How Long Is a High School Football Game?
Most games take about 2 to 2.5 hours in real time. The official game clock is 48 minutes (four 12-minute quarters). Source
Official Game Time (Rules)
- 4 quarters × 12 minutes = 48 minutes of regulation. Source
- Timeouts: 3 per team, per half (about 1 minute each). Source
- Halftime: often ~20 minutes at many schools. Source
Real-World Duration
With clock stoppages, timeouts, halftime, and normal delays, varsity games usually last ~2–2.5 hours, and sometimes up to ~3 hours. Source Source Source
Why Games Run Longer
- Clock stops for incomplete passes and out-of-bounds plays.
- Timeouts and injury time pause play.
- After scores and on penalties/measurements, officials reset. Timeouts
- Play-clock/game-clock procedures also add brief delays. Source
Overtime
If tied, many states use a “Kansas-style” overtime: each team gets the ball from a set yard line (often the 10 or 25) until one leads. This can add extra minutes. Source Source Source
JV/Sub-Varsity Note
JV games may use shorter quarters; total time is often around ~90 minutes–2 hours, depending on local rules and running-clock policies. Example policy
References
- NFHS vs. NCAA Rules Differences (confirms 12-minute quarters for HS). assets.nfhs.org (PDF)
- High school timeout allowance (3 per half; ~1 minute). WMFOA Rules Highlights (PDF)
- Example sub-varsity/varsity timing with 20-minute halftime noted. OSSAA Illustrated (PDF)
- NFHS 2025 instructions for game/play-clock operators (stoppage procedures). NFHS (PDF)
- Typical real-time length (~2–3 hours). Your Teen Magazine
- Quarters (12 min), halftime (~20 min), real-time 2–3 hours. Clever Football Coach
- Overview of football lengths; HS ~2–2.5 hours. Herond.org
- Kansas-style HS overtime explanation (starting near the 10-yard line). CoverSports Field Guide
- State association OT procedure example (NFHS-based). IHSAA (PDF)
- State association OT procedure example (NFHS 3-1-1 Note). UHSAA (PDF)
Note: Specific timing (e.g., halftime length or mercy-rule running clocks) can vary by state or event.
Michael Simon
