How Football Squares Work

Football squares is a popular party game and sportsbook promotion. You’ll most likely play this game with friends on College Football National Championship. Some sportsbooks also offer football squares as a promotion to existing players, allowing them to win bonus bets, cash prizes, or other rewards.

The following guide explains how to play the Football Squares party game. After, we’ll discuss how sportsbook Football Squares work, and how you can claim a football square when your sports betting site offers a Football Squares promotion.


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Table of Contents

How Football Squares Work

A 10×10 grid has numbers 0-9 randomly assigned in the top row for the home team. The away team has numbers 0-9 randomly assigned in the column on the lefthand side.

10×10 Football Squares Grid – Away team left, Home team top
x 1 3 2 5 4 6 0 9 7 8
7 Jim Susy
1 Susy Jim
4 Todd Marcus
3 Jake Adnan
5 Jose Susy
9 Lisa Jose
0 Marcus Allen
2 Susy Ben
6 Adnan Todd
8 Lisa Allen
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Object of the Game

The object of the football squares game is to own a square that corresponds to the last digit of each team’s score at the end of the selected game segment.

How to Play Football Squares

Time needed: 3 minutes

How to play football squares

  1. Add the Away team and Home team to the football squares grid

    Put the Away team on the lefthand side of the football squares grid. Put the Home team at the top of the grid.

  2. Randomly assign numbers 0-9 in the away team’s column and numbers 0-9 for the home team’s row.

    Randomly fill in numbers 0-9 in the away team’s column. Use each number once. Also do the same for the home team’s row, again using each number once.

  3. Distribute one or more squares to each player

    Assign one or more squares to each player. Players can purchase each square for a fee. Or, the squares can be assigned at random.

  4. Check each team’s score at the end of the game segment

    Check each team’s official score at the end of the selected game segment.

  5. Match the last digit of each team’s score to determine the winning square

    Find the row containing the last digit of the away team’s score. Find the column containing the last digit of the home team’s score. The square where the row and the column meet is the winning player.

Determining the Game Winner

The player who owns the square that matches the last digit of each team’s score wins a prize. Typically, players will purchase each square for a fixed fee. The game winner may win some or all of the total prize money.


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Game Variations

There are a number of Football Squares game variations. The following are just a few different ways to play football squares. Or, you can make up your own variation as well.

  • Free Football Squares – It’s not necessary to play for money. A winner could receive a gift, a grab bag, candy, peanuts, or some other non-monetary prize.
  • Random Football Squares – Assign squares randomly using a drawing before the game begins. This ensures fair play and makes the game closer to bingo, which is more about luck than skill or bankroll.
  • Power Squares – Some digit combinations are more likely to win than others. Increase the price of these squares in exchange for a smaller prize. You could also increase the prize money for squares that are statistically less likely to win.
  • Game Segment Multiplier – Pick two or more game segments to multiply a player’s potential prize money. For example, if the same square wins for the 1st Half and Game, the player wins all the money.
  • Bonus Squares – Select a couple squares in advance that win side prizes or other outcomes to keep your party lively. For example, a square that corresponds to the last 2 digits of someone’s birth year, street address, or phone number.
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Popular Events

The most popular football square events include the Big Ten.

Of course, the game could be played for any football or basketball game as well. It’s meant to be a fun diversion among friends and a way to liven up an otherwise routine afternoon or evening of watching football.

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Looking for a FREE football squares grid for your next party or special event? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. The following are free to and use as you see fit. Make sure to review the game rules above before you play.

Excel Football Squares Sheet

our free Excel Football Squares sheet. You can print it out using any Windows device or Mac with software that can open Microsoft Excel documents. If you’d like an unlocked version, please us.

Printable Football Squares PDF

our free Printable Football Squares PDF. You can print it out using your mobile device or laptop to starting playing immediately.