Football

Welcome to the SportMuse home of Football!

Check out our Football coverage!

  • NCAA Football: We have a full breakdown of everything you might need for the upcoming 2019-2020 season! We have information on Conferences, polls, FCS/FBS Breakdowns, and more! Wondering who’s leading in the polls? We’ve got that!
  • NFL Football: The premier professional Football league which consists of 32 teams dispersed throughout the United States. The season culminates in the Super Bowl, which regularly has an economic impact of greater than $10 billion.

History of Football

Initially, the name “football” came from its Rugby beginnings as the ball was not allowed to be carried, thrown or picked up. The only way to advance the “football” was to hit with parts of the body towards an opponents goal. Although the first-ever football match was played in the late 1860s, it wasn’t until 1973 that the game began to mirror what we know today.

Rule changes were not uncommon in the formational years, and are responsible for the addition of “downs,” eleven players to a team and the pass. They were also responsible for the introduction of the oblong/egg shape now used. By numbers, Football is by far the most-watched American sport in terms of attendance (and viewership).

Football leagues exist in both tackle (full-contact), and flag football (non-contact) exist in various forms from early youth to men’s leagues. The two most followed are NCAA Football (or Collegiate Football) and the National Football League (NFL). Roughly 1 million high school students across the country play organized football and nearly another 50,000 play at the collegiate level.

Canada also boasts its own developmental league and professional league the Canadian Football League as well as a sizable following. Various leagues around the world engage in American Football. However, they generally suffer from a much smaller following.

Rise of Women’s Football

Although tackle renditions of gridiron football have been predominantly male, there has been a recent push for a women’s version of the game. There are currently three active/forthcoming women’s professional leagues:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Are football fields real grass?

A: Generally, football fields have moved to various kinds of turf as they tend to be much easier to maintain. They are also less susceptible to the elements which are important because late-season games are often in snowy or wet conditions.

Q: What are the dimensions of a football field?

A: Football fields are a total of 120 yards (360 feet) long. They have an endzone at either end with a length of ten yards (30 feet) plus a 100-yard (300 foot) field of play.

The entire football field is 53 1/3 yard wide (160 feet) bringing it to a total length of 120 yards by 53 1/3 wide (~1.32 acres).

Q: Can football end in a tie?

A: If teams are tied in regulation, then they play additional time. However, the overtime rules vary by league.

Q: When does football season start?

A: Football season traditionally runs from between mid-August and September (depending on the league). NCAA Football ends in January, while the NFL continues until the Super Bowl which is usually held the first Sunday in February.

Q: How many players can be on the field?

A: Eleven players are allowed on the field for each team. Especially for the offensive team, there can be restrictions on the types of players or how they can affect the game. For example, not all players are eligible to be thrown to, though they can be designated as such in certain scenarios.