National Football Post's explainers answer the questions fans ask most about NFL and college football rules, contracts and the postseason. Each one is kept up to date for the 2026 season and lists its sources.
NFL rules and the league
- NFL Playoff Format and Tiebreakers Explained: How the 2026 Postseason Works: How many teams make the playoffs, how seeding works and every tiebreaker step.
- NFL Injured Reserve Rules: IR, Designated to Return, PUP, NFI and Injury Settlements: How long injured reserve lasts, return designations, PUP, NFI and injury settlements.
- NFL Practice Squad and Waiver Rules: Size, Pay, Elevations and Claims: Practice squad size, weekly pay, gameday elevations and how waivers work.
- NFL PED Policy Explained: Testing, Banned Substances and Suspensions: How the league tests for performance-enhancing drugs and what the suspensions are.
- NFL Banned Substance List: The substances on the NFL's banned list.
- NFL Injury Recovery Timelines: How Long Common Football Injuries Keep Players Out: Typical time out for common football injuries.
- What is an injury settlement?: What an injury settlement is and how it is calculated.
Contracts and money
- NFL Rookie Contracts Explained: The Rookie Wage Scale and the Fifth-Year Option: How long rookie contracts run, the rookie pay scale and the fifth-year option.
- How NFL Agents Get Paid: Fees, Certification and the NFLPA Rules: Agent fees, certification and the NFLPA rules.
- The NFL Salary Cap Explained: How the salary cap is set, dead money, restructures and post-June 1 cuts.
- The NFL Franchise Tag, Transition Tag and RFA Tenders Explained: Franchise and transition tags, RFA tenders and offer sheets.
- NFL Compensatory Picks Explained: How compensatory draft picks are awarded.
College football
- College Football Playoff Format Explained: How the 2026-27 Playoff Works: The 12-team playoff format, with this week's CFP rankings and projected bracket.
- College Football Eligibility Rules: Redshirts, the Five-Year Clock and Extra Years: How many years players can play, redshirts and the NCAA's 2026 rule change.
- College Football Transfer Portal and NIL Rules Explained: How the transfer portal and NIL rules work.
- How College Football Coach Buyouts Work: How coach buyouts work, and the big ones in the 2026 coaching carousel.
Betting basics
- Football Betting Terminology: The common terms in football betting.
- Point Spread Betting: How point spreads work.
- Football Moneyline Betting: How moneyline bets work.
- Football Over Under Betting: How totals (over/under) bets work.
- Football Parlay Betting: How parlays work.
From the NFP archive
- The NFL's Best Short Quarterbacks of All Time: The best quarterbacks under six feet tall.
- Which NFL stadiums are the best and worst to kick in?: Where kickers make and miss the most field goals.
- Is There An Answer To The 3-4 vs. 4-3 Debate?: The two base defenses compared.
- NFL Players With Most Arrests Since 2000: The players with the most arrests since 2000.
- Seven Former NFL Players in MMA: Former NFL players who fought in MMA.