College football rules

Scoring

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

1. 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.
2. Second overtime. Same possessions, but a team that scores a touchdown must go for two.
3. 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 Mountain West games, by season

• 20261 of 40
• 20253 of 109
• 20247 of 117
• 20236 of 112
• 20223 of 111
• 20215 of 114
• 20201 of 60
• 20193 of 113
• 20184 of 113
• 20173 of 112
• 201610 of 111
• 20153 of 114
• 20143 of 115
• 20135 of 109
• 20126 of 113
• 20113 of 114
• 20102 of 119
• 20095 of 113
• 20085 of 113
• 20076 of 109
• 20064 of 102
• 20053 of 102
• 20046 of 98
• 20035 of 97
• 20023 of 88
• 20011 of 22

Games involving a Mountain West team, from the line scores in the game log. 106 of 2640 since 2001, 4%.

Latest overtime games

• 2026-09-26 Air Force at Nevada 36-33
• 2025-12-26 New Mexico at Minnesota 17-20
• 2025-11-28 San Diego State at New Mexico 17-23
• 2025-11-15 Utah State at UNLV 26-29
• 2024-12-24 South Florida at San José State 41-39
• 2024-12-23 Northern Illinois at Fresno State 28-20
• 2024-11-09 Kennesaw State at UTEP 35-43
• 2024-10-04 Syracuse at UNLV 44-41
• 2024-09-21 Buffalo at Northern Illinois 23-20
• 2024-09-20 San José State at Washington State 52-54