by Nik Fisher

Created on: December 02, 2008   Last Updated: January 13, 2009

The rules of college football are similar to those of professional football. If you watch the NFL often then the rules of the college game will come fairly naturally. There are a few notable exceptions to college football.

College football is broken down into sub divisions that are based on teams with similar talent levels. Schools such as Florida, Oklahoma, and Ohio State bring is higher quality players than lower divisions. The Football Bowl Subdivision is the highest division in college football. Each sub division is broken down into conferences.

Since there is no playoff in FBS play, the champion is decided by a game showcasing the top two teams in the game. Many schools play for the prestige of winning their conference.

College football does not have ties. Overtime is used to determine a winner in every game. A coin toss decides who will have the ball first at the start of each overtime period. The ball starts at its opponent's 25 yard line. If the game is tied in the third overtime each time must attempt a 2-point conversion. Each team has one possession per overtime period.

There is also no two minute warning in college football. After each first down, however, the clock stops until the play is ruled "ready for play" by the officials. This gives college teams more time to hurry up to the line of scrimmage for another play.

A player is ruled down if any part of his body other than his feet or hands touches the ground. In the NFL a player must be touched while on the ground to be considered down.

A receiver needs to get one foot in play when attempting a reception, rather than the two required by the NFL. This makes the reception easier to make but you will see many college players attempt to land both feet in play. Defensive pass interference is a fifteen yard penalty. The NFL marks the ball at the spot of the foul.

Extra point tries are attempted from the three yard line. Unlike the NFL, college football players are allowed to advance the ball is the try is blocked, or a turnover occurs on a two point conversion. If the defense scores on the play they are awarded two points.

When watching a college football game these are the rules that it is important to remember. Fans of the professional game should understand that rules are slightly different but the game play is very entertaining. These rules enhance college football but they may not be so successful for the talent in the NFL.

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