The National Football League (NFL) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) are respectively the most popular professional and amateur football organizations in the United States. The National Football League was founded in 1920 and has since become the largest and most popular sport in the United States. The NFL has the highest average attendance of any sporting league in the world, with an average attendance of 66,960 people per game during the 2011 NFL season. It is played between the champions of the National Football Conference (NFC) and the American Football Conference (AFC), and its winner is awarded the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

Collegiate football ranks third in overall popularity in the United States, behind baseball and pro football. The NCAA, the largest collegiate organization, is divided into three Divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III. Division I football is further divided into two subdivisions: the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). The FBS subdivision is divided even further, in effect though not formally, into the Power Five and the Group of five. The champions of Division I-FCS, Division II and Division III are determined through playoff systems, and the Division I-FBS champion was determined through the Bowl Championship Series (BCS). Division I-FBS switched to a four-team playoff system in 2014.

Major rule differences +Major rule differences between NCAA and NFLRule NFL College football Number of feet a receiver must have in bounds for a completed pass Both Only one Down by contact rule Yes, a player is active until he is tackled or forced down by a member of the opposing team No, a player is automatically ruled down when any part of his body other than the feet or hands touches the ground Penalty for defensive pass interference Automatic first down at the spot of the foul Automatic first down, with the lesser of 15 yards from the previous spot or the spot of the foul Clock temporarily stops after the offense completes a first down so the chain crew can reset the chains No Yes Defensive Holding 5 yard penalty, automatic first down 10 yard penalty, repeat the down unless 1st down gained by penalty yardage Spot where an opposing team takes possession after a missed field goal The greater of the spot of the kick or the opposing team's 20-yard line The greater of the previous line of scrimmage or opposing team's 20-yard line Starting point of a one- or two-point conversion Fifteen-yard line for one-point and two-yard line for two-point Three-yard line for both Overtime Sudden death using basically the same rules as in regulation, except if the team that receives the kickoff scores either a field goal or touchdown on its first possession, it then kicks off to the opposing team with an opportunity to score. If the score is tied again after that possession, true sudden death rules apply. There is no overtime during preseason, and during regular season games, only one overtime period (maximum length of 10 minutes) is played; and the game can simply end in a tie. During playoff games, multiple overtime periods may be held until a winner is determined. Each team is given one possession from its opponent's twenty-five yard line with no game clock. The team leading after both possessions is declared the winner. If the teams remain tied, overtime periods continue; games cannot end in a tie. Teams that possesses the ball first in each period alternates. Starting with the third overtime, teams are only allowed to attempt two-point conversions after a touchdown. Instant replay Scoring plays, turnovers, and plays during the final two minutes of each half and all overtime periods are subject to booth review. Coaches are issued two challenges (with the option for a third if the first two are successful) to request a review for all other plays All plays are subject to booth reviews. Coaches only have one challenge per game. Hash marks 18 feet 6 inches apart (the width of the goal posts) 40 feet apart

Overview

The NFL consists of thirty-two clubs divided into two conferences of sixteen teams each. Each conference is divided into four divisions of four clubs each. The NFL season format consists of a four-week preseason, a seventeen-week regular season, and a twelve-team single-elimination playoff culminating in the Super Bowl, the league's championship game. College teams mostly play other similarly sized schools through the NCAA's divisional system. Division I generally consists of the major collegiate athletic powers with larger budgets, more elaborate facilities, and more athletic scholarships. Division II primarily consists of smaller public and private institutions that offer fewer scholarships than those in Division I. Division III institutions also field teams, but do not offer any scholarships. Football teams in Division I are further divided into the Bowl Subdivision (consisting of the largest programs) and the Championship Subdivision. The Bowl Subdivision (FBS) previously did not have an organized tournament to determine its champion; instead, teams competed in post-season bowl games. Up through the 2013 season, the BCS National Championship game determined the national champion. The game featured the #1 and #2 teams in the BCS rankings, a mixture of computer and human polls ranking the top teams in the country. Beginning in the 2014 season, a 4-team playoff now determines the national champion. The four teams competing in the College Football Playoff are decided by a 13-member selection committee using a complex set of selection criteria and each committee member valuing certain selection criteria differently. These criteria include strength of schedule, conference championships, win–loss record, on-field play, non-conference schedule and much more. The importance of traditional major bowl games will be preserved by using 2 of the 6 major bowls as the semi-finals of the playoff while the remaining 4 will incorporate traditional conference "tie-ins" to schedule teams in each bowl game. The Championship Subdivision utilizes a college football playoff, the NCAA Division I Football Championship. As of 2014, 24 teams are selected for the playoff. Similar to the NCAA College Basketball Tournament, each conference champion received an automatic bid to the tournament. The remaining tournament berths are awarded as "at-large" selections by a selection committee.

