Did you watch Super Bowl LIX? It was a true spectacle as the Eagles beat the Chiefs 40-22. The game lasted over four hours in total, so if you’ve been watching the NFL previously, you surely noticed that this one extended longer than usual. That’s because the Super Bowl game always lasts longer than an ordinary NFL game.

A standard NFL game would last around three hours, but the Super Bowl is something else. The event's popularity is outstanding, as millions of fans watch it live worldwide. In the US, every Super Bowl game is watched by over 100 million viewers, and the last one is expected to surpass 130 million.

So why does the Super Bowl last more than four hours, and how much does an ordinary game last? If you want the answers to these questions, you’re in the right place. If you had a debate about this subject last night and you were not sure about the facts, keep reading with Sports Limitless and never lose an argument in the bar.

How Long are NFL Games?

An NFL game lasts 60 minutes, divided into four quarters. Each quarter lasts 15 minutes, during which both teams can attack and defend. When all four quarters are over, the winner is declared. If the game is tied, overtime follows, after which special rules are applied.

In an ideal case, the game should last 60 minutes, but this is never the case due to the many stoppage time situations, checking particular challenges by the referees, the half-time break which lasts around 15-20 minutes, and many other reasons, which always stretch the time to around three hours. 

The Super Bowl, though, is an entirely different event. Although almost the same rules apply as a regular NFL game, many exceptions make this game last over four hours. If there’s an overtime, the match might go even more.

Since there is a huge viewership, it’s normal for NFL Super Bowl games to last so long. The half-time show is always a spectacle, and many people watch the match to see the show during the break. The commercials between plays are also something to consider, as they are specifically prepared for this moment and cost a fortune. For example, the 2024 Amazon ad cost around $26 million to air.

With everything mentioned, it’s clear that the NFL, especially the Super Bowl, is larger than football itself. Americans love this sport and can’t get enough of it. Football is a true men’s game, and only those who are tough can play it. 

How Long Do NFL Games Last on TV?

There’s a difference between the timeline of events when you’re a fan at the stadium, as a player, when you’re organizing the event, or watching live on TV. Although the match lasts only 60 minutes, for fans at the arena, it is usually a four-hour experience as they can see the teams prepare and stay longer for autographs.

However, the game on TV is usually the same length every time, except for the Super Bowl. If you’re planning your day, you should know that the game will be aired for around three hours for regular and playoff games, and the Super Bowl may take up to four hours, with the half-time show being after around an hour and a half.

How Long is a College Football Game?

Similarly to the Super Bowl, the college football league has a final event called the College Football Playoff National Championship. It is similar to the NFL’s event but gains fewer viewers, which is normal—the college football league is popular but not as much as the NFL.

This game also lasts around three to four hours. The concept is the same - the game lasts 60 minutes divided into four quarters, but the half-time show, commercials and everything else may extend the broadcast to around four hours. If you’re watching the college football final game, you can expect this. It is the same with the regular season games, as they last around three hours.

Conclusion

As you can see, the average length of an NFL game is around three hours, with the Super Bowl extending to around four. The college football games are almost the same, and they also last around three hours, with the final game extending to almost four. 

So, the final answer to the question - how long NFL football games last - is three hours. When people say they are about to watch a game, this is the time you can expect them to be off. Of course, reach them if it is an emergency, as there are many breaks in the game when this is possible.