College football overtime got another makeover for 2025, with new timeout restrictions joining previous changes that require two-point conversions and alternating attempts. These rules create a completely different experience from NFL overtime.
What Are the New College Football Overtime Rules for 2025?
College football’s overtime system guarantees both teams get the ball, unlike the NFL’s approach. The NCAA announced new timeout restrictions for 2025, affecting games reaching multiple overtime periods.
Here’s how it works: Officials flip a coin, and the winning team chooses offense or defense first. Both teams start their possessions at the opponent’s 25-yard line. Each team gets one complete drive to score, keeping the ball until they find the end zone, kick a field goal, or fail to get a first down.
If both teams score the same points in the first overtime, they play another period under identical rules. Starting in the second overtime, any touchdown must be followed by a two-point conversion attempt instead of an extra point kick.
The third overtime changes everything. Teams no longer run full drives from the 25-yard line. Instead, they alternate two-point conversion attempts from the 3-yard line until one team converts and the other doesn’t.
The 2025 rule change targets timeouts. Teams get one timeout for each of the first two overtime periods, but starting in the third overtime, they receive just one additional timeout for the rest of the game, regardless of how many more periods are needed.
How Do NFL Overtime Rules Compare After 2025 Changes?
The NFL implemented new overtime rules, aligning regular-season and playoff formats. Both teams now receive at least one possession, even if the first team scores a touchdown.
Regular-season overtime features a single 10-minute period with two timeouts per team. If neither team leads after 10 minutes, the game ends in a tie. Playoff games cannot be tied and continue with 15-minute periods until resolution.
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In playoffs, teams get three timeouts for every 15-minute overtime period. There’s a two-minute break between periods, but no halftime after the second overtime period.
Unlike college football, which guarantees equal possessions throughout every overtime period, the NFL only ensures both teams get one possession in each overtime period. Once both teams have the ball, the next score wins.
The NFL maintains standard kickoffs to start overtime periods, requiring teams to drive the whole field rather than beginning at the opponent’s 25-yard line like college football.
Overtime Rules in Action: College vs NFL Scenarios
College Football Example: After a 21-21 tie, Team A wins the coin toss and chooses defense. Team B kicks a field goal from the 25-yard line, making it 24-21. Team A answers with a touchdown and an extra point, making it 28-24. Here, Team A wins the game.
College Football Example 2: In the second overtime, after both teams match scoring through the first period, both teams score touchdowns but must attempt two-point conversions. Team A converts, Team B fails. Team A wins 36-30 after guaranteed equal possessions.
NFL Regular Season Example: Following a 21-21 tie, Team X wins the toss and receives. They drive for a touchdown, making it 28-21. Team Y gets its guaranteed possession but only manages a field goal, making it 28-24. Team X wins immediately since both teams had their chance — no second possession needed.
NFL Playoffs Example: After a 21-21 tie, Team X kicks a field goal on their first possession, leading 24-21. Team Y answers with a touchdown, winning 28-24.
The different approaches show what each level values most: college football wants every team to get equal chances, no matter how long it takes, while the NFL tries to balance fairness with keeping games from running too long and protecting player health.
