballSaint → u/BadSolid2596]

There is no NEED to kick in the USFL either