You clear your schedule for a Saturday afternoon, settle into your couch with snacks at the ready, and tune in for a big college football matchup. The TV guide says the game starts at 3:30 PM and is scheduled for three and a half hours. Yet, as the fourth quarter begins, you realize the evening news is in jeopardy. It’s a familiar scene for any fan. So, just how long is a college football game, and why does it always seem to run long?
The short answer is about three and a half hours. According to NCAA data, the average FBS game in the 2023 season lasted approximately 3 hours and 21 minutes. However, this is just an average. A smooth, run-heavy game might wrap up in just over three hours, while a high-scoring, penalty-filled shootout can easily push past the four-hour mark.
To understand why, you need to look beyond the game clock, which is only 60 minutes of playing time. The real story is in the countless stoppages and rules that differentiate college football from its professional counterpart.
The Culprits: What Adds All the Extra Time?
Several key factors contribute to the extended runtime of a college football game:
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The Clock Stops for First Downs: This is the single biggest difference from the NFL. In college football, the game clock stops after a team earns a first down while the chains are reset. It doesn’t start again until the ball is snapped for the next play. This rule, designed to create more offensive plays, adds a significant number of stoppages, especially in a drive with multiple first downs.
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Commercial Breaks: Television revenue is the lifeblood of college athletics. Games are structured around TV timeouts, which occur after every scoring play, punt, timeout, and at the end of each quarter. These scheduled breaks are lengthy and are a major contributor to the game’s overall length.
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Pass-Happy Offenses: The modern college game is built on spread and passing attacks. Incomplete passes automatically stop the clock, leading to more dead time than run-heavy, ground-and-pound strategies that keep the clock ticking.
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Video Reviews (Replay): Officials in the booth can stop the game to review certain calls, such as scoring plays, turnovers, and catches. While crucial for getting calls right, this process can take several minutes, halting all momentum and adding to the total broadcast time.
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Timeouts and Injuries: Each team has three timeouts per half, and officials will also stop the clock for player injuries. These necessary pauses, while often strategic, further extend the game.
A Change in the Game: The New Clock Rules
For the 2023 season, the NCAA implemented a new rule intended to shorten games: the clock no longer stops after a team earns a first down, except in the final two minutes of each half.
This was a controversial change modeled after the NFL rule. Early data suggests it has been effective, reducing the average number of plays per game by roughly 10 and shaving about 5-7 minutes off the total game time. Purists argue it reduces offensive opportunities, while proponents praise the slightly quicker pace.
College vs. NFL: A Speed Comparison
An NFL game is also scheduled for 60 minutes but typically runs about 3 hours and 12 minutes on average—slightly shorter than its college counterpart. The main reasons for the difference are the NFL’s continuous clock after first downs (throughout the entire game) and a slightly more efficient commercial break structure.
Planning Your Viewing Experience
So, what does this mean for you, the fan?
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For a Stadium Goer: If you’re attending a game in person, plan for a 3.5 to 4-hour commitment. Factor in traffic, parking, and lines at the concession stand. The experience is about more than just the game—it’s a full-day event.
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For the TV Watcher: If you’re watching from home, never expect a game to end exactly on time. If a game kicks off at noon, it’s safest to assume your schedule will be clear until at least 4:00 PM. Use the commercial breaks wisely—it’s the perfect time to grab a refill.
In the end, the length of a college football game is part of its unique charm. The prolonged drama, the extended tension, and the unpredictable pacing all contribute to the spectacle. It’s not just 60 minutes of football; it’s an afternoon-long narrative filled with strategy, momentum shifts, and, yes, plenty of waiting. And for fans, that’s a trade-off they’re more than willing to make how long are college football games.