Yes, do football games go into overtime when the score is tied at the end of regulation? In American football, they usually do, but the rules depend on the league and whether the game is part of the regular season or playoffs.
The NFL, college football, and high school football use different overtime formats. Some allow a game to end in a tie; others keep playing until one team wins. Here’s how each system works, what happens on the opening possession, and how a tied soccer match differs. Knowing the format helps you make sense of every score and clock decision.
do football games go into overtime under each rule set?
Yes, a tied American football game generally continues beyond regulation. The exact format is not universal. The NFL uses timed overtime periods, college football uses alternating possessions, and high school rules depend on the state association. In the NFL regular season, a game can still finish tied; NFL playoff games and college games continue until there is a winner.
Regulation normally consists of four quarters. If the score is even when the fourth quarter ends, overtime rules take over. The officials explain the procedure at the stadium, and the broadcast usually shows the period or possession status on screen.
People use “football” to mean different sports around the world. This article focuses mainly on American football. Soccer has its own extra-time and penalty-kick formats, covered below.
How NFL overtime works
The NFL starts overtime with a coin toss. The visiting team’s captain calls the toss, and the winner typically chooses whether to receive the kickoff, kick, or select a direction. Teams then play under the overtime rules for that game type.
NFL regular-season games
Regular-season overtime lasts up to 10 minutes. Under the current format, both teams generally get a chance to possess the ball, even if the first team scores a touchdown. The main exception is a defensive score that ends the game, such as a touchdown returned by the defense or a safety.
If the first team scores a field goal, the other team gets the ball. It can tie the score with a field goal or win with a touchdown. If the first team scores a touchdown, the opponent still gets a possession and can answer. After both teams have had a possession, the next score wins if the game remains tied.
Overtime ends when the 10-minute clock expires. If the score is still even, the result is a tie. That can happen even when both teams had chances to score; the game does not automatically continue into another period during the regular season.
NFL playoff games
Playoff overtime uses 15-minute periods, and the two teams are guaranteed an opportunity to possess the ball, subject to game-ending defensive scores. If the score remains tied after both teams have had a possession, play continues under sudden-death rules: the next score wins.
If the game is still tied when a 15-minute period ends, another overtime period begins. There is no tie in an NFL postseason game. Teams keep playing until one has more points at the end of an overtime period or wins during one.
What “sudden death” means: once both teams have had their initial chance with the ball, a score by either team can end the game immediately. It does not mean every NFL overtime begins as sudden death, because the opening possessions are governed by the possession rules above.
How college football overtime works
College football does not use a running overtime clock in the NFL style. Instead, teams take turns with the ball. The first team begins its possession at the opponent’s 25-yard line, and the other team then gets a matching opportunity unless the game ends on a defensive score.
Each possession continues until the offense scores, turns the ball over, or fails to convert. The teams alternate until one finishes an overtime round with more points than the other. For example, if the first team scores a touchdown and the second team is stopped short of scoring, the first team wins. If both score the same number of points, another round follows.
Extra-point rules change in later rounds
In the first overtime, teams may kick an extra point or try a two-point conversion after a touchdown. Starting in the second overtime, a team that scores a touchdown must attempt a two-point conversion. Beginning in the third overtime, teams alternate two-point conversion plays rather than taking full possessions from the 25-yard line.
That means late college overtimes can look very different from the opening round. The teams are trying to outscore each other through short conversion attempts, not by driving the length of the field. A failed attempt can decide the game if the other team converts.
College games do not end in a tie. Teams continue through additional overtime rounds until one finishes a round ahead. A defensive touchdown or another rule-defined game-ending play can settle the result before both offenses complete a usual possession.
High school overtime varies by state
High school football generally has a way to resolve a tied game, but there is no single format used identically everywhere. Many states use an alternating-possession system, often starting each offense near the opponent’s goal line. Other details, such as the starting spot, extra-point options, and how many rounds are played, can vary.
Some leagues or regular-season schedules may allow a tie, limit overtime, or use a local procedure. State athletic associations set the rules for their competitions, so the format at a high school game may differ from the college system even if both use alternating possessions.
If you are attending or coaching a particular game, check the state association’s current rulebook or competition rules. The most useful details to confirm are the starting yard line, whether each team gets a possession, the scoring procedure, and whether the game can end tied.
