NCAA college football 25: What are overtime rules?
College football overtime rules add an exciting dynamic to the game, offering fans an extra dose of drama and suspense when regulation time ends in a tie. Here's everything you need to know about how overtime works in college football and how the rules have evolved over the years.
When Did College Football Overtime Start?
Before the 1995 season, if a college football game ended in a tie, it was just that - a tie. However, this changed when overtime was introduced ahead of the 1995 bowl season, with the first overtime game taking place in the Las Vegas Bowl between Toledo and Nevada, where Toledo won 40-37. The rule was fully adopted for the 1996 season. While the overtime format remained unchanged through 2018, there have been two major changes since then - once in 2019 and again in 2021 - to keep games fair and reduce the length of overtime periods.
How Does College Football Overtime Work?
In the simplest terms, college football overtime begins when the game is tied at the end of regulation (after four quarters). Each team gets one possession from the opponent's 25-yard line to score points. If one team outscores the other during the first overtime period, they win the game. However, if the score is still tied after one overtime period, another overtime is played with each team again starting from the 25-yard line.
This continues until a winner is determined. Unlike NFL overtime, there is no game clock during college football overtime - each team gets possession regardless of how long the previous series took. However, there is still a play clock for each series.
How Is Possession Determined?
At the start of overtime, a coin toss determines which team gets the ball first. The visiting team's captain calls heads or tails, and the winner of the toss decides whether to start on offense or defense, or which end of the field to defend. The team that loses the toss gets the remaining option. Teams generally choose to defend first in overtime because it gives them the advantage of knowing how many points they need to score on their possession.
For instance, if the team that starts on offense scores a touchdown, the other team knows it needs to score at least a touchdown to have a chance. If the team on offense fails to score, the second team can win with a field goal.
How Do the Rules Change After the First Overtime?
In the second overtime, the rules remain the same: each team starts from the opponent's 25-yard line. If a team scores a touchdown, it must attempt a 2-point conversion starting in the second overtime. This rule change, which was implemented in 2021, aims to reduce the length of overtime games and prevent games from dragging on for too long. Previously, teams were only required to attempt a 2-point conversion starting with the third overtime period.
How Do the Rules Change After the Second Overtime?
After two overtime periods, if the game is still tied, the game moves into a 2-point conversion-only format, starting with the third overtime. Each team alternates 2-point conversion attempts, and the first team to score and not allow the opponent to score wins. This change was introduced in 2019, following the infamous seven-overtime game between Texas A&M and LSU in 2018, which lasted almost five hours. The 2-point conversion rule was implemented to prevent games from becoming excessively long.
Can the Game End in a Tie?
No, in college football, games can no longer end in a tie, thanks to the introduction of overtime. Before 1995, ties were a common outcome, but since the introduction of overtime, the game will continue until one team scores more points than the other in a given overtime period. This is different from the NFL, where teams can tie after a 10-minute overtime period if neither team scores.
College Football Overtime Rules Summary
First OT:
Teams start at the opponent's 25-yard line.
Each team has one possession.
Second OT:
Teams start at the opponent's 25-yard line.
Each team has one possession.
If either team scores a touchdown, it must attempt a 2-point conversion.
Third OT (and beyond):
Teams alternate 2-point conversion attempts until one team wins.
More Coverage on College Football
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