Do College Football Games Stop for Commercials? Explained

College football is a beloved sport in the United States, with millions of viewers tuning in to watch the games each year. However, many viewers have wondered if college football games stop for commercials.

While these breaks can be frustrating for viewers who are eager to watch the game, they are necessary for the networks to recoup their investment in broadcasting the game. In fact, commercial breaks during college football games generate billions of dollars in revenue for the networks each year.

To give you an idea of how many commercials are shown during a typical college football game, we’ve compiled a table of commercial breaks for a recent game.

Keep in mind that this is just one example, and the number of commercial breaks can vary depending on the network, the game, and other factors. However, it should give you a general idea of how many commercials you can expect to see during a college football game.

Time	Type of Break	Length
10:00	TV Timeout	2:30
5:00	TV Timeout	2:30
2:00	TV Timeout	2:30
End of Quarter	End of Quarter	2:00
Halftime	Halftime	20:00
Total	–	27:30

In conclusion, college football games do stop for commercials, and these breaks are an essential part of the television broadcast. While they can be frustrating for viewers, they are necessary for the networks to generate revenue and recoup their investment in broadcasting the game.

Do College Football Games Stop for Commercials?

College football games are a popular pastime for many Americans. Fans of the sport often wonder if college football games stop for commercials. In this section, we will explore the different types of commercial breaks that occur during college football games.

Commercial Breaks

During college football games, there are several commercial breaks that occur. These breaks can happen at any time during the game, but they are most common during timeouts, halftime, and between quarters. The length of these commercial breaks can vary depending on the broadcaster and the game.

TV Timeout

A TV timeout is a break in a televised live event for the purpose of television broadcasting. This allows commercial broadcasters to take an advertising break or issue their required hourly station identification without causing viewers to miss part of the action. Programs making use of timeouts are usually live-action sporting events. TV timeouts are typically longer than regular timeouts and are used to accommodate more advertising.

Halftime

Halftime is a break that occurs in the middle of a college football game. During halftime, the teams leave the field, and the marching band often performs. Halftime is also a time for fans to grab food and drinks and for broadcasters to air extended commercial breaks.

Game Length

The length of a college football game can vary depending on the rules of the conference and the broadcaster. For example, the NCAA allows for a maximum of 20 TV timeouts per game, with each timeout lasting 2 minutes and 30 seconds. This means that a typical college football game can have up to 50 minutes of commercial breaks.

Advertising

Advertising is a crucial part of college football games. Broadcasters rely on advertising revenue to make a profit, and advertisers use college football games to reach a large audience. The cost of advertising during college football games can vary depending on the time of year, the teams playing, and the broadcaster.

In conclusion, college football games do stop for commercials. These commercial breaks can occur at any time during the game, but they are most common during timeouts, halftime, and between quarters. TV timeouts are typically longer than regular timeouts and are used to accommodate more advertising. Halftime is also a time for broadcasters to air extended commercial breaks. The length of a college football game can vary depending on the rules of the conference and the broadcaster, and advertising is a crucial part of college football games.

Clock Rules and Stoppages

College football games are known for their exciting and fast-paced nature. However, the clock rules and stoppages can affect the flow of the game. In this section, we will discuss the different clock rules and stoppages that occur during college football games.

Quarter Length

College football games consist of four quarters, each lasting 15 minutes. However, the actual length of the game can vary due to clock stoppages, timeouts, and other factors. The clock starts running when the ball is kicked off or snapped, and it stops for certain situations such as incomplete passes, first downs, and penalties.

Clock Run

In college football, the clock runs continuously except for certain situations. For example, the clock stops when a player goes out of bounds, when there is an incomplete pass, or when a team scores a touchdown. Additionally, the clock stops for timeouts, injuries, and other administrative stoppages.

Timeouts

Each team is allowed three timeouts per half, which can be used for strategic purposes such as stopping the clock to preserve time or to set up a play. Additionally, each team is allowed one automatic timeout per half, called a media timeout, which occurs after the first and third quarters and during the two-minute warning in the second and fourth quarters.

Clock Stoppage for Incompletions

In college football, the clock stops when there is an incomplete pass. However, a new rule proposal suggests running the clock as soon as the ball is spotted on incompletions, which could significantly shorten the length of games.

Clock Stoppage for First Downs

In the past, the clock stopped after all first downs in college football games. However, a new rule implemented in 2023 states that the clock will not stop after most first downs, except for the last two minutes of each half.

Possession and Untimed Down

In college football, possession of the ball determines who controls the clock. The team with possession can run down the clock by running the ball or taking a knee. Additionally, if a game is tied at the end of regulation, an untimed down is played until there is a winner.

Overall, the clock rules and stoppages in college football can affect the flow and length of the game. While some rules have been implemented to shorten games, such as the clock stoppage for first downs, others could potentially have the opposite effect, such as the proposed rule to run the clock on incompletions.

