By: Dylan Edelman
The AAF currently consists of eight teams: four from the east and four from the west. In the Eastern Conference, it is made up of the Atlanta Legends, Birmingham Iron, Memphis Express and the Orlando Apollos. On the other side of the country, the Western Conference consists of the Arizona Hotshots, Salt Lake Stallions, San Antonio Commanders and the San Diego Fleet. After the 10-week season ends, the top two teams from each division’s standings will move on to the playoffs and eventually be crowned the AAF inaugural champion.
What makes the AAF unique to that of the NFL is their significant decision to make the game more fast-paced. Kickoffs have been removed, allowing teams to immediately begin the drive at their 25-yard line. Instead of the point after touchdown (PAT), two-point conversions are required. The play clock is shortened to 35 seconds, which is 5 seconds quicker than in the NFL. For overtime, Ebersol decided for the AAF to go by the high school football rules of the “Kansas Playoffs.” This means that each team will begin at the opponent’s 10-yard line and get four downs to score, with no field goals allowed. If the teams are still tied after each of their respective possessions, the game will end in a tie. Don’t be ready to count the AAF out of contention for football viewership with the NFL. According to sbnation.com, the first broadcasted AAF game drew in 2.9 million viewers, exceeding the 2.5 million viewers who tuned into the NBA Rockets vs. Thunder game. As the season progresses, it seems that there is continued promise for the AAF. Only time will tell if the AAF will satisfy the niche market of professional football during the spring.
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February 2020
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