Question Period: The CFL and XFL

Question Period: The CFL and XFL

Dashawn Stephens

By Dashawn Stephens

To see rival leagues working together is a rarity in the sports world. However, history has proven that when potential sports-industry rivals get together to ponder the bigger picture, good things come to fruition.

The NBA’s merger with the ABA in 1976 saw the association welcome the Denver Nuggets, New York Nets (Brooklyn Nets), Indiana Pacers, and San Antonio Spurs to their field of teams.

The NHL-WHA merger of 1979 saw the Edmonton Oilers, Hartford Whalers (Carolina Hurricanes), Quebec Nordiques (Colorado Avalanche), and the original Winnipeg Jets (Arizona Coyotes) enter the NHL as expansion franchises.

The NFL-AFL merger is probably the most important sports merger of all-time as it gave us not only the creation of the original AFC conference, but also the Super Bowl.

Mergers are rare, but history has proven that they can serve as a catalyst for long-term success.

But let’s call this for what it is. This isn’t an official merger yet! For now, the CFL and XFL have only announced that they are entering formal discussions to explore “opportunities for alignment”.

We may not know how those opportunities look as of yet, but we do know that because this working relationship has all the potentials to change the future of Canadian football, fans of the Canadian game have a boatload of questions.

We’re exploring four important questions that fans of Canadian football have about a potential CFL/XFL partnership.

4. Will we see CFL vs XFL games?

Will we see CFL teams play against XFL teams? When news of this working relationship first broke, the possibility of crossover competition was the first idea that fans wanted insights into. Upon first glance, the idea seems attractive. However, before falling in love with the idea of your favorite CFL franchise traveling south of the border, there are two questions that must be answered.

How would a CFL/XFL crossover schedule actually look? Could we see the two leagues experiment with several exhibition games per season? Could there be several crossover regular-season games worked into league schedules? Would the leagues consider going all-in on a complete merger that would see all seventeen teams compete under one schedule? With conversations currently in their early stages, nothing is off the table when it comes to collaboration. However, if both leagues are interested in a long-term working partnership, expect any possibilities of crossover competition to be slowly introduced to football fans over a steady period of time.

The second question that needs to be answered is how games would be officiated. When comparing CFL football to the hybrid style of American football played in the XFL, both games bear very few resemblances to one another. If CFL teams were to compete with XFL teams under any circumstances, under which rules would the games be sanctioned? How many players would be on the field? Which ball would be used? What would the size of the field be? Due to the drastic difference of the Canadian game when compared to the American game, both leagues would have to come to a compromise on how crossover competition would be officiated.

3. What does this mean for the Current Canadian Product?

As much as a potential CFL/XFL partnership has fans of Canadian football excited for the future, it also has a large population of fans worried about the state of the current CFL product. With major sports leagues - such as the NFL - opening the door for rule changes over recent years, many fans of Canadian football are fearing that a serious partnership with an American-style football league will be what opens the door for rule changes in the CFL.

The CFL has been the subject of heavy public scrutiny over the last few years. But the criticism that the league receives has been rooted in financial hardship. Rule changes are not what the CFL currently needs. However, with the drastic difference in play-style when compared to the XFL, something has to give in order for both leagues to come to a compromise.

Examining how a partnership can affect the way CFL football is played is important because the ramifications can ultimately have an effect on how football is played at all levels throughout Canada in general.

As we’ve seen in the NFL a few rule changes here and there won’t hurt. But If there’s one thing that all fans of Canadian football can agree on, it’s that three-down football must be protected at all costs!

2. What happens to the Canadian Ratio?

What allows the “C” in CFL to remain true to its core is how the league seeks to provide opportunities for Canadian players. Currently, CFL gameday rosters must have a minimum of 21 Canadian players. Of those 21 Canadian players, a minimum of seven must be starters. Known as the “Game Rule Ratio”, these rules ensure that Canadian players are actively getting opportunities in the league instead of being thrown to the curb in favor of American players.

If the CFL and XFL engage in a long-term partnership that includes crossover competition, will there be a modified version of the Game Ratio Rule for all XFL teams? Will XFL teams be required to carry a certain number of Canadian players? As the CFL essentially sits on the horizon of expanding its operations through an XFL partnership, will more opportunities be created for our homegrown talent?

1. What does this mean for U SPORTS Players?

Finally, what does a CFL/XFL partnership mean for U SPORTS players?

This topic may not be at the top of any national headlines but it truly is one of the most important questions - at least in Canada. How will the CFL use this opportunity to uplift Canadian university football?

This isn’t the league’s first go-around when it comes to crossover partnerships. The CFL’s current working relationship with Liga de Futbol Americano Profesional (LFA) led to the creation of the LFA Canadian draft, an opportunity for 16 Canadian free agents - who are often U SPORTS graduates - to be drafted to LFA teams. This partnership gives Canadian players a chance to play professionally in Mexico, while still being scouted by CFL coaches. Will a CFL/XFL partnership follow a similar blueprint for creating professional opportunities for U SPORTS graduates?

Both the CFL and XFL currently have draft systems that serve as the pipeline for amateur athletes to enter their leagues. In the case of a merger scenario, could we see both the CFL and XFL drafts experience slight modifications to allow for more U SPORTS graduates to be drafted?

Like all questions, there is no current answer on how a CFL/XFL partnership will benefit U SPORTS graduates. But if CFL intends to continue growing football in Canada, then this topic will eventually need to be pushed to the forefront of discussions.

As exciting as this all is, we must continue to acknowledge the discussions between the CFL and XFL for what they are. Simply discussions. At this moment nothing has come of these discussions, and there is no guarantee that anything will. But here’s to hoping that no matter where Randy Ambrosie chooses to go with the CFL, the Canadian gridiron game continues to be celebrated, and Canadian athletes continue to receive the exposure that they deserve.

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