Football <\/p>\n
One of football\u2019s most unpopular rules appears to be on its way out the door for this spring\u2019s USFL and XFL seasons.<\/p>\n
The USFL and XFL have revised their rules to eliminate the provision by which a forward fumble out of the end zone automatically results in possession for the other team, according to a Tuesday report<\/a> from the NFL officiating website Football Zebras<\/em>.<\/p>\n According to the report, a forward fumble out of the end zone in a USFL or XFL game will reportedly result in \u201cno change of possession and the ball (reverting) back to the spot of the fumble\u201d\u2014a complete break with a rule in force in the professional game for a hundred years.<\/p>\n Additionally, \u201cif the ball is touched by any\u00a0player who is also touching the end line, the ball will return to the fumbling team,\u201d according to the\u00a0Football Zebras\u00a0<\/em>report.<\/p>\n The invocation of the rule in the NFL is relatively rare, but it has popped up at critical junctures to widespread disapproval. For instance, the\u00a0Browns<\/a><\/span>\u00a0had a potentially critical touchdown taken off the board<\/a>\u00a0in a 2020 divisional playoff game against the\u00a0Chiefs<\/a><\/span>\u00a0when wide receiver Rashard Higgins fumbled the ball forward out of the end zone.<\/p>\n The XFL and USFL will begin their seasons on Feb. 18 and April 15, respectively.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n