Field Level Media
23 Sep 2025, 04:10 GMT+10
(Photo credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images)
The Canadian Football League on Monday unveiled a two-year plan to introduce dramatic changes to the rules and dimensions of the sport.
The more drastic changes are reserved for 2027, and they'll result in the Canadian game looking more like American football. Goalposts will be moved to the back of the end zone, and the field will be shortened from 110 yards between the goal lines to 100 yards, the same as the NFL.
The CFL at that time will also shorten end zones from 20 to 15 yards deep -- the NFL's are 10 yards -- but the field will retain its unique width of 65 yards.
Those changes, according to the league, are part of an effort to facilitate more offense. The league's announcement even stated a projection of 10 percent more end zone completions and 60 more touchdowns per season by removing the 'obstruction' of the goalposts.
'This is all about making our great game even more entertaining,' CFL commissioner Stewart Johnston said in a statement. 'We are trading field goals for touchdowns, while improving fan experience in stadiums and at home.
'These changes are the most significant in decades. We are retaining the unique elements upon which our traditions stand, but innovating where change is needed to evolve our world-class game.'
A different set of rule changes will be introduced for 2026.
The 20-second play clock, initiated by an official once teams are set at the line of scrimmage, will be replaced by a 35-second play clock that automatically begins after the previous play, another similarity to the NFL's rulebook.
The league is requiring all stadiums to have benches on opposite sidelines. At present, some fields have benches side-by-side on the same field, which often forces substitutes to run 50 or more yards from the far bench to the line of scrimmage.
Finally, the CFL is keeping but modifying one of its unique rules, the one-point play called the 'rouge' or 'single.'
Missed field goals wide of the goalposts no longer will award teams one point, nor will kicks that roll out the back or sides of an end zone untouched. Singles will still be awarded if a kickoff, field goal attempt or punt settles in the end zone without being returned.
'The change eliminates games being decided by a missed field goal, punt or kickoff through the end zone,' the league's announcement said.
The commissioner praised the league's board of governors for unanimously approving the changes.
'These changes are about improving something that is already great,' Johnston said. 'They are rooted in data and analytics; they have been thoughtfully and carefully considered. But they are big and bold because that's what's necessary to make our fantastic game even more entertaining, and to win in the attention economy.'
--Field Level Media
Get a daily dose of Illinois Intelligencer news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Illinois Intelligencer.
More Information(Photo credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images) The Canadian Football League on Monday unveiled a two-year plan to introduce dramatic...
New York [US], September 23 (ANI): US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on the sidelines...
New York [US], September 23 (ANI): French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday (local time) formally announced France's recognition...
The UK has formally recognized the state of Palestinian on Sunday The Palestine Mission...
(Photo credit: Lucas Boland-Imagn Images) Keegan Bradley called it the biggest decision of his life. As captain of the United States'...
Washington [US], September 23 (ANI): United States President Donald Trump will deliver a key address at the 80th session of the United...
LONDON, U.K.: The United States is seeking to regain control of Bagram air base in Afghanistan, President Donald Trump said this week...
JERUSALEM - In a move that has sparked international debate, the Republic of Fiji has officially opened its embassy in Jerusalem, aligning...
LONDON, U.K.: Britain's foreign ministry said this week that the country's intelligence service will use a new dark web platform to...
LOS ANGELES, California: On September 18, U.S. President Donald Trump openly celebrated the suspension of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel,...
JERUSALEM - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the idea that Israel was involved in the assassination of Charlie Kirk,...
Recent events in China have had an extraordinary and revealing effect on Australian domestic politics and invite comparisons with the...
