Super Bowl 60 Squares Game: How to Play & Win for Super Bowl LX
Super Bowl Squares are one of the easiest and most popular ways to add excitement to the biggest game of the year. Whether you’re playing with friends, family, or coworkers, squares turn every score change into a potential payout, no football expertise required.
This guide walks you through everything you need to know to set up and run your own Super Bowl squares game, from creating the board to understanding payouts and scoring.
Super Bowl LX kicks off on February 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. You can run a classic pen-and-paper squares pool using a printable board or manage entries manually. Both formats work perfectly for Super Bowl Sunday!
Super Bowl Squares Guide
A Super Bowl squares game is played on a 10×10 grid, with each square representing a unique combination of the final digits of each team’s score. Players claim one or more squares on the board, and winners are determined by the score at the end of each quarter.
You can run a Super Bowl squares pool using a printable board or a shared document. Once all squares are claimed, numbers from 0 to 9 are randomly assigned across the top and side of the grid to create every possible score combination.
Each square corresponds to the last digit of the Home team’s score and the Away team’s score. When the score changes during the game, those final digits determine which square is currently winning.
To keep the game fair, numbers should only be assigned after all squares are filled. This prevents players from selecting squares based on favorable scoring outcomes.
Home vs. Away Team Designation
Even though the Super Bowl is played at a neutral site, one team is still designated as the “home” team for scoring purposes. The AFC and NFC alternate home-team designation each year.
For Super Bowl LX, the AFC is the Home team and the NFC is the Away team. Using Home and Away labels keeps the board simple and avoids confusion when tracking scores.
Alternative Labeling Options
If you prefer not to label the board by teams, you can also set up your grid using:
- Winning Score vs. Losing Score
- Team A vs. Team B (before the matchup is announced)
These alternatives are especially useful if you’re preparing the board ahead of time or running a more casual squares pool.
How Super Bowl Squares Work (Practical Examples)
Each square corresponds to the last digit of each team’s score. After the grid is filled and numbers 0–9 are assigned to the rows and columns, the winning square at the end of each quarter matches the final digit of the Home team score and the Away team score for that quarter.
Note: For Super Bowl LX, the AFC is designated as the Home team, and the NFC is the Away team.
| Quarter | Example Score (Home–Away) | Last Digits (Home, Away) | Winning Square |
|---|---|---|---|
| End of Q1 | 13–7 | 3 (Home), 7 (Away) | Row 3 × Column 7 |
| Halftime | 20–10 | 0 (Home), 0 (Away) | Row 0 × Column 0 |
| End of Q3 | 23–16 | 3 (Home), 6 (Away) | Row 3 × Column 6 |
| Final | 26–23 | 6 (Home), 3 (Away) | Row 6 × Column 3 |
Tip: Many groups award prizes for each quarter and a larger prize for the final score. Decide your payout structure (e.g., 20% / 20% / 20% / 40%) before the game and include it in your board description.
Getting Ready for Super Bowl Squares
Once your squares board is set up, it’s time to lock in the details and get ready for kickoff. A little preparation ahead of Super Bowl Sunday helps avoid confusion and keeps the game running smoothly for everyone involved.
Decide on Your Entry Rules
Before players start claiming squares, decide how entries will work for your pool:
- Squares per person: Limit how many squares each participant can claim, or allow unlimited entries.
- Cost per square: Many pools charge a flat amount per square (such as $5, $10, or $20), though free pools work just as well.
- Payment timing: Collect payments before kickoff to avoid tracking issues later.
Set the Payout Structure
Most Super Bowl squares pools award prizes at multiple points during the game. Common payout stages include:
- End of the 1st Quarter
- Halftime
- End of the 3rd Quarter
- Final Score
Popular payout splits include equal payouts across all four stages or a heavier emphasis on the final score (for example, 20% / 20% / 20% / 40%). Make sure the payout structure is agreed upon and communicated before the game begins.
Confirm the Matchup and Assign Numbers
Once the Super Bowl matchup is set and all squares are filled:
- Randomly assign the numbers 0–9 across the top and side of the board
- Confirm which team is Home and which is Away
- Double-check that every square is claimed and clearly labeled
After numbers are assigned, the board should be locked in with no changes.
Share the Rules With Players
To avoid confusion during the game, make sure everyone understands:
- How winners are determined each quarter
- When payouts occur
- How overtime is handled
- Who is responsible for tracking scores and distributing winnings
Clear rules upfront keep the focus on fun once the game starts.
Super Bowl Squares Rules
Super Bowl squares rules are simple and flexible, which is why the game works for nearly any group. While formats can vary, most pools follow the same basic structure.
At the end of each designated scoring stage, typically the end of the 1st quarter, halftime, the end of the 3rd quarter, and the final score, the last digit of each team’s score determines the winning square. The square that matches the Home team’s final digit and the Away team’s final digit wins that stage.
