How Long Are College Football Games?

Wisconsin's Braelon Allen is congratulated by teammates during overtime of an NCAA college football game against Nebraska Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023 in Madison, Wis.
(AP Photo/Aaron Gash)

On average, college football games last about three hours and 20 minutes. NCAA games run slightly longer than NFL games.ย 

For the 2022 season, the average game duration was 3:21. That number dropped slightly in 2023 after the NCAA implemented subtle clock rule changes that marginally sped up the game.

One of the primary factors affecting average game duration is the presence of true college shootouts. Itโ€™s not unusual for a college team to score 30 or 40 points and still lose. Shootouts are often accompanied by incomplete pass stoppages, TV timeouts after touchdowns, and other game delays.ย 

High-scoring games can easily run north of four hours. These games can pump up the average duration of a game.

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About the Author

Nick Hennion

Read More @nickhennion

Nick Hennion is a senior content writer for BetMGM. His previous stops include VSiN, NBC Sports, The Action Network and Forbes Betting. He owns a bachelor's degree from Syracuse University and a master's degree from Northwestern University.

Nick Hennion is a senior content writer for BetMGM. His previous stops include VSiN, NBC Sports, The Action Network and Forbes Betting. He owns a bachelor's degree from Syracuse University and a master's degree from Northwestern University.