American Football
Ball Sports · 8 specs
Direct Answer
Official American footballs are governed by the NFL and NCAA rulebooks. The pro/college ball (Size 9) features a prolate spheroid shape with a long axis of 11.0–11.25 in (27.9–28.6 cm), long circumference of 27.75–28.5 in (70.5–72.4 cm), short circumference of 20.75–21.25 in (52.7–54.0 cm), weight of 14.0–15.0 oz (397–425 g), and inflation pressure of 12.5–13.5 psi.
Source: NFL Official Playing Rules Rule 2 / NCAA Football Rules Rule 1 · Last reviewed Aug 28, 2026
Specs
| Official Pro / College Tier | Size 9 (Wilson The Duke) NFL / NCAA Standard |
| Long Axis Length | 27.9–28.6 cm (11.0–11.25 in) |
| Long Circumference | 70.5–72.4 cm (27.75–28.5 in) |
| Short Circumference | 52.7–54.0 cm (20.75–21.25 in) |
| Weight / Mass | 397–425 g (14.0–15.0 oz) |
| Inflation Pressure | 12.5–13.5 psi (0.86–0.93 bar / 86.2–93.1 kPa) |
| Outer Material | 4-Piece Full-Grain Horween Leather with Pebble Grain Cowhide |
| Lacing Specification | 1 Lacing containing exactly 8 Cross-Stitches Pro Standard |
NFL & NCAA Construction Standards
- 4-Panel Prolate Spheroid Design: Constructed from four selected pieces of pebble-grained cowhide leather enclosing a rubber or polyurethane bladder. One panel is stitched with an 8-lace white composite cord for quarterback grip.
- NFL vs. NCAA Markings: NFL balls ('The Duke') feature solid brown leather with no white perimeter stripes, whereas NCAA and high school footballs feature two 1-inch white half-stripes 3.25 inches from each tip to enhance nighttime tracking.