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The NFL has a limitation but not in college. I've attached the NCAA rules for you to review.
Extra Periods
ARTICLE 3. The NCAA tiebreaker system will be used when a game is tied
after four periods. NCAA football-playing rules apply, with the following
exceptions:
a. Immediately after the conclusion of the fourth quarter, officials will
instruct both teams to retire to their respective team areas. The officials
will assemble at the 50-yard line and review the tiebreaker procedures.
b. The officials will escort the captains (Rule 3-1-1) to the center of the
field for the coin toss. The referee shall toss a coin at midfield in the
presence of not more than four field captains from each team and
another game official, first designating the field captain of the visiting
team to call the coin toss. The winner of the toss shall choose one of the
following options:
1. Offense or defense, with the offense at the opponent’s 25-yard line to
start the first series.
2. Which end of the field shall be used for both series of that overtime
period.
Note: The winner of the toss may not defer his choice.
c. The loser of the toss shall exercise the remaining option for the first extra
period and shall have the first choice of the two options for subsequent
even-numbered extra periods.
d. Extra periods: An extra period shall consist of two series with each team
putting the ball in play by a snap on or between the inbounds lines on
the designated 25-yard line, which becomes the opponent’s 25-yard
line. The snap shall be from midway between the inbounds lines on the
25-yard line, unless a different position on or between the inbounds lines
RULE 3-1 / PERIODS, TIME FA CTORS AND SUBSTITUTIONS FR-63
is selected before the ready-for-play signal. After the ready-for-play
signal, the ball may be relocated after a charged team timeout, unless
preceded by a Team A foul or offsetting penalties.
e. Team series: Each team retains the ball during a series until it scores
or fails to make a first down. The ball remains alive after a change of
team possession until it is declared dead. However, Team A may not
have a first and 10 if it again possesses the ball after a change of team
possession.
Team A and B designations are the same as defined in Rule 2-27-1.
EXAMPLES:
1. After each team has put the ball in play by snap at the beginning of its
series, the score is tied or there has been no score. RULING: Begin
the second extra period with the loser of the toss at the beginning of
the first extra period having the choice of the two options.
2. Other than on the try, Team B intercepts a pass or fumble for a
touchdown or recovers a fumble or a backward pass and scores a
touchdown. RULING: Period and game are ended, and Team B is the
winner.
3. During the first series of a period, Team B intercepts a pass or
fumble or recovers a fumble or a backward pass and does not score
a touchdown. RULING: Team A series is ended and Team B, which
becomes Team A, starts its series of that period.
4. During the first series of a period, Team A attempts a field goal and
the kick is blocked. Team A recovers the kick, which never was
beyond the neutral zone, and runs for a touchdown. RULING: Six
points for Team A, and Team B begins its series of the period after
the try.
5. Team A attempts a field goal and the kick is blocked. Team A
recovers the kick, which never was beyond the neutral zone, and runs
for a first down. RULING: Team A’s ball, first and 10.
6. Team A attempts a field goal on first, second or third down, and the
kick is blocked. Team A recovers the kick, which never crossed the
neutral zone, and does not gain a first down. RULING: Team A’s ball,
next down.
FR-64 RULE 3-1 / PERIODS, TIME FA CTORS AND SUBSTITUTIONS
7. Team A attempts a field goal and the kick is blocked. Team B
recovers the kick and runs it into Team A’s end zone. RULING:
Touchdown, game is ended.
8. During the first series of a period, Team B—after gaining possession—
loses possession to Team A, which scores a touchdown. RULING:
The score counts, and Team B begins its series of the period after the
try.
9. During the first series of a period, Team B—after gaining possession—
loses possession to Team A, which fails to score a touchdown.
RULING: Team A series is ended, and Team B begins its series of
that period.
10. During the first series of a period, Team A fumbles into Team B’s end
zone on second down of a series. Team B recovers and downs the
ball in its end zone. RULING: Team A series of that period is ended.
Team B series of the period begins.
11. During the first series of a period, B10 intercepts a forward pass on
his three-yard line and downs the ball in his end zone (no momentum
involved). RULING: Score two points for Team A. Team A’s series
is over. Team B will put the ball in play, first and 10 on the 25-yard
line at the same end of the field.
12. Team A’s field-goal attempt is untouched beyond the neutral zone
until it is muffed by B17 at the five-yard line. A75 recovers at the
three-yard line. RULING: First down for Team A at the three-yard
line.
f. Scoring: The team scoring the greater number of points during the
regulation and extra periods shall be declared the winner. There shall be
an equal number of series, as defined in (e) above, in each extra period,
except if Team B scores during a period other than on the try. Beginning
with the third extra period, teams scoring a touchdown must attempt a
two-point try. A one-point try by Team A (although not illegal) will not
score a point.
