Football is back – the XFL kicks off this weekend.
Six days after the Super Bowl and the football season is set to begin.
Don’t go into withdrawal, football isn’t over. FOX is giving you more of the game of you love, with the launch of the new @XFL2020.
Season begins Saturday, February 8th on FOX! ?? pic.twitter.com/3CwSsfWIhK
— XFL on FOX (@XFLonFOX) February 1, 2020
We’ve got everything you football fans need to know before XFL kick-off this weekend!
THE BASICS
If you don’t have a football team in your city, you might be in luck!
Yeah, STL, we’re talking to you.
Who’s pumped to watch a game in one of these stadiums this @xfl2020 season? ✋? pic.twitter.com/N9t0vayWTB
— XFL on FOX (@XFLonFOX) January 29, 2020
The XFL features eight teams, based all around the country.
Each team plays 10 games, and you can stream the action or on network television through FOX, FS1, FS2, ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC.
The regular season runs from Feb. 8 to April 12, with four teams advancing to the playoff semifinals on April 19-20, culminating in the championship game on April 26.
SCHEDULE
No more waiting around for Sunday to get your fill of football. You’ve got two-a-days over the course of two days to tune in.
Make sense?
? @xfl2020 kicks off on FOX in just over a month!
What games are you most looking forward to? ? pic.twitter.com/wvw4v48YSP
— XFL on FOX (@XFLonFOX) January 6, 2020
Saturday, Feb. 8
Seattle Dragons vs. DC Defenders — 2 p.m. ET (ABC)
Getting gameday ready.
?️ Sat., Feb. 8
⏰ 11 a.m.
? Audi Field
? @ABCNetwork #ForTheLoveOfFootball | #BreathingFire ?? pic.twitter.com/PUB6RKqyEV— Seattle Dragons (@XFLDragons) February 6, 2020
Los Angeles Wildcats vs. Houston Roughnecks — 5 p.m. ET (FOX)
Sounds like just a bunch of noise to us ¯_(ツ)_/¯ https://t.co/GxHSF0CHe6
— Los Angeles Wildcats (@XFLWildcats) February 6, 2020
Sunday, Feb. 9
Tampa Bay Vipers vs. New York Guardians — 2 p.m. ET (FOX)
The @MetLifeStadium video board is ready for us ?
Be there when we kick off our season against the @XFLVipers this Sunday at 2 pm/ET!
?-> https://t.co/oD2lnxuk3i pic.twitter.com/txBEKZCbbI
— New York Guardians (@XFLGuardians) February 4, 2020
St. Louis BattleHawks vs. Dallas Renegades — 5 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Dialed in on Dallas. ?
?️ Sunday, Feb. 9
? 4 p.m.
? @espn#ForTheLoveOfFootball x #ClearedToEngage pic.twitter.com/xmU2LzlyZN— St. Louis BattleHawks (@XFLBattleHawks) February 6, 2020
TEAMS
Dallas Renegades (Globe Life Park, former home of MLB Texas Rangers)
Houston Roughnecks (TDECU Stadium, NCAA)
Los Angeles Wildcats (Dignity Health Sports Park, MLS)
New York Guardians (MetLife Stadium, NFL)
St. Louis BattleHawks (The Dome at America’s Center, NFL)
Seattle Dragons (CenturyLink Field, NFL)
Tampa Bay Vipers (Raymond James Stadium, NFL)
D.C. Defenders (Audi Field, MLS)
They’re here. pic.twitter.com/fvQ6LoTw2H
— XFL (@xfl2020) December 4, 2019
RULES
New league, new rules:
Safer kickoff returns ✅
More action for PATs ✅
Shootout-style OT format ✅
Double forward passes ✅
Running game clock ✅
Fewer timeouts ✅
25-second play clock ✅
One foot in bounds = catch ✅
Shorter halftime ✅
Dedicated ball-spotting official ✅https://t.co/pThoNPekJd— XFL (@xfl2020) January 7, 2020
Kickoff
No running start. Shortened distance between opposing players. More opportunities for big plays ?
Here’s how the @XFL2020 does kickoffs ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/vzKrsNx1We
— XFL on FOX (@XFLonFOX) January 8, 2020
Overtime
No coin toss. No one-possession wins. No ties.
Here’s how the @XFL2020 does overtime ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/hSJaYNke76
— XFL on FOX (@XFLonFOX) January 7, 2020
PAT
“The PAT rule is one of my favorites because it brings additional strategy into the game.” @XFL2020 commissioner @OliverLuckXFL breaks down the XFL PAT on @TheHerd ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/vtqZHso7EE
— XFL on FOX (@XFLonFOX) January 15, 2020
Double Forward Pass
The double-forward pass is all about offensive creativity ?
Here’s how it’ll work this @XFL2020 season ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/VMkYwHG9Xq
— XFL on FOX (@XFLonFOX) January 9, 2020
Punt
Coaches will be thinking twice about punting or going for it this season ?
Here’s how the @XFL2020 Punt will work ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/nAQW2MKOY9
— XFL on FOX (@XFLonFOX) January 10, 2020
Notable Players
Not everything is new with the XFL. There are certainly a few notable player names that you’ll recognize:
Landry Jones (Dallas Renegades)
We’re sure this one sounds familiar. The longtime Pittsburgh Steelers backup QB earned the starting spot for the Renegades.
However, we may not see him play just yet – he suffered a knee injury during practice in January, and his status for Week 1 is still unknown.
