Longest overtime game in NFL history is played by Miami Dolphins and the Kansas City Chiefs in 1971. Longest college football in history is Illinois over Penn State.
Miami and the Kansas Chiefs played on Christmas at Kansas City’s Municipal Stadium. On that occasion, the Dolphins beat the Chiefs 27-24 at 7:40 into double overtime.
This game lasted over eighty-two minutes and forty seconds and was recorded as the longest-ever National Football League game.
Bethune-Cookman and Virginia played the second-longest college football game in Daytona Beach, Fla. In 1998, Bethune-Cookman defeated Virginia State eight overtime in Division I-AA.
NFL Consecutive Games Record
Longest consecutive games played NFL was by Brett Favre with 297 consecutive games. Brett is a former NFL quarterback.
Favre’s record includes a total of 297 regular-season games and 24 playoff starts as well. Per Sportskeeda, Favre holds this record for playing in a row with the Green Bay Packers, New York Jets, and Minnesota Vikings.
Punter Jeff Feagles played in 352 consecutive games which is the longest of all time for a special teams player. However, special teams players are not credited in the National Football League.
Jim Marshall’s 270 is the longest among the defensive players. Mason Crosby’s record includes 258 regular season games and 23 playoffs among the kickers.
For the first time in 2018, Ryan Kerrigan became the recent player to exceed someone at his position for consecutive starts after breaking the previous record of Jason Gildon for left outside linebackers.
Longest Overtime Game In College Football
Longest college football game in history was between Illinois and Penn State with 20-18, on October 23, 2021, in 9 overtime.
It became the first and the only game in FBS history to go nine overtimes, capped off by an Illini game-winning two-point conversion to upset the No. 7 Nittany Lions.
On 26 September 1998, the second most OT period played by a Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) team was set by Bethune-Cookman, 24 years before the multiple-OT battle of Rodhe and Monmouth.
Rhode Island and Monmouth made history with a 48-46 win in a seven-overtime. The game broke the previous mark of three-six overtime games, for the most OT in one game in FCS history.
The Aggies and Tigers played the sixth seven-OT game. Two games included Southeastern Conference teams: Arkansas won over Ole Miss 58-56 in 2001, and the Razorbacks beat Kentucky 71-63 in 2003.
Overtime Rules Of College Football
College football overtime rules were adopted in 1996 by the NCAA. The team had to run a two-point conversion after a touchdown beginning in the second overtime period.
Following are the latest overtime rules:
- The referee will toss a coin at the end of the regulation to determine which team will possess the ball first in OT. The winner can choose which side of the field to play on or offense or defense.
- The team that loses the coin toss can select first from the four categories in the second overtime and subsequent even-numbered OT period.
- When the game reaches a second OT period, the team must run a 2-point conversion play after a touchdown. After the third overtime period, the second point attempt is necessary.
- Another rule established in 2021 is that if a game reaches the third OT, the team will run alternating 2 points plays rather than starting another drive at the opponent’s 25-yard line.
How Many Overtimes Can A College Football Game Have?
College football games have seven or more overtime with the first coming in 2001. The overtime rules have been the same for most of those games.
An overtime period includes each team getting one possession from its opponent’s 25-yard line, and there is a play clock, not a game clock.
College Football With Seven Overtime
7 overtime games in college football include between Rhode Island and Monmouth, Arkansas Razorbacks and Kentucky Wildcats, and more.
Following are the list of the longest game between opponents in history:
Rhode Island 48, Monmouth 46
In a seven-overtime CAA battle, Rhode Island escaped Monmouth 48-46 at Kessler Stadium. This game remained for 3.5 hours. The game saw seven OT and four lead changes on 22 October 2022.
Arkansas 71, Kentucky 63
After four hours and 56 minutes of play, Kentucky quarterback Jared Lorenzen was hit hard and lost the ball, giving Arkansas the victory in its second game requiring seven OTs. The two teams combined for 86 points in the extra period.
Arkansas 58, Ole Miss 56
The teams traded touchdowns in the third, fourth, and fifth overtime periods, but neither could score on a two-point attempt. They both managed to score again and convert in the sixth.
The game ended when Ole missed a two-point attempt to tie the score at 58 in the seventh, and the match was over after the 7 OT.