Prizes are usually paid out at each scoring stage. Some pools split payouts evenly, while others award a larger share to the final score. Whatever structure you choose, it should be finalized and shared before kickoff.
If the game goes into overtime, the final score may differ from the 4th-quarter result. Many pools treat overtime as part of the final score, while others only pay based on regulation. Decide how overtime will be handled before the game begins.
Each player is allowed a set number of squares based on the group size and grid setup. Some pools limit entries to keep things balanced, while others allow players to claim or purchase multiple squares. Squares can be free or assigned a fixed price, depending on how casual or competitive the group wants the game to be.
Overall, Super Bowl squares are meant to be fun and adaptable. As long as the rules are clearly communicated in advance, you can customize the format to fit your group.
Quick Examples
- Q1 Example: Home 13, Away 7 → last digits are 3 and 7, so the square at row 3 and column 7 wins.
- Halftime Example: Home 20, Away 10 → last digits 0 and 0, so 0 × 0 wins.
- Final Example: Home 26, Away 23 → last digits 6 and 3, so 6 × 3 wins.
Common Variations
- Number assignment: Randomize the 0–9 numbers across both axes after all boxes are claimed to keep it fair.
- Payout structure: Popular splits include 25% / 25% / 25% / 25% or 20% / 20% / 20% / 40%, with the largest share to the Final Score.
- Labels: Use Home vs. Away, or label by Winning Score and Losing Score if you prefer.
Super Bowl Squares Tips and Strategy
Super Bowl squares are ultimately a game of chance, but there are still smart ways to approach the board that can improve your experience and slightly boost your odds of landing a winning square.
1. Spread Out Your Squares
Because numbers are assigned randomly, it’s generally better to spread your squares across the grid rather than clustering them in one area. If multiple squares share the same row or column, they all depend on one team landing on the same final digit. Spreading your picks increases the number of different score combinations you’re covered for.
2. Look for Football-Friendly Numbers
Certain numbers show up more often in football scoring. Digits like 0, 3, and 7 are especially common due to touchdowns and field goals. Squares that include combinations such as 7–0, 3–7, or 0–0 tend to be more favorable, particularly in quarter-based payouts.
3. Balance Your Budget
If your squares pool involves money, avoid overextending your budget. Buying more squares increases your chances, but it also increases your risk. Set a spending limit that keeps the game fun without turning it into a financial commitment.
4. Understand the Payout Structure
Before the game starts, confirm how payouts are divided—whether evenly across all scoring stages or weighted toward the final score. Knowing the payout structure helps set expectations and avoids confusion when it’s time to distribute winnings.
Super Bowl squares are meant to enhance the viewing experience, keeping every score meaningful from kickoff through the final whistle.
Super Bowl Squares History
Looking at past Super Bowls can give players a better sense of which score digits tend to appear most often in squares pools. While each game is different, historical results highlight how common certain scoring patterns are in football.
Here’s a look at the frequency of final score digits in previous Super Bowls, updated through Super Bowl 59:
| Final Score Digit | Number of Times Occurred |
|---|---|
| 7 | 20 |
| 0 | 17 |
| 1 | 16 |
| 4 | 14 |
| 3 | 12 |
| 6 | 10 |
| 9 | 9 |
| 8 | 7 |
| 5 | 7 |
| 2 | 6 |
More than half of the digits have occurred at least 10 times across all Super Bowls. The most frequent—7, 0, 1, and 4—make sense given common scoring combinations like touchdowns, field goals, or a touchdown plus extra point. For quarter-specific scores, 0, 3, and 7 are especially common and remain the most favorable numbers to land in a Super Bowl squares pool.
Super Bowl Squares FAQ
The most favorable numbers are 7, 0, 3, 4, and 1. These come up most often in football scoring thanks to touchdowns (7), field goals (3), and common score totals that end in 0 or 4. Historically, 7 is the single most frequent digit to appear in Super Bowl history.
This is up to the pool commissioner. Common approaches include defaulting the prize to the previous quarter’s winner or carrying it over to the next quarter. Be sure to set house rules before kickoff.
You don’t pick teams—you pick squares on a 10×10 grid. The grid’s rows and columns are later assigned numbers (0–9) that correspond to the last digit of each team’s score by quarter and at the final whistle.
Payouts depend on your group’s payout structure. For example, in a $10-per-square pool with a 100-square board, the pot is $1,000. Many groups split payouts by quarter—such as 20% / 20% / 20% / 40%—so each quarter pays $200 and the final score pays $400. Always confirm rules with your pool before the game.
Squares involving a 7 are most common, often paired with 0, 3, 4, or 1. These combinations show up more frequently because of standard football scoring. Still, squares is ultimately a game of chance, and any number can win in a given quarter.
Yes. If the game goes to overtime, the Final Score winner may be different from the Q4 winner. Some pools treat overtime as an extension of the fourth quarter, while others handle it as its own prize round. Decide on your approach before the game begins.
