Illinois and Penn State made college football history with the Illini's 20-18 win in a nine-overtime thriller on Oct. 23, 2021. It became the first and is 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.
The game remained low scoring despite the abundance of overtimes because teams exchanged field goals and later missed or made two-point conversion attempts. It was 10-10 through four quarters, 13-13 after the first OT and 16-16 after the second. In the new rule instituted before the 2021 season, teams must alternate two-point conversion attempts starting with the third extra period.
Both the Nittany Lions and Illini failed on their attempts in the third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh overtime periods. They finally converted in the eighth, before an Illini stop in the ninth set the stage for the game-winning conversion.
MORE:Illinois stuns No. 7 Penn State, wins first 9OT game in history
Previously, in 2019, LSU and Texas A&M tied the old record of seven overtimes with the Aggies' 74-72, 7OT victory on Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018.
In 2017, Western Michigan and Buffalo played a game that kicked off at 3:30 p.m. and didn’t finish until after 8 that night. The two teams needed seven overtimes to decide a winner.
RELATED: How overtime works in college football
The NCAA adopted an overtime rule in 1996. Since then, seven games have gone to seven or more overtimes, with the first coming in 2001.
For most of those games, the overtime rules have been virtually the same.
- An overtime period consists of each team getting one possession from its opponent’s 25-yard line.
- There is no game clock, only a play clock.
- Starting with the third overtime, teams must attempt a 2-point conversion after every touchdown.
However, in 2019, the overtime rules were changed.
- Starting with the fifth overtime,teams will begin to run alternating two-point conversion plays instead of offensive possessions that start at the 25-yard line.
In 2021,the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel approved a change to overtime rules again.
- Teams will be required to run a 2-point conversion play after a touchdown when a game reaches a second overtime period. Previously, a 2-point attempt was required after the third overtime period.
- Also established in 2021, if the game reaches a third overtime, teams will run alternating 2-point plays, instead of starting another drive at the opponent’s 25-yard line. This is a change from the previous rule, which started to use 2-point plays in the fifth overtime period.
MORE:Highest scoring college football games across FBS, FCS, DII, and DIII
Here's a recap of each of the seven-or-more overtime games in FBS history:
September 10, 2022 — Eastern Kentucky 59, Bowling Green 57
FCS program Eastern Kentucky and FBS program Bowling Green were tied 38-38 through four quarters. Then, seven overtimes later, Eastern Kentucky knocked off Bowling Green, landing an FCS-over-FBS upset. Both teams scored touchdowns in the first overtime, repeating the feat in the second overtime, only for each team to fail on its two-point conversion try. Per the rules, both teams converted their third and fourth overtime drives with two-point conversions, tying the game 55-55. In the fifth overtime, both teams failed to score, leading to the sixth overtime, where each team found the endzone to make the score 57-57.
In the seventh overtime, Bowling Green possessed the ball first, but a pass from quarterback Matt McDonald failed. Eastern Kentucky got the ball with a chance to win, and quarterback Parker McKinney found Braedon Sloan for the game-winning score, giving the Colonels the 59-57 win.
October 23, 2021 —Illinois 20, Penn State 18
After tying 10-10 through four quarters, Illinois upset No. 7 Penn State, 20-18 in nine overtimes, becoming the first game to ever reach the nine-overtime mark. Tied 18-18 in the ninth extra period, Illinois' defense broke up a pass from Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford. In the responding possession, Illinois quarterback Brandon Peters found wide receiver Casey Washington in the end zone, scoring a game-winning two-point conversion.
The score marked the end to the game with the most overtimes in history.
We have a decision.@IlliniFootball upsets No. 7 Penn State in an FBS-record 9⃣(!) OTs. pic.twitter.com/I23CJ2ohIM
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) October 23, 2021
November 24, 2018—Texas A&M 74, LSU 72
After tying 31-31 through four quarters, Texas A&M upset No. 7 LSU, 74-72, to break a seven-game losing streak to LSU.Kellen Mond found found Quartney Davis for a 17-yard touchdown to tie the score at 74. Needing to go for two, Aggies quarterback Mond hit Kendrick Rogers for the winning points.
It became only the fifth game in FBS history to reach seven overtimes. The walk-off score also set a record, becomingthe highest-scoring game in FBS history.
"@AggieFootball wins the game of the year!" pic.twitter.com/p50o1THzZO
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) November 25, 2018
October 7, 2017 — Western Michigan 71, Buffalo 68
Field goals played a huge role in this game as well. With 34 seconds left in regulation, Buffalo’s Adam Mitcheson drilled a 34-yarder to tie the game 31-31. On the next drive, Western Michigan set up a buzzer-beating 52-yarder to take the lead, but it was blocked, and the game went to overtime.
There, both teams traded touchdowns in the first two overtimes before Western Michigan recovered a fumble to set up a 29-yard field goal attempt for the win. But after Buffalo iced the kicker, the potential game-winner sailed right.
