Saturday’s Iron Bowl matchup between the No. 3 Alabama Crimson Tide and the Auburn Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium was the first time the series has gone to overtime since the FBS instituted it for tied games at the end of regulation in 1996.
And in 2021, that means that college football fans were treated (subjected?) to the absolutely ridiculous new overtime rules that were implemented this year in a 24-22 ‘Bama win.
Beginning in the second overtime, teams now have to go for the two-point conversion instead of alternating possessions from the 25-yard line and being forced to go for two beginning in the third overtime period, as had been the case until this year. And starting in the third overtime period, teams alternate solely two-point conversion attempts from the three-yard line.
This means that each overtime period only lasts two plays, and that can result in the debacle we saw when Illinois beat Penn State earlier this year, 20-18, in the ninth overtime.
Quick reminder: pic.twitter.com/wIyyTba7ti
— SEConCBS (@SEConCBS) November 28, 2021
This game’s result wasn’t quite as absurd as the Big Ten one, as SEC West champion Alabama captured the win in quadruple overtime. But with what could prove to be one of the most important outcomes of the season being decided by what is the college football equivalent of penalty kicks, some fans took to Twitter to voice their opinions on college football’s latest time-saving technique.