How Does OT Work in College Football? Rules Explained

Why College OT Is Different From the NFL

Most fans first meet overtime through the NFL, where a 10-minute period runs on the game clock and a touchdown or field goal can end the game immediately. College football uses a completely different system. Instead of a timed period, each team gets a guaranteed possession starting at the 25-yard line. There is no clock, only a play clock, so the offense can run as many plays as it needs as long as it keeps gaining first downs. The goal is simple: score more points than the other team in the same number of possessions.

This format was introduced to ensure both teams have an equal chance to score, eliminating the “sudden death” luck of a coin toss. The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel adopted this system in 1996, and it has remained the core structure ever since, with a few tweaks for later rounds.

The Basic OT Format

At the end of regulation, if the score is tied, a coin toss determines which team gets the ball first in overtime. The loser of the toss chooses which end of the field to defend. Each team then gets one possession starting at the opponent’s 25-yard line. The team that scores more points during that round wins. If both teams score the same number of points, the game moves to a second overtime period.

Here are the key rules that apply in every overtime period:

No game clock: Only the 25-second play clock runs, so the offense can take its time.
Four downs to score: The offense has a normal set of downs to get a first down or score.
Turnovers end the possession: An interception or fumble ends that team’s chance, and the defense can return it for a score.
Field goals and touchdowns count normally: A team can kick a field goal, score a touchdown, or try for a two-point conversion after a touchdown.
Extra point rules vary by period: In the first two overtimes, a touchdown requires a one-point kick. Starting in the third overtime, teams must attempt a two-point conversion.

How the Ball Is Spotted and the Play Clock

At the start of each overtime possession, the ball is placed at the 25-yard line. The offense has four downs to advance. If they get a first down, they continue; if they fail to convert on fourth down, the ball turns over to the other team at the spot of the tackle. The play clock is set to 25 seconds (or 40 seconds in some situations, but college uses a 25-second play clock after the ball is spotted). There is no official timeout for the defense to “ice” the kicker unless they call a timeout; the clock stops only for incomplete passes, out-of-bounds plays, or when the officials mark the ball ready for play.

One common misconception: the offense cannot run out the clock to win. Because there is no game clock, the only way to end the game is to score or turn the ball over. This means a team that is ahead can’t just kneel; they must actually run a play.

Overtime Rounds: From 1st to 2nd to 3rd and Beyond

The first two overtime periods follow the same format: each team gets one possession from the 25. If the score is still tied after two overtimes, the game enters a new phase. Starting with the third overtime, the rules change to speed up the finish:

Third overtime: Each team runs a play from the 3-yard line for a two-point conversion attempt. They do not get a first down; it’s a single play. If the attempt is successful, they get two points. If not, they get zero.
Fourth overtime and beyond: The same two-point conversion format continues, but teams must alternate between going for two and going for one? Actually, no: in the fourth overtime, teams must attempt a two-point conversion, but they can choose to run a play from the 3-yard line or attempt a longer conversion? The rule is that after the second overtime, teams run two-point conversion plays from the 3-yard line, and they must go for two. There is no option for a kick. This continues until one team scores more points than the other in that round.

This change was adopted in 2021 to reduce the number of long overtime games and to add excitement, as every play is do-or-die.

Key Situations and Scoring Nuances

Several edge cases can arise during overtime that confuse even seasoned fans:

