It’s that time of year: the postseason – when evenly matched teams play each other more often, meaning a higher chance of overtime. So what are the rules for overtime in college football? Are they different for the College Football Playoff? What is the record for the number of overtimes in a single game?

Here’s everything you need to know about how overtime works in college football.

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What are the rules for overtime in college football?

A college football game goes into overtime if the game is tied at the end of regulation time (after four quarters) and the team that scores the most points in overtime wins the game.

The captains of each team go to the 50-yard line for the overtime coin toss. The winning team of the coin toss can decide whether to play offense or defense or which end of the field will be used for both possessions of that overtime period. The losing team decides on the remaining option.

This is not a modified sudden death system like the NFL; Instead, each team gets one possession in each overtime period until one outscores the other.

In the first two overtime periods, teams start at the 25-yard line (unless moved by a penalty). The attacking team may begin their possession with the football anywhere on or between the markers. Each team retains possession of the ball until it scores (touchdown or field goal) or fails to achieve a first down. Starting in the second overtime, teams must attempt to score a 2-point conversion after a touchdown instead of an extra point. Starting in the third overtime, teams alternate making 2-point plays instead of starting another drive.

Each team receives one time-out for each overtime period. Timeouts not used during regulation do not carry over to the extension and unused timeouts from previous extensions do not carry over to the next. Time off between overtime hours will be credited to the following period.

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What happens after two overtimes in college football?

Starting in the second overtime, teams must attempt to score a 2-point conversion after a touchdown instead of an extra point. Starting in the third overtime, teams alternate making 2-point plays instead of starting another drive.

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How many overtime periods can there be in NCAA college football?

There is no limit on overtime in college football.

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Are there ties in college football?

Since there is no limit on overtime in college football, there are no ties.

Before the introduction of overtime in 1995, games often ended in a draw, but overtime must determine a winner.

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How many timeouts do you get in overtime in college football?

Each team receives one time-out for each overtime period. Timeouts not used during regulation do not carry over to the extension and unused timeouts from previous extensions do not carry over to the next. Time off between overtime hours will be credited to the following period.

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Are the overtime rules the same for the regular season, bowl games and the College Football Playoff?

Yes, overtime rules apply to all college football games.

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What are the longest overtime games in college football history?

The first and only game to ever reach nine overtimes occurred on October 23, 2021, when Illinois and Penn State went back and forth until the Illini scored a two-pointer in the ninth overtime against the No. 7 Nittany Lions annoyed.

Most recently, No. 7 Georgia and Georgia Tech played an eight-overtime game on Nov. 29, with some calling the 2024 edition a “clean, old-fashioned eight.” The Yellow Jackets led the Bulldogs 17-0 at halftime, but the Bulldogs rallied in the second half and tied the game at 27-27 to force OT. In the eighth OT, Georgia was successful on its 2-point attempt after stopping Georgia Tech on its attempt, ultimately winning the game 44-42.