Because of discussions related to events in recent games related to game timing - specifically, the shortening of periods - I felt it necessary to ask Steve Shaw for some rulings on a couple of plays. He responded, and his replies should help us gain a better understanding of how to handle late-game timing issues, as well as the more touchy "blowout" situations.
Below are Shaw's rulings to the two play situations (in red text). The situations are presented below Shaw's responses.
Regarding the Ole Miss-Georgia game, these rulings make it clear that, unless one team simply chooses to forfeit, we gotta let the game be completed, i.e., the time in the final period must expire. The Referee had not declared the game over, and simply took the necessary steps to ensure that the clock was correct before doing so. Even though the teams were on the field, the coaches were looking to shake hands, and the post-game stage was being moved onto the field, checking with replay was the right thing to do, and resulted in restoring the clock to 0:01. Ole Miss simply weren't coached well enough to move forward and block Georgia to keep them from recovering the onside kick. Why the clock operator started the clock is a mystery to me. I don't have good video, but I never saw anybody wind the clock. So, restoring the game clock to 0:01 after the legal recovery of the onside kick by Georgia was, again, the right thing to do. Made for an interesting final down. Everybody will remember that game for a very long time.
Regarding the UIL (Texas High School) game that was, reportedly, concluded early by mutual agreement of the coaches and referee, we, and they, have no authority to do that. One team can FORFEIT, but the Referee can't just declare the game ended. Whatever period they are in must be completed. Any remaining periods must be of equal length, and must have some time to them. That could be as little as 1 minute, each. Once they get to the 4th period, if Team A has the ball, they can snap and take a knee twice, game over. Yeah, they'll need to snap it twice. Big deal. Snap it and take a knee twice, nobody gets hurt, and everybody goes home with a legally completed game.
As Shaw says, if there is only a little bit of time remaining (like less than 1 minute), and they both tell you they wanna go home, wind the clock, and stick around long enough to make sure there won't be a brawl. Then head to the dressing room. Let the game end, officially.
Any time a team chooses to forfeit (NCAA or UIL), then we all go home immediately (but the R would need to report the forfeit in his post-game report - but, no big deal).
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Shaw's Responses
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In situation 1, the intent of Rule 3-2-2-a is that any remaining period or periods may be shortened by mutual consent. In your play, since we are well into the 3rd period, only the 4th period may be shortened.
In your situation 2, good football common sense by the Referee should prevail. Technically we can’t just end the game, but with 45 seconds remaining, and knowing that there is consent by both coaches, the referee could order the clock started and just run out the game. Rule 3-4-3 states that the Referee has broad authority in timing of the game, and here we could just run the clock out.
Steve Shaw
CFO National Coordinator of Football Officials
Secretary-Rules Editor, NCAA Football Rules Committee
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Play Situations
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From: rckcameron@icloud.com <rckcameron@icloud.com>
Sent: Saturday, January 3, 2026 11:48 AM
To: Steve Shaw <sdshaw.cfo@gmail.com>
Subject: NCAA Football Rules Interpretation
Mr. Shaw,
We would be grateful for your rulings for the following play situations:
Situation 1
1/10, B-35, 12:00 (3), A=49, B=3.
After recovering the opponent’s fumble at the opponent’s 35-yard line, Team A snaps the ball. A33 advances across B’s goal line for a touchdown, with 11:50 (3) on the game clock.
The try is conducted, and Team A’s field goal attempt is successful. Immediately after the try down, the Team B head coach requests a conference with the Referee, and a time out is signaled. The Team B head coach requests that the time remaining in the current (3rd) period be shortened to 8:00, and the fourth period reduced to 8 minutes. The Team A head coach is notified of this request and does not object. The Referee orders the game clock to be set to 8:00 for the current (3rd) period, and notifies the game administrator that the 4th period will also be 8:00 in duration.
The Referee does not charge Team B with a time out, and the game continues with Team A’s kickoff. The game is completed under the mutually agreed timing.
Mr. Shaw, the issue in this play situation is the shortening of the third period. 3–2-2-a allows “...the playing time of any remaining period…” to be shortened by mutual agreement of both head coaches and the Referee. Does the rule allow time in a period already under way to be shortened? Or, is the rule intended only to affect any period(s) that have not yet begun?
Situation 2
1/10, B-35, 0:45 (4), A=56, B=0.
Following a turnover on downs at the 35-yard line of the team behind in score, the head coach of the team behind in score requests a conference with the Referee, and a time out is signaled. That coach requests that the game be terminated, and he states that he had communicated with the opposing head coach and the opposing head coach agreed to terminate the game. The Referee notifies this head coach that the game must be completed to its natural timed conclusion, and play will continue, unless he chooses to forfeit the game; the game may not be simply ended at that point. The Referee exercises his discretion and does not charge that team with a time out, and the game is completed under the standard game timing.
Mr. Shaw, the issue in this play is the question: Are the teams allowed to mutually agree to end a game before playing time has expired? We see nothing in the rules that would allow a game to simply be ended, unless one team elects to forfeit.
Thank you for your help.
Robert Cameron
Education Committee
Texas Association of Sports Officials - Football Division
Lubbock, Texas