Four overtimes later, Buffalo was forced to settle for a field goal, and Western Michigan’s Jarvion Franklin rushed for his third touchdown (on his 37th carry) to seal the win.
October 7, 2006 — North Texas 25, FIU, 22
This game was slightly different than the seven-overtime thrillers that came before it.
Coming into the game, North Texas was the only Division I-A team that had not played an overtime game since the NCAA adopted an overtime in 1996.
In case that final score for a seven-overtime game wasn’t weird enough, North Texas led 5-0 at halftime, after a field goal and safety.
The Mean Green scored 11 points in the fourth quarter to take a 16-13 lead before Florida International kicked a 28-yard field goal with two seconds left to send the game to overtime.
Neither team could score a touchdown in overtime, and missed four field goals each in overtime, before a 34-yarder from Denis Hopovac — his fifth made field goal of the night on a record nine attempts — connected to give North Texas the win.
November 1, 2003 — Arkansas 71, Kentucky 63
The Razorbacks of the early 2000s had a nose for ridiculously long games. A year after their record-breaking seven-overtime game, Arkansas went to six overtimes against Tennessee in 2002, losing 41-38.
Then, in 2003, Arkansas faced Kentucky in a game that started on November 1, but ended on November 2.
In the first half, both teams returned blocked punts for touchdowns, but Arkansas led 21-7 at halftime. The Wildcats would tie the game up with 1:39 left to play.
The two teams combined for 86 points in overtime, but after four hours and 56 minutes of play, Kentucky quarterback Jared Lorenzen was hit hard and fumbled, and Arkansas won its second seven-overtime game.
November 3, 2001 — Arkansas 58, Ole Miss 56
With five minutes left in regulation, Ole Miss quarterback Eli Manning — in his first year as a starter — connected with Jason Armstead for a four-yard touchdown, and the ensuing extra point tied the game at 17.
In the first overtime, faced with a fourth-and-one, Arkansas decided to go for the conversion, rather than kick a field goal, and Cedric Cobbs broke free for a 16-yard touchdown. Manning connected with Armstead again to equalize.
In the second overtime, Ole Miss got the ball first, but Arkansas forced and recovered a fumble, and they just needed to kick a field goal to win, but the try went wide right.
The teams traded touchdowns in the third, fourth, and fifth overtime periods, but neither could convert their two-point attempts. In the sixth, they each scored again, and managed to convert. Finally, in the seventh, Ole Miss’ two-point attempt to tie the game at 58 was stopped short of the goal line, and the game was over.
As a seasoned sports enthusiast with a keen focus on college football, I've closely followed and analyzed various historic games that have shaped the landscape of the sport. My extensive knowledge extends beyond mere statistics; I possess an in-depth understanding of the rules, regulations, and strategic nuances that make college football a captivating spectacle.
Now, let's delve into the remarkable events of the Illinois vs. Penn State game on October 23, 2021, which etched its name in the annals of college football history. This nine-overtime thriller showcased the resilience and determination of both teams, ultimately culminating in the Illini's 20-18 victory with a game-winning two-point conversion.
What made this game particularly unique was the implementation of the new overtime rules instituted before the 2021 season by the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel. The game remained low-scoring as teams exchanged field goals and engaged in multiple two-point conversion attempts. Notably, starting from the third extra period, teams were required to alternate two-point conversion attempts, adding a strategic layer to the overtime dynamics.
This historic clash highlighted the evolution of overtime rules in college football, which initially adopted the format in 1996. Traditionally, each team had one possession from the opponent's 25-yard line in an overtime period. However, the rules underwent significant changes in 2019 and 2021. In 2019, starting from the fifth overtime, teams began running alternating two-point conversion plays instead of traditional possessions.
The 2021 update further modified the rules, requiring a 2-point conversion attempt after a touchdown from the second overtime onward. Moreover, if the game reached a third overtime, teams would run alternating 2-point plays instead of starting another drive at the opponent’s 25-yard line. This alteration aimed to streamline and expedite the overtime process while introducing strategic elements.
The Illinois vs. Penn State showdown wasn't the only game to test the limits of overtime. In 2018, LSU and Texas A&M engaged in a seven-overtime thriller, breaking a longstanding record. The significance of this game was not only in its duration but also in the fact that it became the highest-scoring game in FBS history, with Texas A&M emerging victorious 74-72.
Before these epic encounters, there were other notable instances of extended play. In 2017, Western Michigan and Buffalo needed seven overtimes to decide a winner, and in 2003, Arkansas and Kentucky played a game that extended into the early hours of the next day, featuring six overtimes.
The evolution of overtime rules and the memorable games that ensued underscore the dynamic nature of college football. Each rule change has aimed to balance competitiveness, entertainment, and player safety. As a fervent follower of the sport, I find these developments not only intriguing but also reflective of the ongoing efforts to enhance the overall experience for players and fans alike.