EXAMPLES:
1. On the first possession of a period, Team A scores a touchdown.
On the try, Team B intercepts a pass and returns it for a two-point
RULE 3-1 / PERIODS, TIME FACTORS AND SUBSTITUTIONS FR-65
touchdown. RULING: Team B is awarded the ball on the 25-yard
line to start its series of the period with the overtime score 6-2.
2. If a touchdown is scored that determines the winning team in an extra
period, the try is canceled.
g. Fouls after a change of team possession:
1. Distance penalties against either team are declined by rule in extra
periods (Exceptions: Penalties for flagrant personal fouls, dead-ball
fouls and live-ball fouls treated as dead-ball fouls are enforced on the
succeeding play).
2. A score by a team committing a foul during the down is canceled.
3. If both teams foul during the down and Team B had not fouled
before the change of possession, the fouls offset and the down is not
replayed.
EXAMPLES:
1. After the end of the first series of a period by Team A, Team B
commits a dead-ball foul. RULING: Team B starts its series on the
40-yard line, first and 10.
2. During the first series of a period, Team A passes and a Team A back
is illegally in motion during the down. The pass is intercepted, and
Team B commits a foul before scoring a touchdown. RULING: Score
not allowed. The series is ended, and Team B begins its series on the
25-yard line.
3. During the second series of a period, Team B intercepts a pass and
runs for a touchdown. During the run, Team B clips at midfield.
RULING: Nullify the score, and if the score is tied, the next period
will start with first and 10 at the 25-yard line.
4. During the first series of an extra period, B37 intercepts a forward
pass and has a clear field to the goal line when he makes an obscene
gesture toward the nearest opponent. RULING: Team B’s score is
canceled and Team B begins its series on the 40-yard line, first and
10 (Rules 3-1-3 and 3-1-3-g-1, 2).
h. Timeouts: Each team shall be allowed one timeout for each extra period.
Timeouts not used during the regulation periods may not be carried over
into the extra period(s). Unused extra-period timeouts may not be carried
FR-66 RULE 3-1 / PERIODS, TIME FA CTORS AND SUBSTITUTIONS
over to other extra periods. Timeouts between periods shall be charged
to the succeeding period.
Radio and television timeouts are permitted only between extra periods
(first and second, second and third, etc.). Charged team timeouts may
not be extended for radio and television purposes. The extra period(s)
begins when the ball is first snapped.
The NFL has a limitation but not in college. I've attached the NCAA rules for you to review.
Extra Periods
ARTICLE 3. The NCAA tiebreaker system will be used when a game is tied
after four periods. NCAA football-playing rules apply, with the following
exceptions:
a. Immediately after the conclusion of the fourth quarter, officials will
instruct both teams to retire to their respective team areas. The officials
will assemble at the 50-yard line and review the tiebreaker procedures.
b. The officials will escort the captains (Rule 3-1-1) to the center of the
field for the coin toss. The referee shall toss a coin at midfield in the
presence of not more than four field captains from each team and
another game official, first designating the field captain of the visiting
team to call the coin toss. The winner of the toss shall choose one of the
following options:
1. Offense or defense, with the offense at the opponent’s 25-yard line to
start the first series.
2. Which end of the field shall be used for both series of that overtime
period.
Note: The winner of the toss may not defer his choice.
c. The loser of the toss shall exercise the remaining option for the first extra
period and shall have the first choice of the two options for subsequent
even-numbered extra periods.
d. Extra periods: An extra period shall consist of two series with each team
putting the ball in play by a snap on or between the inbounds lines on
the designated 25-yard line, which becomes the opponent’s 25-yard
line. The snap shall be from midway between the inbounds lines on the
25-yard line, unless a different position on or between the inbounds lines
RULE 3-1 / PERIODS, TIME FA CTORS AND SUBSTITUTIONS FR-63
is selected before the ready-for-play signal. After the ready-for-play
signal, the ball may be relocated after a charged team timeout, unless
preceded by a Team A foul or offsetting penalties.
e. Team series: Each team retains the ball during a series until it scores
or fails to make a first down. The ball remains alive after a change of
team possession until it is declared dead. However, Team A may not
have a first and 10 if it again possesses the ball after a change of team
possession.
Team A and B designations are the same as defined in Rule 2-27-1.
EXAMPLES:
1. After each team has put the ball in play by snap at the beginning of its
series, the score is tied or there has been no score. RULING: Begin
the second extra period with the loser of the toss at the beginning of
the first extra period having the choice of the two options.
2. Other than on the try, Team B intercepts a pass or fumble for a
touchdown or recovers a fumble or a backward pass and scores a
touchdown. RULING: Period and game are ended, and Team B is the
winner.
