AscentLeague rules
2026 Season•Member guide
Published rules · Version 2026.2
Know the rules before you play.
How to play each game, when picks are due, and how winners are determined.
All deadlines are in Eastern Time.
Regular season
Weekly Pick'em and Overall Challenge.
Making Picks
- Select a winner for each matchup on the weekly schedule.
Pick Deadlines
- Picks for games scheduled before Sunday at 1:00 PM Eastern lock at their scheduled kickoff.
- All remaining picks and Tie Breaker points lock Sunday at 1:00 PM Eastern.
- Picks cannot be made or changed after a game locks.
Scoring
- Each correct pick counts as a win. Incorrect picks, missed picks, and tied games count as losses.
- You must pick at least 75% of the week's games. For example, a 14-game week requires at least 11 picks. Weeks below this minimum do not count toward Weekly or Overall standings.
- The player with the most wins takes the weekly prize.
Tie Breaker
- The Tie Breaker determines the weekly winner when players tie for the most wins.
- Predict the total points both teams will score in the designated Tie Breaker game.
- The prediction closest to the actual combined score wins the Tie Breaker, regardless of whether it is over or under.
- Players with equally close predictions split the weekly prize.
- If, for any reason, the designated Tie Breaker game is not completed and will not be rescheduled, the weekly winner is determined by total wins alone. Players tied for the most wins split the prize.
Scoring
- Your Overall score is the sum of your Weekly Pick'em wins over the 18-week regular season.
Top 5 Payouts
- The players who rank in the Top 5 at the completion of the regular season receive payouts based on their final standings.
- The payouts for tied positions are combined and divided equally among the tied players. For example, two players tied for second split the second- and third-place payouts; the next player finishes fourth.
- Any players tied for fifth split the fifth-place prize equally.
Pity Prize
- Among players who complete all 18 weeks, the player with the fewest wins receives the Pity Prize.
- Tied Pity Prize winners split the prize equally.
Side challenges
Survivor and Margin share one weekly pick. You must enter in Week 1; later entry is not allowed.
Making Picks
- Choose one team each week. You may use each team only once during the season.
- You may pick future weeks in advance.
Pick Deadlines
- Your pick locks at your team's scheduled kickoff or Sunday at 1:00 PM Eastern, whichever comes first.
- Before your pick locks, you may switch to an unused team whose pick deadline has not passed.
Elimination
- A win or tied NFL game advances you. A loss or missed pick eliminates you.
- If all remaining players are eliminated in the same week, they all advance. Previously eliminated players do not return.
- After elimination, continue picking for Margin. Previously used teams remain unavailable.
Winner
- The last remaining player wins the Survivor prize.
- If more than one player remains after Week 18, they split the Survivor prize equally.
Making Picks
- Your Survivor selection is also your Margin pick. Choose a team you expect to win by the largest margin.
- You may use each team only once during the season.
- You may pick future weeks in advance.
- There is no elimination. Continue picking through all 18 weeks, even after elimination from Survivor.
Pick Deadlines
- Your pick locks at your team's scheduled kickoff or Sunday at 1:00 PM Eastern, whichever comes first.
- Before your pick locks, you may switch to an unused team whose pick deadline has not passed.
Scoring
- Add the points your team wins by to your score, or subtract the points it loses by. A tied game scores zero.
- A missed pick receives the week's largest losing margin as a deduction.
- Your season score is the total of all 18 weekly results.
Top 5 Payouts
- The players who rank in the Top 5 at the completion of the regular season receive payouts based on their final standings.
- If points are tied, the player with more winning picks ranks higher. Tied NFL games do not count as winning picks.
- The payouts for positions still tied are combined and divided equally among the tied players.
Postseason
Playoff Pick'em, Playoff Rank'em, and Super Bowl Props. Squares are purchased separately.
Making Picks
- Select the winner of each matchup: six Wild Card games, four Divisional games, two Conference Championships, and the Super Bowl.
- Make new picks for each round as the matchups are set.
Pick Deadlines
- Submit at least one pick before the first playoff game's scheduled kickoff to enter the contest.
- All picks for a round lock at that round's first scheduled kickoff. Partial picks and changes are allowed until then.
- Missing a round does not prevent you from picking later rounds.
Scoring
- Each correct pick earns one point. Incorrect or missing picks earn zero.
- The player with the most points after the Super Bowl wins.
Tie Breaker
- With your Super Bowl pick, submit a prediction for both teams' combined final points, including overtime. Use a whole number greater than zero.
- If players tie for the most points, the closest prediction wins, whether over or under. Equally close players split the prize.
- A tied player with a prediction ranks ahead of one without it. If all tied leaders have no prediction, they split the prize.
Rankings & Deadline
- Rank all 14 teams, using each rank once. Put teams you expect to win the most games at the top.
- Submit your complete rankings before the first playoff game's scheduled kickoff. Rankings cannot change after that deadline.
Scoring
- Rank 1 earns 14 points per win, rank 2 earns 13, and so on down to one point per win for rank 14.
- Add the points earned by all teams throughout the playoffs, including the Super Bowl. Byes earn no points.
Top 5 Payouts & Ties
- The Top 5 players receive payouts based on total points. There is no additional Tie Breaker.
- Tied players split the combined prizes for the places they occupy. Only prizes for first through fifth place are included.
Picks & Deadline
- Answer every question about the Super Bowl, such as the first touchdown or most rushing yards.
- All answers lock at the scheduled Super Bowl kickoff. You may change answers until then.
Scoring & Ties
- Each correct answer earns one point; an incorrect answer earns zero.
- A tied statistical category awards half a point to everyone who answered that question.
- The highest total wins. Tied winners split the prize equally.
Squares & Deadline
- Purchase available squares on a 10-by-10 board at its listed price per square.
- Boards close when sold out or at the scheduled Super Bowl kickoff. The commissioner may close a board earlier.
Number Assignment
- After a board closes, digits 0–9 are randomly assigned to its rows and columns, one team on each axis.
- The numbers remain fixed for the entire game.
Winners & Payouts
- Use the last digit of each team's total score to find the winning square where the two digits intersect.
- Each board pays 1Q: 10%, 2Q: 30%, 3Q: 10%, and 4Q: 50% of its prize pool. The 4Q payout uses the final score, including overtime.
Unsold Squares
- If a winning square is unsold, its payout rolls into the next payout on that board.
- If the final winning square is unsold, the final payout and any rollover return to the football pool.