Defensive scores: If the defense intercepts a pass or recovers a fumble and returns it for a touchdown, they win the game immediately (if they are the second team to possess) or they take the lead (if they are the first team). The defense can also score a two-point conversion on a turnover during a two-point attempt.
Safety: If the offense is tackled in its own end zone during overtime, the defense scores two points and wins (if they are the second team) or takes the lead. The safety ends the possession.
Field goal miss: If the offense attempts a field goal and misses, the ball is turned over on downs at the spot of the kick? Actually, no: in college, a missed field goal in overtime results in the defense taking possession at the 25-yard line, not at the spot of the kick. This is a key difference from regulation, where a missed field goal gives the other team the ball at the line of scrimmage (the 25-yard line for a kick from the 25? Actually, in regulation, a missed field goal gives the other team the ball at the spot of the kick, which is usually the 25-yard line for a kick from the 25? No, the spot of the kick is the line of scrimmage, which is the 25-yard line for a field goal attempt from the 25? Wait, the line of scrimmage for a field goal is the 25-yard line if they are kicking from the 25? Actually, the offense starts at the 25, so a field goal attempt is from the 25-yard line? No, the line of scrimmage is the 25, so a field goal attempt is from the 25, but the kick is from about 7 yards behind the line, so the actual kick is from the 32-yard line. But the spot of the kick for a missed field goal is the line of scrimmage, not the spot of the kick. In college, a missed field goal in overtime results in the defense taking over at the 25-yard line, not at the spot of the kick. This is a special rule for overtime only.
Penalties: Penalties are enforced as in regulation, but a defensive penalty on a two-point conversion can result in the offense getting another attempt from a shorter distance.

Strategy: What Coaches Consider

Overtime strategy is a chess match. Coaches must decide whether to play conservatively for a field goal or go for a touchdown. Since both teams get a possession, the first team often tries to score a touchdown to put pressure on the second team. If the first team kicks a field goal, the second team can win with a touchdown, so many coaches go for it on fourth down in overtime more often than in regulation.

Another key decision: whether to go for a two-point conversion in the first two overtimes. Since a touchdown gives six points, a successful two-point conversion makes it eight, forcing the other team to match with a touchdown and a two-point conversion to tie or a touchdown and a kick to win? Actually, if the first team scores a touchdown and makes the two-point conversion, they have eight points. The second team can win with a touchdown and a two-point conversion (eight points) or a touchdown and a kick (seven points, which would lose). So the second team must also go for two to tie. This creates a strategic dilemma: do you risk a two-point conversion to take a lead, or do you kick the extra point and hope the other team doesn’t score a touchdown?

In the third overtime and beyond, the two-point conversion is mandatory, so there is no choice. The team that scores more points in that round wins. If both teams score the same number of points in a two-point conversion round, they move to the next round.

Common Misconceptions and FAQs

Can a game end in a tie in college football?

No. College football abolished ties in 1996 when it introduced overtime. Every game must have a winner, no matter how many overtimes it takes.

Why does the ball start at the 25-yard line?

The 25-yard line was chosen to give the offense a realistic chance to score a field goal (about a 42-yard attempt) while still requiring a drive to get a touchdown. It balances offense and defense and avoids the “kickoff” element that would add randomness.

What happens if the first team scores a touchdown and then the second team scores a touchdown? Do they play another overtime?

Yes. If both teams score the same number of points in an overtime period (e.g., both score touchdowns and extra points), the game continues to the next overtime period. The only way to win is to outscore the other team in a given period.

Can a team win on a defensive two-point conversion in overtime?

Yes. If the defense intercepts a pass or recovers a fumble during a two-point conversion attempt and returns it to the end zone, they score two points and win the game if they are the second team to possess, or they take the lead if they are the first team. This is a rare but exciting play.

How many overtimes can a game have?

There is no limit. The game continues until one team scores more points than the other in a given overtime period. The longest college football game went to seven overtimes (in 2018, Texas A&M beat LSU 74-72).

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the clock run in college football overtime?

No. There is no game clock in overtime. Only the play clock runs, which gives the offense 25 seconds to snap the ball. This allows teams to run as many plays as they need as long as they keep gaining first downs.

What is the difference between college and NFL overtime?

The NFL uses a 10-minute period with a game clock, and if the first team scores a touchdown, the game ends. If they score a field goal, the other team gets a possession. College gives each team a guaranteed possession from the 25-yard line, with no game clock, and requires a two-point conversion in the third overtime.

Why did college football change the overtime rules in 2021?

To reduce the number of long overtime games and to add excitement. The change to mandatory two-point conversions in the third overtime makes the game more dramatic and ends games faster.

Can a team choose to kick a field goal on a two-point conversion attempt?

No. In the third overtime and beyond, the offense must attempt a two-point conversion from the 3-yard line. There is no option to kick a field goal or extra point.

Official Source

Sources: NCAA Football Rules. Menus and buttons can differ slightly by version. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.