by Ken Locke

Created on: December 04, 2008   Last Updated: January 13, 2009

College Football Rules

The magical game of college football has captivated loyal fans for over 100 years and draws thousands of spectators throughout the fall and winter. College football polls decide which teams get to compete in post-season play, and are often the source of pride and controversy for a team and its fans.

College football rules dictate the way the game is played. The rules can be broken down into the following categories: teams and players, field of play, possession of the ball, scoring, duration of play, and penalties.

Teams and Players. Each team is allowed 11 players on the field of play at any given time. Each team has an offensive, defensive, and special teams unit. A team has possession of the ball on offense and runs plays to advance the football. A team on defense tries to stop the advance of the opposing team toward the end zone. Special teams are used during kickoffs, punts, and extra point attempts.
The field of play is 100 yards long, with a 10-yard end zone one each end of the field. The 50-yard line divides the field, and each team defends a goal.
Advancing the ball is done by the offense. The offense gets four chances, or downs, to move the ball at least 10 yards. This yardage requirement is kept track of with two poles connected with a chain that is ten yards long.
Teams can score points several different ways.

The most common way is the touchdown, worth six points. A team advances the ball into the opponent's end zone by running it, or passing the ball to a player who catches it, into the end zone.
PAT, or Point-After-Trys, are allowed only after a touchdown and are worth one point. The offense must kick the ball through the upright goalposts to score a PAT.
Two-Point conversions are only allowed after a touchdown, but must be a running or passing play and are worth two points.
Field goals are a kicking play, where a player kicks the ball through the upright goalposts in the end zone. They are worth three points.
A complete game consists of 4 quarters, each worth 15 minutes. The time clock is stopped and started by referees. In the case of a tie game at the end of 4 quarters, an overtime period takes place where each team gets one possession of the ball, starting on the 25-yard line. Whichever team scores more points on their turn is the winner. If no one scores, then a second overtime takes place. If no one scores then, a third overtime occurs, in which a team must attempt a two-point conversion after a touchdown. If the score remains the same after the third overtime, the game ends in a tie.
Penalties are incurred for various infractions of the rules. In general, penalties are lightest for procedural errors (like 12 players on the field) and most severe when a player's safety is at risk (like grabbing someone's face mask). Penalties are usually either a loss of yardage (or loss of forward progress) or a loss of down (or one less chance to move the ball at least 10 yards).

Although there are innumerable complexities to college football rules, this introduction can turn almost anyone into an instant fan. Pick a college team to follow throughout the season and enjoy the excitement!

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