Quick comparison of football overtime formats
| Format | How overtime starts | Can it end tied? | Best way to remember it |
|---|---|---|---|
| NFL regular season | Coin toss, then a timed period of up to 10 minutes | Yes | Both teams generally get a possession; time can run out tied |
| NFL playoffs | Coin toss, then 15-minute periods | No | Both teams get an opportunity; more periods follow if needed |
| College football | Alternating possessions, starting at the opponent’s 25-yard line | No | Teams match one another’s scoring, with special rules in later rounds |
| High school football | State or competition procedure, often alternating possessions | It depends | Check the local rules for the exact format |
Why the rules treat a touchdown differently from a field goal
A field goal is worth three points, while a touchdown is worth six before any extra-point attempt. In older NFL overtime rules, a touchdown on the opening possession could end the game immediately, while an opening field goal gave the other team a chance to answer. The NFL changed its format so both teams generally get an opportunity, including in regular-season games.
The possession guarantee matters because a coin toss can give one team the ball first. If that first team could win immediately with an opening touchdown, the opponent might never have an offensive chance. The current approach reduces that imbalance, though a defensive score can still end the game during the opening possession.
Once both teams have had their chance, the rules become more direct. If one team has more points, it wins. If the score is tied, sudden death applies in the NFL, while college teams continue into another round of alternating possessions.
How to tell what will happen during a game
- Identify the league. NFL, college, and high school rules are not interchangeable. A broadcast will usually identify the competition.
- Check whether it is regular season or postseason. NFL playoff games cannot end tied, while a regular-season game can.
- Look at the overtime clock or possession marker. A timed NFL period differs from college’s alternating possessions. The display helps you see whether a team has used its first chance with the ball.
- Watch what the first team scores. A field goal, touchdown, turnover, or defensive score can lead to different next steps under the applicable rules.
- Pay attention to the end of a period. An NFL regular-season game can finish tied when time expires. Playoffs continue, and college football moves to another overtime round if teams are level.
A useful viewing tip is to note who has already possessed the ball, not just the score. In the NFL, that tells you whether the game is still in the guaranteed-opportunity phase or has moved into sudden death. In college, it tells you whether both teams have completed the current round.
Does overtime change how teams play?
Yes. Coaches balance the chance to score against the risk of giving the opponent a short field or a quick winning opportunity. A team near field-goal range may choose a safer play to secure points, while a team needing a touchdown may accept more risk.
In a timed NFL period, the clock still matters. Teams manage timeouts, the play clock, and the game clock much as they do in regulation. The 10-minute regular-season limit makes that especially important: a team can run out of time while the score is tied.
College overtime creates a different kind of pressure because each team starts close to the end zone. A defense needs to prevent a score in a short field, while the offense may need only a few successful plays. Later rounds emphasize two-point conversions, making each play’s outcome especially clear.
Do not assume that a team will always choose to receive after winning the toss. Teams weigh their offense, defense, conditions, and the format. The choice that seems obvious to a viewer may depend on how the rules define the next possession and what the coach expects from the matchup.
Does soccer use the same overtime rules?
No. In soccer, a tied score may simply stand in a league match. In a knockout competition that needs a winner, the match may go to extra time, often two 15-minute periods, followed by a penalty shootout if the score is still tied. Tournament rules can instead send teams directly to penalties.
Soccer extra time is not the same as American football overtime. It adds playing time to the match, whereas college football uses alternating possessions and NFL overtime uses a timed period. Always check the competition’s rules to know whether a draw is allowed and what happens next.
Common overtime misconceptions
“The first team to score always wins.”
That is not a reliable description of the current NFL opening format. Both teams generally get an opportunity to possess the ball before sudden death, and the first team’s touchdown does not by itself end a regular-season or playoff game under the current rules. Defensive scores can create an exception.
“Every tied game keeps going until someone wins.”
This is false for an NFL regular-season game. It can end tied when the 10-minute overtime period expires with an even score. Playoff games and college games continue until a winner is determined.
“Overtime means one extra period.”
There may be more than one period or round. NFL postseason games can continue through additional 15-minute periods, and college games can require several alternating-possession rounds. The length depends on the format and what happens during play.
“All football leagues use the same procedure.”
They do not. The NFL’s timed clock, college’s possession rounds, and state-specific high school systems are distinct. Before drawing conclusions from a broadcast or score graphic, identify the competition first.
One detail people often miss is that a tie is a possible result, not a sign that the game was abandoned or the overtime rules failed. In the NFL regular season, the clock itself can decide that outcome. In formats that require a winner, the procedure keeps going instead.
So, do football games go into overtime? Tied American football games usually do, but the format depends on the league: NFL regular-season games can end tied, while NFL playoff and college games continue until there is a winner.
Before the next game, check whether it is NFL, college, or high school football and whether it is regular season or postseason. Then watch the clock and track which teams have had a possession; those two details explain what can happen next.