What is the XFL?

The XFL is a professional American football league. It features eight teams, all based in the United States.

The XFL originally launched in 2001 under the ownership of WWE owner Vince McMahon. It was designed to be a competitor to the NFL, but promoted fewer rules, more aggressive, exciting play, and WWF-style presentation with wrestling commentators.

The original XFL lasted for only one season, with the Los Angeles Xtreme winning the inaugural title before the league collapsed.

The XFL relaunched in 2020, again under the ownership of McMahon. This version of the league stripped away many of the wrestling-like elements from the previous iteration. In March 2020 after only five weeks of play, however, the league was suspended due to concerns around the COVID-19 pandemic and soon filed for bankruptcy.

In August 2020, the XFL was purchased by a consortium led by actor and former wrestler Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and his ex-wife and business partner, Dany Garcia. The new ownership relaunched the XFL once again for the 2023 season.

The 2023 XFL season began on 18 February 2023, running until 13 May 2023.

Which teams are in the XFL?

The eight XFL teams for the 2023 season are:

South Division

Arlington Renegades

Houston Roughnecks

Orlando Guardians

San Antonio Brahmas

North Division

DC Defenders

Seattle Sea Dragons

St Louis Battlehawks

Vegas Vipers

The Orlando Guardians, Vegas Vipers and San Antonio Brahmas are new teams for 2023.

How does the XFL season work?

The XFL regular season consists of each team playing 10 games, with no bye weeks. Each team plays twice against the other teams in their divisions, once at home and once away. They also play one game against each team in the other division.

At the end of the regular season, the top two teams in each division reach the XFL Playoffs. These teams meet in the Division Finals, with the best two teams from the North facing off for a third time, as well as the two best teams in the South.

The winners of those games then meet in the XFL Championship game.

When are the XFL Playoffs?

The XFL Playoffs begin with the Division Finals, which take place on 29-30 April 2023.

The XFL Championship game takes place on 13 May 2023.

Are XFL rules the same as the NFL?

Although most of the rules in the XFL are similar to the NFL, there are some important differences.

The first rule change that fans will notice in a game is the modified kickoff, which is intended to make the play safer. Kickoffs begin at the kicking team’s 30-yard line. Aside from the kicker, all other players from the kicking team line up on the opposing team’s 35-yard line. The returning team – aside from the returner – line up on their own 30-yard line, five yards away from the kicking team. No players are allowed to move until the returner fields the ball.

Kickoffs must also clear the returning team’s 20-yard line to be considered legal.

Perhaps the biggest difference in rules is that there are no extra point kick attempts after touchdowns in the XFL. Instead, teams have three options: they can attempt to get into the endzone from the two-yard line for one point, the 5-yard line for two points, and the 10-yard line for three points.

In the XFL, teams are also allowed to complete two forward passes on one offensive play, as long as the first pass is completed behind the line of scrimmage. If either pass is dropped, it’s an incompletion.

In overtime in an XFL game, each team is given three chances to attempt a two-point conversion from the five-yard line. Whichever team converts the most of the three wins the game, and if there’s a tie then the teams take it in turns in a sudden-death format.

Other rule differences include a 35-second play clock, and the game clock stopping after teams earn a first down inside the two-minute warning. Unlike the NFL, the game clock also continues to run if there’s an incomplete pass or a player goes out of bounds outside of the two-minute warning.

Who is playing in the XFL in 2023?

There are several former-NFL players in the XFL for the 2023 season. They include:

Former first-round NFL Draft pick Vic Beasley, who previously played for the Atlanta Falcons for five seasons.

Former NFL All-Pro Josh Gordon, who played for the Cleveland Browns, New England Patriots, Seattle Seahawks, Kansas City Chiefs and Tennessee Titans.

Quarterback Paxton Lynch, who was a first-round pick for the Denver Broncos in 2016.

Former Cincinnati Bengals quarterback A.J. McCarron.

Ex-NFL wide receivers Martavis Bryant and Geronimo Allison, each of whom spent at least five seasons in the league.

Former NFL running backs Kalen Ballage and Ryquell Armstead.

The XFL also features some famous NFL names as head coaches, including former Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Hines Ward, who coaches the San Antonio Brahmas, and long-time defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, now head coach of the Houston Roughnecks.

Where to watch XFL games

The XFL is being shown on three TV networks in the United States. ABC is showing seven games, 22 are shown on ESPN or ESPN2, and 15 are being shown on FX.

The games are also being live streamed online at ESPN+ and fuboTV.