PHOTOS: See the adorable 2024 Puppy Bowl starting lineup

NEW YORK — The Puppy Bowl is back this Super Bowl Sunday, and it’s bigger and smaller than ever. 

The annual matchup between Team Ruff and Team Fluff for the “Lombarky” Trophy will feature more puppies than ever: 131 adorable dogs from 73 shelters and rescues, representing 36 states and territories. 

While the game is bigger than ever, it will also include the Puppy Bowl’s all-time smallest competitor, Sweetpea, who weighs in at just 1.7 pounds. Levi, a Great Dane who weighs 72 pounds, is the game’s largest pup. Six puppies with special needs will take part, including four deaf dogs, a pug who suffers from a neurological condition cerebellar hypoplasia, and a Papillon who only has two legs. 

Several players have names fitting the matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers, like Patrick Mabones, Bark Purdy and Niner. Player pup Guy Furieri promised to take the team to Flavortown if they pull off a win. 

Longtime fans might get a chance to see old favorites when previous Puppy Bowl players return to be inducted into the brand new Puppy Bowl Hall of Fame to celebrate the Puppy Bowl’s 20th anniversary. 

Puppy Bowl referee Dan Schachner returns for his 13th year, but for the first time he will be joined by a puppy assistant coach, Whistle, who will help him with calls. 

• Sunday, February 11, 2024
• Puppy Bowl pre-game show with puppy player background and coach interviews starts at 1 p.m. Eastern on Animal Planet
• Puppy Bowl XX begins 2 p.m. Eastern and will be simulcast across Animal Planet, Discovery, TBS, truTV, Max and discovery+