The United Football League (UFL) is the latest to make significant changes to its rules.
Starting with its upcoming seasons, all UFL field goals 60-plus yards in length will be worth four points. The league has also banned punting in opponent territory, except for the final two minutes of the first and second halves.
“The UFL exists to innovate. If we’re not making the game more exciting and fan-focused, we’re not doing our job,” said UFL co-owner Mike Repole in a statement. “These rule changes make football faster, more dynamic, and more exciting for the fans.”
The league has also made a change to its converts. Instead of one-point attempts occurring from the two-yard line, they will now be 33-yard placekicks. Two-point converts have been moved from the five-yard line to the two-yard line, while three-point converts have been moved from the ten-yard line to the eight-yard line.
The UFL will also now require only one foot in bounds for a legal catch, as is the case in Canadian football and the American collegiate ranks. Penalties committed in the red zone will be moved half the distance to the goal, matching the NFL’s rule, and the “tush push,” popularized by the Philadelphia Eagles, has been banned.
In September, the CFL unveiled several changes to its game that will be implemented over the next two years.
In 2026, a rouge will no longer be awarded when a punt, kickoff, or missed field goal travels through the back of the end zone without being touched by a returner. Instead of a 20-second play clock that is started manually by an official, the league will use a 35-second play clock that begins automatically when the previous play is whistled dead. Team benches will also be placed on opposite sides of the field.
In 2027, end zones will be shortened from 20 to 15 yards with the uprights being moved to the back of the end zone. The field will also be shortened from 110 to 100 yards.
CFL commissioner Stewart Johnston has touted the changes as being unanimously and enthusiastically approved by the board of governors. He attended rules committee meetings in January and indicated he didn’t receive any pushback from those in attendance.
The changes have received mixed reviews with some critics, including reigning M.O.P. Nathan Rourke and CFL legend Doug Flutie, accusing the league of trying to Americanize its uniquely Canadian game.
A poll conducted in October by Manitoba-based firm Probe Research found that 42 percent of respondents who identified as fans or who were aware of the rule changes said they would watch less CFL games if the changes were implemented. That number rose to 58 percent among respondents who were considered engaged fans.
Longtime CFL defensive lineman Lorenzo Mauldin IV recently signed with the UFL’s Louisville Kings, bringing him to back to where he was a collegiate standout. The 33-year-old was named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player in 2022 when he recorded 43 tackles, 17 sacks, and two forced fumbles with the Ottawa Redblacks.
Canadian quarterback Taylor Elgersma was also drafted by the Birmingham Stallions, though he has not signed a contract with the team and it remains unclear if he will.
The UFL will begin its 10-week regular-season on Friday, March 27 when the Birmingham Stallions visit the Louisville Kings.
