Football, in its American version, is a physically tough team sport that rivals baseball as most popular athletic event for spectators in the United States. Millions watch football games on the interscholastic, intercollegiate, and professional levels. Games are often accompanied by halftime shows, with marching bands, and alumni or fan-club gatherings; fierce loyalties develop on the part of some spectators. Much illicit wagering takes place on the point spread in the final score. On the intercollegiate and professional levels, crowds of 50,000 to 100,000 at games are common, and millions more watch games on T.V.

Football is basically an Autumn sport, with teams playing from 8 to 16 games, usually on successive weekends. The best of the teams then enter postseason playoffs. Many states have championships at the interscholastic (high school) level. The best of the college teams play in several bowl games. Historically, the most important are the Rose Bowl, the Sugar Bowl, the Orange Bowl, and the Cotton Bowl. Although there is no official college championship team, the unofficial intercollegiate champion is selected by vote. (Coaches, sport writers, and broadcasters cast ballots.)

The professional teams of the National Football League (NFL) culminate their season with the Super Bowl game, between the winner of the American National Conference Playoffs.

Links to sites related to Football

The National Football League

Site for Football Statitics

Site of NFL team web pages