How to Play Football Squares

Football squares is one of the most popular games to play during football games, especially the Super Bowl. It's easy to learn, fun for everyone, and adds excitement to every quarter of the game!

What is Football Squares?

Football squares (also called "Super Bowl Squares," "The Grid," or "100 Squares") is a fun prediction game where participants pick squares on a 10x10 grid. Winners are determined by the score at the end of each quarter.

The beauty of football squares is that you don't need to know anything about football to win. It's purely based on luck once the numbers are assigned, making it perfect for casual fans and die-hard enthusiasts alike.

Understanding the Grid

The game uses a 10x10 grid, creating exactly 100 squares:

  • Columns (top) represent one team's score
  • Rows (left side) represent the other team's score
  • Each square is the intersection of a row and column number

💡 Key Concept

Only the last digit of each team's score matters. If the score is 17-24, you're looking for the square at row 7, column 4 (or vice versa depending on which team is which).

Setting Up Your Game

Here's how to set up a football squares game:

1

Create the Grid

Use our game creator to instantly generate a shareable grid. Just enter the two team names and set an admin password.

2

Share with Participants

Send the game link to everyone who wants to play. They can claim squares directly from their phone or computer.

3

Fill the Grid

Participants claim squares until all 100 are filled. Some games allow multiple squares per person, others limit it.

4

Assign Numbers

Once the grid is full, randomly assign numbers 0-9 to each row and column. Our site does this automatically with one click!

5

Watch and Win

At the end of each quarter, check the score and find the winner. That's it!

Claiming Squares

When participants claim squares, they're essentially picking random spots on the grid. Here's what to know:

  • Before numbers are assigned, all squares have equal odds of winning
  • Participants typically write their name (or initials) in their chosen squares
  • The number of squares per person depends on your group size and rules
  • For 10 people: 10 squares each. For 20 people: 5 squares each. And so on.

Assigning Numbers

This is the crucial step that determines which squares can win:

  • Numbers 0-9 are randomly assigned to each column (one number per column)
  • Numbers 0-9 are randomly assigned to each row (one number per row)
  • Numbers should be assigned AFTER all squares are claimed to keep it fair

⚠️ Important

Never assign numbers before squares are claimed! This would let people choose "good" numbers like 0, 7, and 3 (which appear in scores more often) and avoid "bad" numbers like 2, 5, and 9.

On FootballSquaresGame.com, simply click "Assign Numbers" once your grid is full. We use a cryptographically random number generator to ensure fairness.

Determining Winners

Winners are determined at the end of each quarter based on the last digit of each team's score:

Q1 Winner

Score at end of 1st quarter

Q2 Winner

Score at halftime

Q3 Winner

Score at end of 3rd quarter

Final Winner

Final score of the game

To find the winner:

  1. Take the last digit of each team's score
  2. Find where that row and column intersect on the grid
  3. The person in that square wins!

Example Game

Let's walk through a real example:

🏈 Super Bowl Example

Teams: Chiefs vs Eagles

Q1 Score: Chiefs 7, Eagles 3

Last digits: Chiefs = 7, Eagles = 3

Winner: The square at Row 7, Column 3 (or Row 3, Column 7 depending on your grid orientation)

Halftime Score: Chiefs 14, Eagles 17

Last digits: Chiefs = 4, Eagles = 7

Winner: The square at Row 4, Column 7

Q3 Score: Chiefs 21, Eagles 24

Last digits: Chiefs = 1, Eagles = 4

Winner: The square at Row 1, Column 4

Final Score: Chiefs 38, Eagles 35

Last digits: Chiefs = 8, Eagles = 5

Winner: The square at Row 8, Column 5

Popular Variations

There are many ways to customize your football squares game:

Prize Distribution

  • Equal quarters: 25% of the pot for each quarter winner
  • Weighted: 10% Q1, 20% Q2, 20% Q3, 50% Final
  • Reverse: Smaller prizes early, biggest prize for final score

Game Variations

  • Halftime only: Just one winner at halftime (simpler for small groups)
  • Reverse at half: Flip the row/column numbers at halftime
  • Quarter re-draw: Re-randomize numbers each quarter (more winners possible)

Entry Variations

  • Random assignment: Participants pay, squares are randomly assigned
  • Pick your own: Participants choose their own squares
  • Auction style: Squares are auctioned to highest bidder

Ready to Play?

Now that you know the rules, it's time to start your own game!

Create Your Game

Read our tips for running a successful game →