A tied score late in the fourth quarter doesn’t always mean the teams are heading into the same kind of finish. The NFL, college football and high school football use different overtime systems—and in the NFL, a regular-season game can still end in a tie. Here’s how the main rules work, plus how leagues separate teams that finish the season with matching records.
What “tiebreak” means in football
The word can refer to two things: overtime, which decides a game that is tied after regulation, or standings tiebreakers, which decide which team ranks higher when teams have the same record. The rules depend on the league and the situation.
How NFL overtime works
In the NFL, a coin toss gives one captain’s team the first choice: usually whether to receive the kickoff or defend. Under the current rules, both teams are generally guaranteed an opportunity to possess the ball, whether the game is in the regular season or playoffs. That means an opening-drive touchdown does not automatically end overtime as it once could.
After both teams have had a possession, the game becomes sudden death: the next score wins. If the first team kicks a field goal, for example, the other team can win with a touchdown, tie the score with a field goal, or fail to score and lose. If the teams remain tied when the regular-season overtime period expires, the game ends as a tie. Playoff games continue through additional overtime periods until there is a winner.
| Situation | What happens |
|---|---|
| First team scores a field goal | The other team gets a possession and can tie or take the lead. |
| Both teams have possessed the ball and the score is still tied | Sudden death applies; the next score wins. |
| Regular-season overtime expires with the score tied | The game is recorded as a tie. |
| Playoff overtime expires with the score tied | Another overtime period is played. |
Regular-season overtime lasts 10 minutes; postseason periods last 15 minutes. The clock matters: a team may have to balance the urgency of scoring with the need to leave its opponent enough time—or keep the ball away from it. Coaches also consider whether to attempt a field goal or keep the offense on the field on fourth down. A field goal can be a sensible way to secure points, but if it leaves the opponent a chance to answer, it may not settle the game.
How college football overtime works
College overtime is built around alternating possessions rather than a kickoff. A coin toss determines which team chooses whether to play offense or defense first, or which end of the field to use. Each team gets a chance to score from the opponent’s 25-yard line.
If the teams are still tied after one overtime, they each get another possession from the 25. Beginning in the second overtime, a team that scores a touchdown must try for a two-point conversion instead of kicking an extra point. If the score is still level after two overtimes, teams stop running full drives. From the third overtime onward, they alternate two-point conversion attempts until one team succeeds and the other does not.
This format creates a different kind of pressure from NFL overtime. There is no long field to drive, and a defense knows exactly where the opponent will start. A short-yardage play call, a quarterback run or a well-timed blitz can decide the outcome quickly. College regular-season games do not finish in ties under this system.
What about high school football?
High school overtime rules vary by state and competition. Many follow a system in which each team gets a possession from a set yard line, but that starting point and the later-period procedures can differ. If you’re watching a local game, the state association’s rules are the best guide; don’t assume the NFL or college format applies.
How standings tiebreakers work
Overtime settles a game; standings tiebreakers settle a ranking. In the NFL, a regular-season tie counts as half a win and half a loss when calculating winning percentage. If teams finish level, the league uses a sequence of criteria. The exact sequence depends on whether the teams are in the same division and whether the tie affects a division title or a wild-card place.
For teams in the same division, the first checks include head-to-head results and division record. If neither separates them, the league moves through further measures such as record in common games and conference record. For a wild-card comparison between teams from different divisions, conference record is among the early criteria; head-to-head results matter when applicable. Later steps can include strength of victory and strength of schedule, followed by statistical comparisons and, only as a final resort, a coin toss.
College football has no single national tiebreak system for every conference. Each conference sets its own procedure, which may start with head-to-head results and then consider division or conference records, results against common opponents, or other criteria. The process can get complicated when three or more teams are tied, because removing one team may change how the remaining tie is evaluated.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can an NFL game end in a tie?
Yes. A regular-season game can end tied if the overtime period expires with the score level. NFL playoff games continue with further overtime until one team wins.
Does the first team to score win in NFL overtime?
Not necessarily. Both teams generally get a possession first. Once each has had the ball, overtime is sudden death, so the next score decides the game.
Do college teams get the ball at midfield in overtime?
No. In the first two overtime periods, each team starts its possession at the opponent’s 25-yard line. From the third overtime onward, teams alternate two-point attempts.
Is there one overtime rule for every level of football?
No. The NFL, college football and high school competitions use different formats, and high school rules can vary by state. Check the rules for the specific league or game.
Final Thoughts
The key distinction is simple: NFL overtime gives both teams a chance to possess the ball, then shifts to sudden death; college overtime gives each team a defined scoring opportunity from the opponent’s 25-yard line. High school procedures depend on the state. And if you’re asking why one team ranked above another after the season, that’s a separate standings tiebreak process—not overtime.
Aiden Cross is a sports writer and editor at BeliveSports, covering a broad range of sports with a focus on clear, accurate, and practical information. His work covers rules, techniques, player roles, competitions, equipment, statistics, and the details that help readers better understand how different sports are played. Aiden takes a research-driven approach to sports writing, using reliable sources and established sporting information to provide context rather than simply repeating surface-level facts. His goal is to make complex topics accessible while maintaining the accuracy and depth expected by knowledgeable sports fans. At BeliveSports, Aiden contributes to the site’s editorial standards by focusing on accuracy, clarity, useful context, and reader-first explanations.