UFL rules vs NFL: What is the difference? Rules and format explained

The inaugural season of the United Football League (UFL) began on Saturday, March 30, 2024. The league was approved by federal authorities in late 2023 as a result of the merger between the XFL and USFL.

The NFL and the UFL are distinct leagues, and the newly established spring football league has expressed its lack of interest in emulating the NFL.

The UFL begins one month and two weeks after the conclusion of the NFL season and ends in June, allowing the NFL ample time to regain dominance in the professional football media landscape by September.

Likewise, there are several noteworthy differences in rules between the two leagues. Below, we have provided the details regarding the discrepancies between NFL and UFL rules.

Guidelines for the Start of a Game

After careful consideration, the UFL has decided to continue using the USFL’s kickoff setup for the 2024 season. Both the XFL and USFL had their own distinct kickoff formats last year, but the UFL determined that the USFL’s setup, which begins at the kicking team’s own 20-yard line, was the preferred option for the merger. It was important to choose a kickoff format that would benefit the league as a whole.

Surprisingly, the NFL owners decided to implement a similar kickoff style used by the XFL in 2023 and have recently approved major changes to the kickoff rules for the upcoming 2024 season.

The new regulations dictate that the kicker will still commence from the 35-yard line, while the remaining ten members of the kicking team will take their positions at the 40-yard line of the receiving team.

Conversion Attempt

The UFL is implementing an extra-point rule that is comparable to the one we witnessed in the XFL last year. It does not utilize the traditional PAT attempt.

UFL teams have the option to attempt a one, two, or three-point conversion after scoring a touchdown, depending on their position on the field.

In the NFL, both an extra-point attempt and a 33-yard field goal attempt result in the ball being placed at the 15-yard line.

Surprise Onside Kick Strategy

In a UFL game, teams have the option to attempt an onside kick at any point. However, if they are behind or tied at the conclusion of the fourth quarter, they also have the opportunity to go for a fourth and 12 from the 28-yard line. This essentially allows them one attempt to gain 12 yards.

Extra Hours

The UFL’s overtime format consists of a best-of-three shootout, where each team takes turns attempting to score from the opponent’s 5-yard line without using kicks. This style ensures that overtime ends promptly.

Similarly, in the NFL, overtime consists of timed segments that continue until a winner is determined, ensuring that the traditional structure of the game remains intact during overtime.

Dual Forward Pass

UFL teams are allowed to make two forward passes during a single play, provided that the initial pass is caught behind the line of scrimmage and the subsequent pass is also thrown from behind the line of scrimmage.

The NFL follows traditional regulations and prohibits the use of two forward passes on the same play.

Customer Feedback

Head coaches have the right to dispute any on-field decision made by the UFL, including those related to fouls. However, they are only allowed to challenge one decision per game and there does not appear to be a method for teams to request additional challenges.

In the NFL, coaches have the opportunity to use two challenges for various on-field decisions. If they are successful with the first two, they may be granted a third challenge.