XFL set to kick off for the third time

Will the third time be the charm for the XFL?

If at first, you don’t succeed … the XFL is going to try it again.

The third incarnation of the fledgling football league kicks off on Saturday.

This go-round is headed up by Dwayne Johnson and business partner Dani Garcia.

The opener is on ABC and features the Vegas Vipers against the Arlington Renegades at 3 p.m. ET.

Later, the Orlando Guardians meet the Houston Roughnecks on ESPN.

On Sunday, the St. Louis Battlehawks meet the San Antonio Brahmas and the Seattle Sea Dragons face the D.C. Defenders.

Earlier this week the league had a national conference call.

Some of the highlights:

  • All 43 games, 40 regular season, two playoffs, one championship, will be featured on a combination of the Walt Disney Company networks, including ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, FX, and in one case we will simulcast between ESPN and FX.
  • Coaches have the opportunity to challenge anything. One time per game, it’s an all-in challenge, and any officiating decision a coach — if they have a time-out remaining, they can challenge that decision.This has never been done before at any level of football, and something that we’ve talked about in my time, during my time with the NFL,” said Dean Blandino, VP of Officiating and Rules Innovation. “Again, when you think about whether it’s a pass interference call that is made or maybe it’s a holding call that was not made and the coach thinks it should have been called, we’re going to give our coaches that opportunity.

Some rules and innovations to be aware of:

KICKOFFS

  • Teams begin play five yards apart – kicking team at opponent’s 35-yard line and return team at own 30-yard line

EXTRA POINTS

  • Tiered extra points are back
  • Teams will have three run/pass only options for extra points following a touchdown
  • 2-yard line = one point; 5-yard line = two points; 10-yard line = three points
  • Defense awarded same number of points for a touchdown

OPTIONS TO KEEP BALL

  • Teams will have two options to keep the ball after scoring:
      • Traditional onside kick (any time during game) or
      • 4th and 15 conversion from own 25-yard line (4thquarter only)

OVERTIME

  • Consists of alternating attempts from opponent’s 5-yard line
  • Three attempts per team (two points per score) or until winner is decided