The longest time beyond regulation video games in FCS school soccer historical past

In 2021, Harvard and Princeton nearly made historical past with Princeton’s 18-16 win in a five-overtime thriller on Oct. 23. The sport fell one time beyond regulation in need of the file, completed off by a Cole Smith two-point conversion go to Jacob Birmelin that gave the Tigers sole possession of first place within the Ivy League.

The sport remained low-scoring regardless of the abundance of overtimes as a result of groups exchanged area objectives and later missed or made two-point conversion makes an attempt. It was 13-13 by way of 4 quarters and 16-16 after the primary OT. Within the new rule instituted earlier than the 2021 season, groups should alternate two-point conversion makes an attempt beginning with the third further interval.

Each the Crimson and Tigers failed on their makes an attempt within the second, third and fourth time beyond regulation intervals. Princeton lastly transformed within the fifth, earlier than a Tiger cease on Harvard’s ensuing possession ended the sport.

Twenty-three years earlier than Harvard and Princeton’s multiple-overtime battle, the file for many time beyond regulation intervals performed by an FCS staff was set by Bethune-Cookman on Sept. 26, 1998. Bethune-Cookman defeated Virginia State — a Division II opponent — in eight overtimes 63-57.

The second-most overtimes performed by an FCS staff got here on Sept. 10, 2022. Jap Kentucky pulled off an FCS-over-FBS upset, knocking off Bowling Green 59-57 in seven overtimes.

Amongst two FCS opponents, the file for many overtimes in a sport is six, taking place on three completely different events since time beyond regulation entered the NCAA.

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The NCAA adopted an time beyond regulation rule in 1996 and for many of these video games, the time beyond regulation guidelines have been just about the identical.

• An time beyond regulation interval consists of every staff getting one possession from its opponent’s 25-yard line. 
• There isn’t any sport clock, solely a play clock.
• Beginning with the third time beyond regulation, groups should try a 2-point conversion after each landing.

Nevertheless, in 2019, the time beyond regulation guidelines had been modified.

• Beginning with the fifth time beyond regulation, groups will start to run alternating two-point conversion performs as a substitute of offensive possessions that begin on the 25-yard line.

In 2021, the NCAA Enjoying Guidelines Oversight Panel authorised a change to time beyond regulation guidelines once more.

• Groups will probably be required to run a 2-point conversion play after a landing when a sport reaches a second time beyond regulation interval. Beforehand, a 2-point try was required after the third time beyond regulation interval.
• Additionally established in 2021, if the sport reaches the third time beyond regulation, groups will run alternating 2-point performs, as a substitute of beginning one other drive on the opponent’s 25-yard line. It is a change from the earlier rule, which began to make use of 2-point performs within the fifth time beyond regulation interval.

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This is a recap of a few of the longest video games between FCS opponents in historical past:

Oct. 23, 2021 | 5 OT | No. 16 Harvard 18, No. 17 Princeton 16

Harvard and Princeton every entered their 2021 assembly as undefeated groups with top-10 defenses within the FCS. Because of new time beyond regulation guidelines, this sport lasted over 4 hours, with Princeton rising victorious. 

FINAL: Princeton 18, Harvard 16 5OT

The ultimate cease! TIGERS WIN! #NA22AUBound 🍊🥤 #BackToTheBest pic.twitter.com/VPQSws2tjU

— Princeton Soccer (@PrincetonFTBL) October 23, 2021

Nevertheless, this time beyond regulation sport ought to’ve been determined within the third time beyond regulation as a substitute of the fifth. An officiating error ought to’ve given Harvard the win within the third further interval.

Sept. 18, 1982 | 6 OT | Rhode Island 58, Maine 55

The primary four-plus hour thriller in FCS soccer got here in 1982 when Rhode Island defeated Maine 58-55 in six overtimes. In response to college officers, the sport was considered the longest modern-era school soccer sport on the time.

How had been Rhode Island and Maine in a position to play so lengthy despite the fact that the NCAA had but to determine an time beyond regulation rule? Nicely, particular person conferences had been in a position to set up their very own guidelines for what occurred within the case of a tie after regulation. 

Rhode Island and Maine’s Yankee Convention handed guidelines through the prior season through which groups started time beyond regulation intervals when a regulation sport resulted in a 21-21 tie. Per the time beyond regulation guidelines, every staff would get one possession from the opponent’s 15 to attain, persevering with till a winner was determined.

Rhode Island and Maine had been tied 21-21 on the finish of regulation after Maine scored two touchdowns within the remaining seven minutes of regulation.

In time beyond regulation, the groups matched scores throughout the primary 5 overtimes, scoring 4 touchdowns and one area purpose.

Within the sixth time beyond regulation, Maine scored first on a area purpose to guide 55-52. Rhode Island then obtained the chance to reply, attending to the ball to the two-yard line for a 4th-and-goal play.

The Rams had been at a crossroads; ought to they tie the sport and go to a seventh time beyond regulation or go for the win?

Rhode Island selected the latter as T.J. Del Santo scored the game-winning landing on a two-yard end-around run.

Simply how nice was this sport? It has its personal exhibit within the School Soccer Corridor of Fame. 

Oct. 7, 1989 | 6 OT | Villanova 41, UConn 35

In 1989, the Yankee Convention struck once more with one other six time beyond regulation sport, this time that includes Villanova and UConn.

The Wildcats and Huskies battled in a back-and-forth affair with Villanova finally ending up on high in a 41-35 victory.

Oct. 5, 1996 | 6 OT | Florida A&M 59, Hampton 58

For the ultimate six time beyond regulation FCS sport, we go to the thirteenth Annual Circle Metropolis Basic between Florida A&M and Hampton.

The MEAC rivals met in a nationally televised sport on BET in entrance of an enormous crowd of 62,037 followers on the RCA Dome in Indianapolis. And what a sport it was! It lasted an unbelievable 5 hours and 10 minutes.

Quick-forwarding to the sixth time beyond regulation, Hampton scored a landing after possessing the ball first, however missed the extra-point try. On Florida A&M’s following possession, the Pirates stopped the Rattlers on the purpose line. Helmets flew within the air as Hampton stormed the sector in celebration.

However the Pirates celebrated too quickly. A fast go searching discovered a penalty flag on the sector as Hampton cornerback Cordell Taylor was flagged for holding in the long run zone.

Florida A&M was nonetheless alive. Two performs after the chaotic penalty, Rattler working again Ken Williams crossed into the tip zone on a one-yard game-tying landing run. Kicker Juan Toro made his further level to win the sport 59-58. It was Florida A&M’s flip to have fun.

”Each time I assumed the sport was over, it simply stored going and going and going,”  mentioned Florida A&M defensive finish Jomo Cousins. ”At one level I used to be keen to take any consequence. I simply needed to get out of there.”

Sadly, after the prolonged sport, a number of Rattler gamers had been taken to the hospital and Pirate Marvin Adams even broke his arm. On the brilliant aspect that 12 months, with an awesome time beyond regulation win beneath its belt, Florida A&M would go on to play within the FCS playoffs because the MEAC champion.

The very subsequent season, the NCAA adopted time beyond regulation guidelines throughout the game (see above).