When the Super Bowl ends, it is thought that the football season ends with it. What you may not have realized is that the XFL is coming back for a third try and creating a professional football league that is viable competition to the National Football League.
For fans who are new to the concept of the XFL – or are used to looking for NFL betting odds – it helps to know a few things about the league. Here are four things that you need to know before checking out the XFL for yourself.
What is the XFL?
The XFL has a complex history. This incarnation was founded by WWE owner Vince McMahon in 2018. This version of the XFL is actually a reboot of a league of the same name that McMahon created in 1999 and launched in 2001.
The league initially played one season in 2001 before folding. McMahon brought the league back in 2018 with some rule changes. The first season kicked off in 202 but the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic played a large part in the league shutting down after five weeks. The league is again launching and hoping that, without a global pandemic to challenge, it can provide an alternative to the NFL.
When does the XFL start?
The XFL kicked off its opening weekend back on Saturday, February 18. Opening weekend continued the next day with a pair of games as well. The regular season, consisting of 10 weeks, runs through April 22. When the 40-game regular season has concluded, there will be a pair of semi-final playoff contests on April 29 and 30 before the championship game on May 13.
The schedule going forward will depend on many factors. For starters, it remains to be seen if there will be a second season of the XFL. If there is, the success will likely have an impact on whether the schedule remains the same or increases in any way.
Wait, The Rock is involved?
After serious money losses in 202, the XFL filed for bankruptcy. It looked as though the league had failed again before Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and his team ought the league for $15 million. The Rock is one of the most visible and popular actors on the planet and hopes to use his platform to boost the XFL.
He is currently the commissioner of the XFL and has announced that he will be at all four of the opening games on the first weekend. With the rule changes and Johnson as the face of the league, there are hopes that the third time is a charm.
Are there any players worth watching?
Though the XFL is seen as a secondary league to the NFL, there are a plethora of notable former NFL and collegiate players involved. While none of these players have been of major relevance at the NFL level recently, they do provide some name value to the league. Here are some of the top names playing in the XFL this year.
Josh Gordon, WR, Seattle Sea Dragons. During his first few years in the NFL, Gordon teased being among the league’s best receivers. Personal problems resulted in several suspensions, seeing him bounce around the league between five teams from 2018-2022. He has the size, speed, and hands to be electric and dominant in the XFL.
AJ McCarron, QB, St. Louis Battlehawks. According to McCarron, he had offers in the NFL to be a backup but chose the XFL so his family could see him actually play. The former Alabama QB has the talent to stand out in the XFL.
Paxton Lynch, QB, Orlando Guardians. Lynch was a former high pick of the Denver Broncos but has bounced around since then. Any player with first-round talent will certainly get a long look in the XFL.
