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

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. It’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. 

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 Read More @chaseakiddy

Chase Kiddy is a senior writer for BetMGM who primarily covers college sports. He takes two things very seriously: board games and Las Vegas picks contests. He has previously written for a number of print and online outlets, including the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Washington Post, Daily News-Record, and HERO Sports.

Chase Kiddy is a senior writer for BetMGM who primarily covers college sports. He takes two things very seriously: board games and Las Vegas picks contests. He has previously written for a number of print and online outlets, including the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Washington Post, Daily News-Record, and HERO Sports.