Overtime College Football Games

OVERTIME COLLEGE FOOTBALL GAMES don’t give the teams much time to rest. In 2001, the Arkansas Razorbacks and the University of Mississippi Rebels needed seven extra periods to decide a winner.

After 60 minutes of strong defensive play, the visiting Razorbacks and host Rebels remained knotted at 17–17. In the first overtime period, Arkansas took the ball first, and Cedric Cobbs bolted 16 yards for a touchdown. Facing fourth-and-goal on their next possession, Mississippi managed to tie the game with a 12-yard scoring pass from Eli Manning to Jason Armistead.

Neither team scored in the second overtime with the Razorbacks missing a game-winning field goal. Beginning with the third OT, squads were forced to run or pass for two-point conversions rather than kicking a point after touchdown.

Staggering and reeling like exhausted heavyweight boxers, the Razorbacks and Rebels tallied touchdowns and missed two-point conversions for another four periods. In the seventh OT, Arkansas went on offense first, and Mark Pierce took the ball into the end zone from two yards away. With the successful two-point conversion, the Razorbacks led 58–50.

Knowing his team needed eight points to stay alive, Manning threw a two-yard touchdown pass. On the extra point attempt, he connected with tight end Doug Ziegler at the three, but linebacker Jermaine Petty tackled the receiver short of the goal line. And Arkansas survived with a 58–56 win.

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POINT Not only did the contest break the record for the longest overtime game played in NCAA history, the Razorbacks and Rebels set the mark at 198 for the most plays in a game. And the 47,464 fans enjoyed the highest scoring Southeastern Conference contest ever.

But Arkansas players, coaches, and fans alike ended the game quietly, too tired to celebrate winning the four-and-a-half-hour event. And both teams needed a good rest after the game to get themselves rejuvenated for the next contest.

Rest can be a good thing. Even God rested on the seventh day of creation. And he commanded the Israelites to do the same. The heavenly Father knows the value of slowing down, and so should we.

GOAL! Do you rest regularly? If not, plan to slow down to rejuvenate and refocus your life. Thank the Lord for times of rest.