College Football Overtime Rules Explained

How college football overtime works

Start at the 25. Each team receives a possession beginning at the opponent’s 25-yard line, unless a penalty changes the starting spot. The offense may score by advancing the ball, kicking a field goal, or otherwise scoring under the usual rules.
Give both teams a turn. The first team runs its possession, then the other team gets a possession from the opposite end of the field. A team’s turn generally ends when it scores, fails to score, or loses the ball in a way that ends the play.
Compare scores after one period. If one team scores more than the other in the paired possessions, it wins. If the scores are equal, another overtime period begins.
Use two-point tries after two overtimes. In the third overtime and every one after it, teams alternate one-play possessions from the 3-yard line and must attempt a two-point conversion after a touchdown.
Continue until there is a winner. Teams keep taking turns under the applicable overtime format. The game ends when a period produces a winner; there is no tie under the standard college overtime procedure.

What happens during each possession

Overtime is not a conventional extra quarter. The clock is not run as it is during a normal period; instead, teams receive alternating possessions in a defined scoring situation. The offense begins at the opponent’s 25-yard line, so it needs to move the ball 25 yards for a touchdown, though a field goal can score from farther away.

A possession is not automatically a fixed number of plays. The offense can run as many plays as needed while it retains the ball and stays in the game. A touchdown, field goal, turnover, turnover on downs, or other event that ends the possession can determine how many points that team earns. Ordinary football rules still apply, including rules for penalties, scoring, and possession.

For example, suppose Team A scores a touchdown and kicks the extra point, making seven points. Team B then scores a touchdown and also makes its extra point. The period is tied, so the teams continue. If Team A scores a field goal on its next possession and Team B does not score, Team A wins.

How the overtime format changes

The first two overtimes use paired possessions from the 25-yard line. After each team has had its opportunity, the score determines whether the game is over or another period is needed. A team does not necessarily have to use all its plays: if it scores and the opponent cannot match or exceed that score, the game ends.

Beginning with the third overtime, teams no longer run full possessions from the 25. Instead, each team gets a single offensive play from the 3-yard line, and a touchdown must be followed by a two-point conversion attempt. The teams alternate these attempts until one scores more than the other in a round.

This change limits the length and structure of very long games. It also makes the later rounds different from ordinary football: after a touchdown, a team cannot choose a one-point kick to make the score seven. The required conversion attempt is worth two points if successful.

Who gets the ball first, and what can the defense do?

A pregame coin toss determines the initial overtime choices. The winner can choose whether to play offense or defense first, or can choose the end of the field to defend; the other team receives the remaining choice. In subsequent overtime periods, teams alternate which side has the first possession. The referee administers the procedure, and the teams change ends as required by the rules.

The defense is active during an opponent’s possession and can end it by forcing a turnover or stopping the offense from gaining the yards needed for a first down. It can also score: a defensive touchdown or safety counts under the applicable scoring rules. Overtime is not a guaranteed scoring chance for each offense if a team loses the ball or is stopped.

Teams may also make decisions based on the score and situation. For instance, if the team that goes second knows it must score a touchdown to keep the game alive, it may face a different decision than a team that needs only a field goal to tie. The rules provide the structure; coaches choose how to manage the possession.

Common misconceptions and situations to know

It is not sudden death from the start. One team’s first score does not normally end the game; the other team gets a chance to answer. The result is judged after the teams’ paired possessions, subject to scoring events that can end the game earlier under the rules.
A field goal does not always win. If the team that goes first kicks a field goal, the opponent can win with a touchdown, tie with a field goal, or lose without scoring.
The 25-yard line is a starting point, not a time limit. Possessions can include multiple plays, and the offense may lose yards or face penalties that move the ball from its original spot.
Later overtime is not a full drive. From the third overtime onward, each team gets one play per round from the 3-yard line, with a required two-point try after a touchdown.
Regular season and postseason procedures can differ in application. The core NCAA overtime format is used in both, but other competition rules and administrative details may apply. Check the governing competition’s current rules if a specific game or tournament is involved.

How college overtime compares with the NFL

College and professional football do not use identical overtime procedures. College overtime is organized as alternating possessions from the opponent’s 25-yard line, with the two-point format taking over in the third overtime. The NFL uses a different overtime structure, including a timed period and rules governing possession and scoring that vary by competition context.

That distinction explains why a college game can feature several short, high-pressure possessions rather than an extra quarter played from the opening kickoff. It is also why a rule remembered from an NFL game may not answer what happens in a college game.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does every team get the ball in college football overtime?

Teams ordinarily alternate possessions, so each has a chance to respond to the other’s result. A game may end before a normal-looking full possession is completed if a scoring play or other rule-ending event settles the outcome.

Where does a college football overtime possession start?

In the first two overtime periods, it starts at the opponent’s 25-yard line, subject to penalties or other rule adjustments. From the third overtime onward, the alternating attempts begin at the 3-yard line.

Can a college football game end in a tie?

Under the standard NCAA overtime procedure, teams continue through additional overtime periods until one leads after the relevant round. Competition-specific rules should be checked for any event that uses a different governing format.

When do teams have to go for two in overtime?

Starting in the third overtime, a team that scores a touchdown must attempt a two-point conversion. The attempt is made from the 3-yard line as part of the one-play round.

Is college football overtime sudden death?

No, not in the simple sense that the first score automatically wins. Teams generally get alternating chances, and the score after the paired possessions determines whether another period is needed.

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