What happens after a safety?

New for 2026-27: after a safety, the team whose goal line was involved (the team that gave up the safety) puts the ball in play with a scrimmage kick from its own 20-yard line.

Under the 2025-26 rules, the other team snapped the ball from its own 30-yard line instead.

A scrimmage kick must be declared in advance, the receiving team must get adequate time to substitute, and the kicking team must be set and still before the kick (any movement is a false start).