Yes, can football games end in ties? In American football, some regular-season games can finish level when overtime expires, but college games and most playoffs continue until a team wins.
The answer depends on the league and whether the game is part of a regular season or a knockout competition. Here’s how the NFL, college football, high school, Canadian football, and soccer handle tied scores, including what happens in overtime and why a tie in the standings does not always mean a tied game.
Can football games end in ties? The short answer
Yes, but the rules vary by sport and competition. In the NFL, regular-season games can end in a tie if the score remains level after overtime. NFL playoff games cannot: they continue through additional overtime periods until a winner is decided.
College football also continues past regulation until one team wins. In many high school competitions, overtime is used, though local rules can differ. In soccer, a league match may end in a draw, while a knockout match usually requires a winner.
So a tied score at the end of regulation does not automatically mean a tied result. The important details are the league’s overtime rules and whether the game must produce a winner.
How NFL ties work in the regular season
An NFL regular-season game that is tied after four quarters goes to a 10-minute overtime period. If the score is still even when those 10 minutes expire, the final result is a tie. The game can also end earlier if a team scores under the overtime rules.
Overtime begins with a kickoff after a coin toss. The team that wins the toss chooses whether to receive or kick, or selects which end of the field to defend. The opening possession matters, but a touchdown does not always end the game immediately under current regular-season rules.
Who gets the ball in NFL regular-season overtime?
If the team with the first possession scores a touchdown, the game ends. If it scores a field goal, the other team gets a chance to possess the ball. If that team scores a touchdown, it wins; if it scores a field goal, play continues and the next score wins. If neither team has won when time runs out, the game is a tie.
If the first team does not score, the other team can win with a field goal or touchdown. After each team has had a possession, the game follows a sudden-death approach: the next score wins, subject to the clock and game rules.
A defensive touchdown, such as an interception return for a score, can end the game. A safety can also decide it. The exact result depends on when the score happens and whether the other team has already had its required opportunity.
Why NFL games can still end level
The 10-minute limit is the main reason. If both teams have scored the same number of points when the overtime clock expires, the referee ends the game as a tie. There is no shootout or later rematch to settle the result.
A tie counts as half a win and half a loss in NFL standings. For example, a team with a tie has a better winning percentage than a team with the same number of wins and one loss, but a worse percentage than a team with the same wins and no losses. It is not counted as a full win for playoff qualification.
Why NFL playoff games cannot end in ties
Playoff games must identify a team that advances, so there is no tied final result. NFL postseason overtime periods last 15 minutes, and the teams keep playing additional periods if necessary.
Since the 2022 postseason rule change, both teams get an opportunity to possess the ball in overtime, even if the first team scores a touchdown. If the score remains tied after both teams have had that opportunity, play continues under sudden-death rules. A defensive score can end the game before both offenses possess the ball.
That difference matters because regular-season and postseason overtime are not interchangeable. A rule that can end a regular-season game after the first possession may not finish a playoff game. If you are watching a specific matchup, check whether it is a regular-season or postseason contest before assuming how overtime works.
College football keeps going until there is a winner
NCAA games do not finish as ties. If the score is even after regulation, the teams play overtime periods until one has more points at the end of a period. This applies to regular-season games and postseason games.
College overtime is different from the NFL’s timed overtime. Teams take turns with the ball from a set position on the field, rather than playing a standard extra quarter with a running clock. The format gives both teams a scoring chance and keeps the game moving toward a decision.
How college overtime works
In the first two overtime periods, each team gets a possession beginning at the opponent’s 25-yard line. A possession continues until the offense scores or fails to convert. If one team scores more than the other in the period, that team wins.
Beginning in the second overtime, teams that score a touchdown must attempt a two-point conversion instead of kicking an extra point. If the game reaches a third overtime, teams alternate two-point conversion attempts rather than starting full possessions from the 25-yard line. They continue alternating until one team succeeds and the other does not in the same round.
This structure can produce long games, but it prevents a tied final score. The overtime format also differs from the NFL because it does not simply add a short timed period and allow the clock to expire on a tie.
High school football rules depend on the state
Many high school games use overtime to break a tie, but the exact procedure is set by state associations and local competition rules. A common approach gives each team a possession from a designated spot, similar in broad outline to college overtime.
Some competitions may use different starting positions, scoring procedures, or limits on the number of overtime periods. A regular-season game can also be governed by local rules that differ from a state playoff game. As a result, there is no single nationwide rule that covers every high school matchup.
Check the state association’s current rulebook or the competition’s published regulations if the outcome affects a tournament or standings. Do not assume that a local high school uses the NFL format or the college format simply because both are familiar.