Replay Reviews and Challenges

In college football, replay reviews and challenges can significantly impact the flow of the game. Here’s a breakdown of how replay reviews and challenges work in college football.

Action and Reviews

In college football, most reviews are initiated by officials. Every game has a head replay official with a crew. NCAA rules state that they have to review every play of the game. They can stop a game at any time to review a play, and they have up to two minutes to make a decision.

Replay Review

Replay reviews are used to determine if a call on the field was correct. If the replay official determines that the call was incorrect, they can overturn it. The replay official can also confirm the call on the field if there is not enough evidence to overturn it.

Replay reviews can take a significant amount of time, and they can impact the flow of the game. According to the NCAA, the average replay review takes approximately one minute and 20 seconds. However, some reviews can take much longer, depending on the complexity of the play.

Challenge

In college football, coaches are allowed to challenge certain calls on the field. Coaches can challenge plays related to possession, scoring, and whether a player was down by contact. If a coach challenges a call, they must have at least one timeout remaining.

If the coach wins the challenge, they keep their timeout, and the call on the field is overturned. If the coach loses the challenge, they lose their timeout, and the call on the field stands.

Here’s a table that summarizes the number of challenges allowed per game in different conferences:

Conference	Number of Challenges
ACC	2
Big Ten	2
Big 12	2
Pac-12	1
SEC	1

Overall, replay reviews and challenges can significantly impact the flow of a college football game. While they are important for ensuring that the correct calls are made, they can also lead to delays and interruptions in the game.

Other Sports and TV Networks

When it comes to sports broadcasting, commercial breaks are a necessary evil. While they can be frustrating for viewers, they are a crucial source of revenue for TV networks and sports leagues alike. Let’s take a look at how other sports and TV networks handle commercial breaks.

Baseball and Soccer

Baseball and soccer are two sports that are often criticized for their slow pace. However, both sports have found ways to incorporate commercial breaks without disrupting the flow of the game. In baseball, commercial breaks typically occur between innings, while in soccer, they usually take place during halftime or after a goal is scored.

Basketball and NBA

Basketball is a fast-paced sport that lends itself well to commercial breaks. In the NBA, timeouts are a natural place for commercials, and the league also allows for additional breaks during quarters. However, some fans have criticized the excessive number of commercials during NBA games, which can disrupt the flow of the game.

NFL Games and Overtime

Like basketball, football has natural breaks in the action that allow for commercials. In the NFL, commercial breaks typically occur during timeouts, between quarters, and after touchdowns. However, one issue that has drawn criticism is the number of commercials during overtime periods. Some fans have complained that the excessive number of commercials can disrupt the momentum of the game.

Fox and ESPN

Fox and ESPN are two of the biggest players in sports broadcasting, and both networks have their own unique approaches to commercial breaks. Fox, for example, is known for incorporating sponsored segments into its broadcasts, such as the “AT&T Pregame Show.” Meanwhile, ESPN has experimented with new types of advertising, such as “split-screen” commercials that allow viewers to continue watching the game while ads are displayed on part of the screen.

Network	Approach to Commercial Breaks
Fox	Incorporates sponsored segments into broadcasts
ESPN	Experimented with split-screen commercials

Overall, while commercial breaks are a necessary part of sports broadcasting, TV networks and sports leagues are constantly looking for ways to make them less intrusive and more engaging for viewers.

Conclusion

In conclusion, college football games do stop for commercials, and they do so quite frequently. According to Deseret News, there are typically 16 commercial breaks during a college football game, and they can last 2 ½-3 minutes each. The networks cut away to commercial breaks after changes of possession, scores, the end of the quarter, timeouts, and reviews. If one team scores, we go to a commercial; if another team scores quickly, we’re right back to commercials.

This means that viewers can expect to see a lot of commercials during a college football game, which can be frustrating for some. However, it’s important to note that these commercials are necessary to fund the broadcast of the game. As we mentioned earlier, the postponement of much of the college football season due to COVID-19 could disrupt the flow of more than $1 billion from advertisers to the television networks that count on a slate of game.

While commercials are an unavoidable part of watching college football on TV, there are some measures being taken to reduce their impact on the game. For example, the NCAA has implemented rules to limit the number of consecutive timeouts that can be taken by a team. Additionally, Steve Shaw, the SEC’s coordinator of officials, recently told The Athletic that officials are being instructed to move more quickly to start play after a touchdown or punt to reduce the amount of time viewers spend watching commercials.

Overall, while commercials are a necessary part of watching college football on TV, there are efforts being made to reduce their impact on the game. As a viewer, it’s important to be patient and understand that these commercials are necessary to fund the broadcast of the game. However, it’s also important for networks and officials to work together to ensure that viewers are not inundated with an excessive amount of commercials during the game.