College football rules

Scoring

Points by type of score
Touchdown	6
Extra point (kick after a touchdown)	1
Two-point conversion	2
Field goal	3
Safety	2

Game length

Four 15-minute quarters, 60 minutes of game time, with halftime after the second quarter. A receiver needs only one foot in bounds for a catch, one of the clearest differences from the NFL.

Overtime

First overtime. No clock. Each team gets one possession from the opponent's 25-yard line. After a touchdown, a team may kick for one or go for two.
Second overtime. Same possessions, but a team that scores a touchdown must go for two.
Third overtime and later. Each possession is a single two-point attempt from the 3-yard line, alternating until one team leads.

The format in place since 2021. Rules are set by the NCAA football rules committee and can change between seasons.

Overtime in Pac-12 games, by season

20260 of 36
20255 of 89
20243 of 89
20234 of 90
20220 of 92
20215 of 93
20201 of 47
20193 of 92
20184 of 94
20173 of 94
20163 of 90
20154 of 93
20144 of 95
20136 of 94
20124 of 92
20114 of 91
20102 of 90
20094 of 94
20083 of 88
20074 of 91
20061 of 91
20053 of 89
20044 of 86
20031 of 95
20025 of 80
20011 of 40

Games involving a Pac-12 team, from the line scores in the game log. 81 of 2215 since 2001, 3.7%.

Latest overtime games

2025-11-28 San Diego State at New Mexico 17-23
2025-11-15 Utah State at UNLV 26-29
2025-10-18 Texas State at Marshall 37-40
2025-10-11 Troy at Texas State 48-41
2025-09-26 Houston at Oregon State 27-24
2024-12-23 Northern Illinois at Fresno State 28-20
2024-10-05 Colorado State at Oregon State 31-39
2024-09-20 San José State at Washington State 52-54
2023-11-24 Utah State at New Mexico 44-41
2023-11-04 Utah State at San Diego State 32-24

The rules of college football that matter most on a Saturday: what each score is worth, how long a game is, and how overtime works, with the real record of how often Pac-12 games need it. For how college football is organised, see FBS vs FCS and the conferences.

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Frequently asked questions

How many quarters are in a college football game?

Four quarters of 15 minutes each, 60 minutes of game time, with halftime between the second and third quarters.

How does overtime work in college football?

There is no game clock. Each team gets a possession from the opponent's 25-yard line. In the second overtime a team that scores a touchdown must go for two. From the third overtime on, each possession is a single two-point attempt from the 3-yard line. This format has been in place since 2021.

How many points is a touchdown, field goal and safety?

A touchdown is 6 points, followed by a try: 1 point for a kick or 2 for a run or pass into the end zone. A field goal is 3 points and a safety is 2.

How often do Pac-12 games go to overtime?

81 of 2215 games involving Pac-12 teams since 2001 went to overtime, 3.7%. The latest: San Diego State at New Mexico, 2025-11-28.