Overtime in college football delivers unmatched excitement, especially during the postseason, where close matchups are common.
However, the unique rules governing overtime can be confusing for newcomers. Here’s a breakdown of how it works in the College Football Playoff.
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The basics of College Football overtime
If a game is tied after four quarters, it heads into overtime, where each team gets one possession from the opponent’s 25-yard line.
The team with the most points after the first overtime wins.
If the score remains tied, additional overtime periods follow until a winner emerges.
Unlike the NFL, there’s no game clock during overtime, though the play clock still applies.
Possession is determined by a coin toss, with the visiting team’s captain calling heads or tails.
The winner of the toss decides whether to start on offense or defense or selects which end of the field to defend.
Most teams choose to start on defense to know how many points they’ll need to win.
CFP Rules change after each overtime
In the second overtime period, teams still start from the opponent’s 25-yard line, but there’s a twist: any team scoring a touchdown must attempt a 2-point conversion.
This rule, introduced in 2021, aims to reduce the number of overtime periods.
If the game remains tied after two overtimes, the format shifts dramatically.
Teams alternate 2-point conversion attempts rather than starting possessions from the 25-yard line.
This continues until one team converts while the other fails, securing a 2-point win.
Ties were once common in college football, but that changed in 1995 with the introduction of overtime.
Now, games continue until a winner is determined.
This contrasts with the NFL, where ties can still occur after a single overtime period.
Overtime rules at a glance
- First Overtime: Teams start at the opponent’s 25-yard line, one possession each.
- Second Overtime: Same format, but teams must attempt a 2-point conversion after touchdowns.
- Third Overtime (and beyond): Teams alternate 2-point conversion attempts until a winner is decided.
- The system ensures a thrilling conclusion to every game, making college football overtime one of the sport’s most captivating features.
What happens if the CFP National Championshipends in a tie?
When the CFP National Championship ends in a tie after the four 15-minute quarters. Each team gets one possession in each overtime period until one outperforms the other.