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 ACC games, by season
Games involving a ACC team, from the line scores in the game log. 182 of 4013 since 2001, 4.5%.
Latest overtime games
- 2026-10-03 Syracuse at UConn 42-41
- 2026-09-12 Wake Forest at Purdue 38-36
- 2025-12-06 Duke at Virginia 27-20
- 2025-11-08 California at Louisville 29-26
- 2025-11-01 Miami at SMU 20-26
- 2025-10-25 Virginia at North Carolina 17-16
- 2025-10-24 California at Virginia Tech 34-42
- 2025-10-04 Virginia at Louisville 30-27
- 2025-09-27 Georgia Tech at Wake Forest 30-29
- 2025-09-26 Florida State at Virginia 38-46
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 ACC 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 ACC games go to overtime?
182 of 4013 games involving ACC teams since 2001 went to overtime, 4.5%. The latest: Syracuse at UConn, 2026-10-03.