Common metro areas +NFL markets and nearby NCAA teams Metro NFL team NCAA team Shared stadium Atlanta Atlanta Falcons Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, Georgia State Baltimore Baltimore Ravens Navy Midshipmen, Maryland Terrapins Boston New England Patriots Boston College Eagles, Harvard Crimson, UMass Minutemen Buffalo Buffalo Bills Buffalo Bulls Charlotte Carolina Panthers Charlotte 49ers Chicago Chicago Bears Illinois Fighting Illini, Northwestern Wildcats Cleveland Cleveland Browns Akron Zips Cincinnati Cincinnati Bengals Cincinnati Bearcats Dallas Dallas Cowboys SMU Mustangs, TCU Horned Frogs Denver Denver Broncos Colorado Buffaloes Detroit Detroit Lions Michigan Wolverines, Michigan State Spartans Green Bay Green Bay Packers Houston Houston Texans Houston Cougars, Rice Owls Indianapolis Indianapolis Colts Butler Bulldogs Jacksonville Jacksonville Jaguars Kansas City Kansas City Chiefs Las Vegas Las Vegas Raiders UNLV Rebels Allegiant Stadium Los Angeles Los Angeles RamsLos Angeles Chargers UCLA Bruins USC Trojans Miami Miami Dolphins Miami Hurricanes Hard Rock Stadium Minneapolis–Saint Paul Minnesota Vikings Minnesota Golden Gophers Nashville Tennessee Titans Vanderbilt Commodores New Orleans New Orleans Saints Tulane Green Wave New York City New York Giants New York Jets Army Black Knights Philadelphia Philadelphia Eagles Temple Owls Lincoln Financial Field Phoenix Arizona Cardinals Arizona State Sun Devils Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Steelers Pittsburgh Panthers Heinz Field San Francisco Bay Area San Francisco 49ers California Golden Bears Stanford Cardinal San Jose State Spartans Seattle Seattle Seahawks Washington Huskies Tampa Bay Tampa Bay Buccaneers South Florida Bulls Raymond James Stadium Washington, D.C. Washington Commanders Maryland Terrapins, Georgetown Hoyas

Chicago In 2002, Soldier Field was closed and rebuilt with only the exterior wall of the stadium being preserved. It was closed on Sunday, January 20, 2002, a day after the Bears lost in the playoffs. It reopened on September 27, 2003 after a complete rebuild (the second in the stadium's history). Many fans refer to the rebuilt stadium as "New Soldier Field". During the season, the Bears played their home games at the University of Illinois' Memorial Stadium in Champaign, where they went 3–5.

Cleveland Cleveland Stadium hosted the annual Notre Dame/Navy college football game 11 times: in 1932, 1934, 1939, 1942, 1943, 1945, 1947, 1950, 1952, 1976 and 1978. The games were well attended, with an average attendance of 69,730 and a high of 84,090 fans for the 1947 game, which was won by Notre Dame 27-0. The only Great Lakes Bowl was held there in 1947. Local colleges Case Institute of Technology and Western Reserve University used the field from time to time as well. The Illinois Fighting Illini played the Penn State Nittany Lions there in 1959. The Ohio State Buckeyes played in the stadium four times. The first was in a 1942 win over Illinois before 68,656, the second a 1943 loss to Purdue, and the third a 1944 victory over Illinois. The final college football contest played there was on October 19, 1991, when the Northwestern Wildcats played a "home" game against the Buckeyes. While Northwestern received the home team's share of the gate receipts, the crowd was mostly Ohio State fans. The Ohio Classic college football game was held at FirstEnergy Stadium in both 2004 and 2005. In September 2006, it hosted the Bowling Green Falcons–Wisconsin Badgers game. In 2007, it began hosting the Patriot Bowl,Patriot Bowl. Accessed 2007-06-03. a season-opening game between Army and Akron. Boston College defeated Kent State in the second Patriot Bowl on August 30, 2008. In 2009, it hosted the Ohio State–Toledo game.Cleveland.com Accessed 2013-10-15 On October 14, 2008 CSU President Michael Schwartz stated "he wants a blue ribbon panel to give him a recommendation on the football team before July 1, 2009, when he is scheduled to retire. He also said the program will have to be structured to pay for itself." Cleveland State considers a new name and a new football team. Accessed October 25, 2008. The Football establishment issue became an official item on the Cleveland State University, Student Government Association election ballot. From Monday April 12 at 12:01 AM until Friday April 14 the student body voted on the issue. By Friday evening, the results indicated that 68.7% of the student population favored establishment of a football team. Furthermore, the student body was asked if they were willing to pay a fee for Division I non-scholarship football in addition to any potential, future tuition increases that may be instituted by the University. The student body responded with 55.6% of the vote being no.Question 1: Are you interested in having Cleveland State University add a Division I non-scholarship football team (e.g. University of Dayton, Butler University) to its intercollegiate athletic program? 1. YES 1,214 Votes 68.7% of the vote , Question 2: Are you willing to pay a fee for Division I non-scholarship football in addition to any potential, future tuition increases that may be instituted by the University? 2. NO 977 Votes 55.6% of the vote.

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