Why anyone can play (and win)
If someone just sent you a link to a football squares game and you are wondering what you got yourself into, relax. You do not need to know a single thing about football to play. You do not need to know the teams, the players, the rules, or what a first down is. Football squares is a numbers game, and the numbers are completely random.
There is a 10 by 10 grid. You click an empty square and type your name. That is your square now. Before the game starts, random numbers are assigned to the rows and columns. During the game, the score changes. At the end of each quarter, whoever owns the square where the score's last digits intersect wins that quarter.
That is it. You pick a square, you get random numbers, and then you watch (or do not watch) and check who won. For a more detailed walkthrough, our How to Play page breaks it down step by step.
Football squares is one of the few games that gives a complete beginner the exact same chance of winning as a lifelong fan. Your odds of winning are not affected by your knowledge of the sport, your prediction skills, or anything else. A five-year-old has the same shot as an ESPN analyst.
More importantly, having a square in the game gives you a reason to care about what is happening. Suddenly you are paying attention to the score. You are checking your phone at halftime. You are cheering for a team you did not even know existed an hour ago, not because you like them, but because their score ending in a 3 means you win. That is the magic of squares.
Seriously. You can claim your square, go about your day, and check back later to see if you won. If the game is linked to live scoring, the grid updates automatically. Winners are highlighted on the board so you can see at a glance what happened. Just refresh the page when you think of it.
This makes squares perfect for office Super Bowl games where not everyone is going to watch, family gatherings where some people would rather talk than stare at the TV, and any situation where there is a mix of sports fans and people who are just there for the food.
Despite the name, the same format works for basketball, hockey, college football, and college basketball. It even works for non-sports events. People have used squares grids for award shows, baby showers, and election nights. If there is a number involved, you can make a squares game out of it. Check out our post on creative uses for squares grids for more ideas.
Claim your square early so you do not forget. Use your real name so people know who you are. Do not stress about which square you pick because the numbers are random anyway. And check the grid at halftime and at the end of the game to see if you won. That is all there is to it. If you want to know which numbers are historically the luckiest, our best squares numbers breakdown has the data. And for the do's and don'ts, read our etiquette guide. You can also learn about the game's origins on our History page or check our FAQ for common questions. And if you are the one organizing, see our office game day guide and tips for a great grid.