The game
The 2025 rules book says the game is played by two teams of not more than 11, and that playing time is 60 minutes in four periods of 15 minutes.
NCAA
NCAA
The college game in the 2025 NCAA Football Rules Book: 11 a side, four downs, and an untimed extra period from the 25.
History · Teams · College Football Playoff National Championship Trophy · Contact
A short history
NCAA.org says the association was founded in 1906 to protect college athletes. It now serves student-athletes in three divisions.
This desk is FBS. The lines about how a game is played come from the 2025 NCAA Football Rules Book.
Current teams
138 clubs from the published list. Open a club for its desk. FBS clubs from the standings file.
American Conference
Atlantic Coast Conference
Boston College EaglesBC
California Golden BearsCAL
Clemson TigersCLEM
Duke Blue DevilsDUKE
Florida State SeminolesFSU
Georgia Tech Yellow JacketsGT
Louisville CardinalsLOU
Miami HurricanesMIA
NC State WolfpackNCSU
North Carolina Tar HeelsUNC
Pittsburgh PanthersPITT
SMU MustangsSMU
Stanford CardinalSTAN
Syracuse OrangeSYR
Virginia CavaliersUVA
Virginia Tech HokiesVT
Wake Forest Demon DeaconsWAKE
Big 12 Conference
Arizona State Sun DevilsASU
Arizona WildcatsARIZ
Baylor BearsBAY
BYU CougarsBYU
Cincinnati BearcatsCIN
Colorado BuffaloesCOLO
Houston CougarsHOU
Iowa State CyclonesISU
Kansas JayhawksKU
Kansas State WildcatsKSU
Oklahoma State CowboysOKST
TCU Horned FrogsTCU
Texas Tech Red RaidersTTU
UCF KnightsUCF
Utah UtesUTAH
West Virginia MountaineersWVU
Big Ten Conference
Illinois Fighting IlliniILL
Indiana HoosiersIU
Iowa HawkeyesIOWA
Maryland TerrapinsMD
Michigan State SpartansMSU
Michigan WolverinesMICH
Minnesota Golden GophersMINN
Nebraska CornhuskersNEB
Northwestern WildcatsNU
Ohio State BuckeyesOSU
Oregon DucksORE
Penn State Nittany LionsPSU
Purdue BoilermakersPUR
Rutgers Scarlet KnightsRUTG
UCLA BruinsUCLA
USC TrojansUSC
Washington HuskiesWASH
Wisconsin BadgersWIS
Conference USA
FBS Independents
Mid-American Conference
Akron ZipsAKR
Ball State CardinalsBALL
Bowling Green FalconsBGSU
Buffalo BullsBUFF
Central Michigan ChippewasCMU
Eastern Michigan EaglesEMU
Kent State Golden FlashesKENT
Massachusetts MinutemenMASS
Miami (OH) RedHawksM-OH
Ohio BobcatsOHIO
Sacramento State HornetsSAC
Toledo RocketsTOL
Western Michigan BroncosWMU
Mountain West Conference
Pac-12 Conference
Southeastern Conference
Alabama Crimson TideALA
Arkansas RazorbacksARK
Auburn TigersAUB
Florida GatorsFLA
Georgia BulldogsUGA
Kentucky WildcatsUK
LSU TigersLSU
Mississippi State BulldogsMSST
Missouri TigersMIZ
Oklahoma SoonersOU
Ole Miss RebelsMISS
South Carolina GamecocksSC
Tennessee VolunteersTENN
Texas A&M AggiesTA&M
Texas LonghornsTEX
Vanderbilt CommodoresVAN
Sun Belt - East
College Football Playoff National Championship Trophy
The College Football Playoff’s 2025 historical media guide calls the College Football Playoff National Championship Trophy the ultimate goal of college football teams in the United States. It says the trophy stands three feet tall and is awarded at the end of the national championship game.
That rules book does not publish the playoff bracket. The College Football Playoff contact page lists the 2027 national championship for January 25, 2027, at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Contact
NCAA headquarters
National Collegiate Athletic Association
700 W. Washington St.
P.O. Box 6222
Indianapolis, IN 46206-6222
317-917-6222
College Football Playoff
info@collegefootballplayoff.com
tickets@collegefootballplayoff.com
media@collegefootballplayoff.com
How the league plays
The field
The two goal lines are 100 yards apart. Each end line is 10 yards behind its goal line.
A series
A series is up to four consecutive scrimmage downs. The line to gain is 10 yards ahead, or the goal line if that is closer.
Scoring
A touchdown is 6. A field goal is 3. A safety is 2 points for the other team. A successful try is 2 for a touchdown, or 1 for a field goal or safety.
Extra periods
If the score is tied, each extra period gives both teams a possession from the opponent’s 25-yard line. From the second extra period, a touchdown must be followed by a two-point try. From the third, each possession is one two-point play from the 3-yard line.
This book
These lines are from the 2025 NCAA Football Rules Book. That book covers how a game is played. It does not publish the College Football Playoff bracket.