“That’s what I’m shooting for,” QB @LandryJones12 said when asked if his injury recovery timetable would allow him to play on 2/9. “Shooting for Week 1, and then I think the worst-case scenario is Week 2.” #RaisingHell
MORE: https://t.co/ycUjYf4kcG pic.twitter.com/tCG5A47R2G
— Dallas Renegades (@XFLRenegades) January 28, 2020
Cardale Jones (D.C. Defenders)
We’ve got another Jones! Former Ohio State QB Cardale Jones takes the field for the Defenders.
He spent a bit of time in the NFL, but you probably remember him from the 2014 National Championship Game, where he led the Ohio State Buckeyes to a title after injuries to Braxton Miller and J.T. Barrett.
Former @OhioStateFB QB @CJ1two will be back in action this February for the @XFLDefenders ?
Who else is excited? ✋ pic.twitter.com/8LIDVNIitq
— XFL on FOX (@XFLonFOX) January 7, 2020
Kenny Robinson (St. Louis BattleHawks)
The XFL is also providing opportunity! After being dismissed from West Virginia due to an academic issue, Robinson opted to take his talents to the XFL instead of transferring. If all goes well, the NFL could be next.
He’s just a kid …
But @krob2__ is ready for the bright lights. ??#ForTheLoveOfFootball x #ClearedToEngage pic.twitter.com/IoaM2Zr6Ij
— St. Louis BattleHawks (@XFLBattleHawks) January 23, 2020
Aaron Murray (Tampa Bay Vipers)
Murray returns home to Tampa to lead the Vipers this season. This Florida-native is best known for his historical collegiate career with the Georgia Bulldogs. He leads the SEC career touchdown list, surpassing Peyton and Eli Manning.
Yeah, you read that right.
The @SEC career passing touchdown and yards leader will be back on the field this February for the @XFLVipers ?
You ready for the return of @aaronmurray11, @GeorgiaFootball fans? pic.twitter.com/wHGEqJ9y0f
— XFL on FOX (@XFLonFOX) January 8, 2020
A few other names you might recognize: Josh Johnson, Cameron Artis-Payne, Marquette King, Christine Michael, Jace Amaro, Matt McGloin, Sammie Coates, Taylor Heinicke, Donnell Pumphrey, KD Cannon, and Tyree Jackson.
Coaches
You might even recognize some of the names on the sideline, too. Look out for these stars rocking khakis and a headset:
Here’s a look at every @xfl2020 coach this season.
Whose team are you most excited to watch? ? pic.twitter.com/WelyuGB9qh
— XFL on FOX (@XFLonFOX) January 27, 2020
Bob Stoops (Dallas Renegades)
Ring a bell? Probably because he won 10 Big 12 titles and a National Championship during his 18-year career at Oklahoma.
Listen to Coach! ? https://t.co/1DiwQzODxc https://t.co/RbSLffEOdU
— Dallas Renegades (@XFLRenegades) January 28, 2020
June Jones (Houston Roughnecks)
Jones resume boasts previous experience coaching in the CFL and NFL, most notably his three-year tenure as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons.
MOOD ALL WEEK ?@XFLWildcats better come prepared…#ForTheH | #ForTheLoveOfFootball pic.twitter.com/MXOm5AQJQE
— Houston Roughnecks (@XFLRoughnecks) February 6, 2020
Kevin Gilbride (New York Guardians)
He’s back in New York, but this time, the former Giants offensive coordinator is leading the Guardians.
Coach Gilbride understands the benefits of practicing inside @MetLifeStadium ahead of the home opener. #OnDuty
?️-> https://t.co/oD2lnxuk3i pic.twitter.com/IoqKALJjrp
— New York Guardians (@XFLGuardians) February 5, 2020
Wagering Information
You can bet the XFL is in favor of gambling!
Week 1 lines are out, and it’s time to put some money down. FOX Bet will provide you with everything you need to wager on for every XFL matchup.
We’ve even got some way-too-early championship odds.
Odds to Win XFL Championship
Dallas Renegades +275
New York Guardians +350
Tampa Bay Vipers +450
LA Wildcats +550
DC Defenders +700
Houston Roughnecks +900
St. Louis Battlehawks +1000
Seattle Dragons +1200That’s right…football isn’t over just yet.
— FOX Bet (@FOXBet) February 3, 2020
The Hype Is Real
If the possibility of winning some major dough didn’t excite you, maybe this will:
More plays. More scoring. Less downtime. ?
The @XFL2020 begins on FOX, Saturday, February 8! pic.twitter.com/DvgIpIAav1
— XFL on FOX (@XFLonFOX) January 12, 2020
— XFL on FOX (@XFLonFOX) February 3, 2020
.@ShaquillG and @Shaquemgriffin are all-in on the #XFL.
They came to training camp to support their old @UCF_Football teammate @tguerad of the @XFLRenegades.
They walked away impressed. pic.twitter.com/UBJhrw8Qj1
— XFL (@xfl2020) January 30, 2020
A lot of ??? will be on the field this @xfl2020 season.
Which team has your favorite uniform? pic.twitter.com/MNVIHxD0ZE
— XFL on FOX (@XFLonFOX) January 21, 2020
The @xfl2020 helmets this season are looking ???
Tag the team with the best one ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/dkBiuYfZv1
— XFL on FOX (@XFLonFOX) January 24, 2020
Seriously…what’s not to love?
Tune in on Saturday.
