College football rules
Scoring
| 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 Big Ten games, by season
Games involving a Big Ten team, from the line scores in the game log. 164 of 4134 since 2001, 4%.
Latest overtime games
- 2026-09-12 Wake Forest at Purdue 38-36
- 2025-12-30 USC at TCU 27-30
- 2025-12-26 New Mexico at Minnesota 17-20
- 2025-11-01 Michigan State at Minnesota 20-23
- 2025-09-27 Oregon at Penn State 30-24
- 2025-09-06 Boston College at Michigan State 40-42
- 2024-11-02 Northwestern at Purdue 26-20
- 2024-10-12 Purdue at Illinois 49-50
- 2024-10-12 Penn State at USC 33-30
- 2024-09-20 Illinois at Nebraska 31-24
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 Big Ten 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 Big Ten games go to overtime?
164 of 4134 games involving Big Ten teams since 2001 went to overtime, 4%. The latest: Wake Forest at Purdue, 2026-09-12.