when does the clock stop in college football

The clock in college football stops in several key situations:

1. The clock stops after every play that ends out of bounds.
2. The clock stops on an incomplete forward pass.
3. The clock stops when a team calls a timeout.
4. The clock stops for an official timeout (e.g., penalties, injuries).
5. During the last two minutes of each half, the clock stops on first downs while the chains are moved.
6. The clock stops with exactly two minutes left in the second and fourth quarters when the game clock is running and the ball is not live (this is called the two-minute timeout).
7. The clock stops when a score or touchback occurs.

Additionally, there is a new rule (starting in 2023 and refined in 2024) that the clock will generally run after first downs except in the last two minutes of each half when it stops to move the chains. This was part of an effort to reduce game time and plays while keeping end-of-half timing exciting and manageable. In general, outside the last two minutes of each half, the clock will run through first downs and restarts on the snap (except for the above stop scenarios). In the final two minutes, the clock stops to award the first down and restarts on the referee's signal to place the ball rather than on the snap immediately. This timing management aligns the college game more closely with NFL clock rules at the end of halves but keeps college-specific timing for the rest of the game. These rules are part of ongoing NCAA efforts to manage game length, safety, and broadcast timing.