By Shawn Stewart
Last year, in the first year of the UFL, the merged XFL-USFL used a traditional kickoff formation, with an onside option that consisted of a fourth-and-15 play from the kicking team’s 25.
This year, the UFL adopts a version of the “dynamic kickoff,” the onside kick is dead. The UFL announced the rule change on Tuesday.
In place of the onside kick, the UFL will use a shorter fourth-down play for the kicking team. In lieu of fourth-and-15 from the 25, the kicking team will be able to attempt a fourth-and-12 play from the 28.
The UFL is also keeping its overtime format, sticking with three different scrimmage play choices for conversions (worth one, two and three points) and will continue allowing one double forward pass from behind the line of scrimmage.
The NFL already eliminated the surprise element of onside kicks, ruling that a team must now declare when they are going to attempt one. Is it possible we see the league eliminate or restrict the play even more down the line?
The 2025 UFL season will open on Friday, March 28 when the St. Louis Battlehawks take on the Houston Roughnecks. This will also be the debut of FOX UFL Friday, which will showcase a UFL game every Friday for 10 weeks.
Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET. The season will conclude with the championship game on Saturday, June 14 on ABC.
Last year, Birmingham Stallions beat the San Antonio Brahmas 25-0 in the title game of the inaugural season for the eight-team spring league.