2020 XFL Season

The 2020 XFL Season was the first season of the revived XFL. And the Second Season of the XFL overall after the 2001 XFL Season and original XFL that only lasted for that one season.

The Season began on February 8th 2020 with the DC Defenders hosting and defeating the Seattle Dragons 22-16. The league originally planned for the season to end on April 12th but due to COVID-19 the XFL had to suspend play after Week 5.

The XFL considered cancelling the rest of the season but after a vote with the XFL Players Union, they voted that they will resume play behind closed doors. The XFL returned to action on June 20th and the 2020 XFL Championship was on August 2nd.

## Teams

The teams were announced in 2019. No person ''owned'' a team and the league had control of all of the 8 teams. They were also all different to the original XFL teams. They were: DC Defenders, New York Guardians, St Louis Battlehawks, Tampa Bay Vipers, Dallas Renegades, Houston Roughnecks, Los Angeles Wildcats and Seattle Dragons.

## Draft

The 2020 XFL Draft was held in October 2019. There were several rounds and a supplemental draft to fill out the teams 45-man roster.

## Season Structure

### Preseason

Training Camps were held in December 2019 and January 2020. Each team also played at least one scrimmage match against another team. The league did not plan on hosting exhibition games but FOX and ESPN requested that exhibition games would be held so they could trial their broadcasts. They were held in January 2020 and were behind closed doors.

### Regular Season

Each team had a 10-game schedule, with no bye weeks. Each team played their divisional opponents twice and non divisional opponents once. The league was divided into 2 divisions, East and West.

### Cancellation and Return

The XFL cancelled the season after 5 weeks due to COVID-19. However, they returned in June. They finished the season behind closed doors and each player had to take a few tests per week.

### Playoffs

The Playoffs happened in Late July and August as the Division Championships and then the League Championship. The Division Championships were originally gonna be played at whoever finished 1st in the Division in the Regular Season and the XFL Championship to be at The Dome at America's Center. However, the XFL moved all 3 of the Playoff games out and moved them all to TIAA Bank Field.

## Playoffs

*Main Article: 2020 XFL Playoffs*

The XFL Playoffs were held in July/August 2020, although it was planned to be in April 2020. Due to COVID-19 the playoff games were moved to TIAA Bank Field.

## Broadcasting

For the 2020 XFL Season, they signed a 2 year deal with ESPN and FOX. Both networks would rotate the XFL Championship for 2020 and 2021. They can also use their networks to broadcast. ESPN would broadcast the 2020 XFL Championship and FOX would broadcast the 2021 XFL Championship.

## References

1. ↑ XFL suspends 2020 Season due to COVID
2. ↑ XFL planning to resume 2020 Season
3. ↑ XFL 2020: The Teams
4. ↑ The 2020 XFL Draft is done, we know what players are playing on whos team. The Schedule is next.
5. ↑ XFL: FOX and ESPN request league to hold Scrimmage matches
6. ↑ XFL moves playoffs to TIAA Bank Field for 2020 Season
7. ↑ 7.00 7.01 7.02 7.03 7.04 7.05 7.06 7.07 7.08 7.09 7.10 7.11 7.12 7.13 7.14 7.15 7.16 7.17 7.18 7.19 XFL to resume season behind closed doors
8. ↑ XFL Broadcasting: FOX
9. ↑ XFL Broadcasting: ESPN