3. During the first series of a period, Team B intercepts a pass or
fumble or recovers a fumble or a backward pass and does not score
a touchdown. RULING: Team A series is ended and Team B, which
becomes Team A, starts its series of that period.
4. During the first series of a period, Team A attempts a field goal and
the kick is blocked. Team A recovers the kick, which never was
beyond the neutral zone, and runs for a touchdown. RULING: Six
points for Team A, and Team B begins its series of the period after
the try.
5. Team A attempts a field goal and the kick is blocked. Team A
recovers the kick, which never was beyond the neutral zone, and runs
for a first down. RULING: Team A’s ball, first and 10.
6. Team A attempts a field goal on first, second or third down, and the
kick is blocked. Team A recovers the kick, which never crossed the
neutral zone, and does not gain a first down. RULING: Team A’s ball,
next down.
FR-64 RULE 3-1 / PERIODS, TIME FA CTORS AND SUBSTITUTIONS
7. Team A attempts a field goal and the kick is blocked. Team B
recovers the kick and runs it into Team A’s end zone. RULING:
Touchdown, game is ended.
8. During the first series of a period, Team B—after gaining possession—
loses possession to Team A, which scores a touchdown. RULING:
The score counts, and Team B begins its series of the period after the
try.
9. During the first series of a period, Team B—after gaining possession—
loses possession to Team A, which fails to score a touchdown.
RULING: Team A series is ended, and Team B begins its series of
that period.
10. During the first series of a period, Team A fumbles into Team B’s end
zone on second down of a series. Team B recovers and downs the
ball in its end zone. RULING: Team A series of that period is ended.
Team B series of the period begins.
11. During the first series of a period, B10 intercepts a forward pass on
his three-yard line and downs the ball in his end zone (no momentum
involved). RULING: Score two points for Team A. Team A’s series
is over. Team B will put the ball in play, first and 10 on the 25-yard
line at the same end of the field.
12. Team A’s field-goal attempt is untouched beyond the neutral zone
until it is muffed by B17 at the five-yard line. A75 recovers at the
three-yard line. RULING: First down for Team A at the three-yard
line.
f. Scoring: The team scoring the greater number of points during the
regulation and extra periods shall be declared the winner. There shall be
an equal number of series, as defined in (e) above, in each extra period,
except if Team B scores during a period other than on the try. Beginning
with the third extra period, teams scoring a touchdown must attempt a
two-point try. A one-point try by Team A (although not illegal) will not
score a point.
EXAMPLES:
1. On the first possession of a period, Team A scores a touchdown.
On the try, Team B intercepts a pass and returns it for a two-point
RULE 3-1 / PERIODS, TIME FACTORS AND SUBSTITUTIONS FR-65
touchdown. RULING: Team B is awarded the ball on the 25-yard
line to start its series of the period with the overtime score 6-2.
2. If a touchdown is scored that determines the winning team in an extra
period, the try is canceled.
g. Fouls after a change of team possession:
1. Distance penalties against either team are declined by rule in extra
periods (Exceptions: Penalties for flagrant personal fouls, dead-ball
fouls and live-ball fouls treated as dead-ball fouls are enforced on the
succeeding play).
2. A score by a team committing a foul during the down is canceled.
3. If both teams foul during the down and Team B had not fouled
before the change of possession, the fouls offset and the down is not
replayed.
EXAMPLES:
1. After the end of the first series of a period by Team A, Team B
commits a dead-ball foul. RULING: Team B starts its series on the
40-yard line, first and 10.
2. During the first series of a period, Team A passes and a Team A back
is illegally in motion during the down. The pass is intercepted, and
Team B commits a foul before scoring a touchdown. RULING: Score
not allowed. The series is ended, and Team B begins its series on the
25-yard line.
3. During the second series of a period, Team B intercepts a pass and
runs for a touchdown. During the run, Team B clips at midfield.
RULING: Nullify the score, and if the score is tied, the next period
will start with first and 10 at the 25-yard line.
4. During the first series of an extra period, B37 intercepts a forward
pass and has a clear field to the goal line when he makes an obscene
gesture toward the nearest opponent. RULING: Team B’s score is
canceled and Team B begins its series on the 40-yard line, first and
10 (Rules 3-1-3 and 3-1-3-g-1, 2).
h. Timeouts: Each team shall be allowed one timeout for each extra period.
Timeouts not used during the regulation periods may not be carried over
into the extra period(s). Unused extra-period timeouts may not be carried
FR-66 RULE 3-1 / PERIODS, TIME FA CTORS AND SUBSTITUTIONS
over to other extra periods. Timeouts between periods shall be charged
to the succeeding period.
Radio and television timeouts are permitted only between extra periods
(first and second, second and third, etc.). Charged team timeouts may
not be extended for radio and television purposes. The extra period(s)
begins when the ball is first snapped.