Canadian football can have ties in some competitions
Canadian football has its own rulebook, so NFL overtime rules do not automatically apply. In the Canadian Football League, regular-season games can end in a tie if the overtime procedure does not produce a winner. Playoff games continue until a team advances.
The CFL uses overtime possessions rather than a standard extra quarter. Teams receive chances to score, and the league’s procedure determines whether another round is needed. Because competition formats and rule details can change, confirm the current CFL rules for a particular season or event rather than applying NFL assumptions.
Other Canadian leagues may set different procedures. The useful distinction is the same as in American football: regular-season organizers may accept a tie, while a playoff bracket needs a winner.
Soccer has draws, but knockout matches need a winner
In soccer, a match that is level at the end of regulation is commonly called a draw. League matches often accept that result, with each team receiving a point under the competition’s standings system.
Knockout soccer is different. If the competition rules require one team to advance, the match may go to extra time, usually two 15-minute periods. If the teams remain level, a penalty shootout typically decides the winner. Some competitions use a two-leg aggregate score, so the total across both matches can determine whether extra time is needed.
Not every soccer competition uses the same format. Some cup matches go directly to a shootout after regulation, while others use extra time first. The tournament rules explain what happens; the word “draw” by itself does not tell you whether the contest is over.
At a glance: tie rules by football code
| Competition | Can the final result be tied? | What happens after regulation? | Best way to think about it |
|---|---|---|---|
| NFL regular season | Yes | One 10-minute overtime; a level score at the end is a tie | Time-limited overtime can leave teams even |
| NFL playoffs | No | 15-minute overtime periods continue until a winner is decided | A team must advance |
| College football | No | Alternating overtime possessions continue until one team wins | Regulation ties are always broken |
| High school football | It depends on local rules | Often overtime possessions; procedures vary | Check the state or competition rules |
| CFL regular season | Yes, under league rules | Overtime possessions may leave the score level | Regular-season ties can be accepted |
| Soccer league match | Yes | Usually ends at regulation if level | A draw is a normal result |
| Soccer knockout match | Usually not as the final result | Extra time and, if needed, a penalty shootout may follow | The competition must identify who advances |
What happens to standings after a tie?
Standings rules depend on the sport. In the NFL, a tie is treated as half a win and half a loss when calculating winning percentage. In soccer leagues that award three points for a win and one for a draw, each team usually receives one point for a tied match.
College football does not have tied final scores, so its standings do not need a tie result. High school leagues and other competitions set their own points and tiebreak procedures. A tied game can also affect rankings differently from a tie in a league table.
Do not confuse a tie in one game with a tie between teams in the standings. If teams finish with matching records or points, the league applies separate tiebreakers. These may include head-to-head results, point difference, or other competition-specific criteria.
Common misunderstandings about tied football games
“Overtime always means someone wins”
That is not true in every league. NFL regular-season overtime has a fixed time limit, so a game can still end level. Soccer league matches often finish as draws without extra time at all.
“The team that scores first always wins in overtime”
That assumption can be wrong. In NFL regular-season overtime, an opening-possession touchdown ends the game, but an opening field goal gives the other team a chance. In the postseason, both teams get an opportunity to possess the ball unless a defensive score ends the game first.
“Every football game uses American rules”
Football can refer to different sports and codes. Soccer, Canadian football, college football, high school football, and the NFL each have distinct rules. Even within one sport, a league match and a knockout match may treat a level score differently.
“A tied regulation score is already a tie”
It is only a tie at the end of regulation. If the rules call for overtime, the official result is not final until that process ends. A scoreboard may show equal scores after the fourth quarter while the game is still active.
How to tell whether a specific game can finish tied
- Identify the sport and league. Confirm whether the game is NFL, college, high school, CFL, or soccer. The shared word “football” is not enough to determine the rule.
- Check the competition stage. Regular-season games may allow ties, while playoff and cup games usually need a winner.
- Find the overtime procedure. Look for the length of overtime, possession rules, and whether more periods follow if the score stays even.
- Read the result rules, not just the clock. The final horn or end of regulation may trigger extra play instead of ending the contest.
- Use the official competition rulebook for edge cases. Local high school rules and tournament formats can differ from standard league procedures.
A practical tip: if a broadcast says “overtime,” check the league graphic or official game page for the competition type. That quick check prevents the common mistake of expecting an NFL-style tie rule in a college game, or assuming a soccer knockout match ends at the final whistle.
Yes, can football games end in ties? NFL regular-season games and some other competitions can, but NFL playoffs and college football keep going until a winner is decided. Soccer league matches often accept a draw, while knockout matches usually use extra time or a shootout.
Before relying on a particular rule, identify the sport, league, and competition stage. Then check its overtime procedure; that is the quickest way to know whether a level score can stand.