American Football Rules - Scoring - Try For Extra Point (1 or 2 Points)

Try For Extra Point (1 or 2 Points)

A try is more frequently called an extra-point attempt or a PAT (abbreviation of "Point After Touchdown"). Either one or two additional points may be scored during the try. The ball is spotted at the 2 yard line (NFL) or 3 yard line (college/high school), and the team is given one untimed play to earn points:

• The offensive team may attempt to kick the ball through the goalposts, in the same manner that a field goal is kicked. This option is almost always chosen, because a two point conversion attempt is much riskier. If successful the team is awarded one point, referred to as an extra point. Because the extra point is almost always successful (especially in NFL play), sportscasters will refer to a team up or trailing by seven (not six) points as being "up/trailing by a touchdown".

• The offensive team may attempt to advance the ball via run or pass into the end zone, much like a touchdown on the extra-point attempt, except that it receives two points. This is called a two-point conversion. The success rate for two-point conversions is less than 40 percent in the NFL and college, making the two-point conversion attempt a risky tactic; thus it is usually attempted only when two points will help the team but one point will not.
  • For example, suppose that it is late in the game with a score of 21-10 and the losing team scores a touchdown, making the score 21-16. The scoring team will usually attempt the two-point conversion, because if successful, a three-point deficit later could be matched with one field goal; failure to convert would result in a five-point deficit that could be surmounted with another touchdown—a situation no worse than the four-point deficit achieved with a kicked extra point.
  • Another example would be if a team scores a late-game touchdown, and as a result is down by two points. A successful two-point conversion would tie the game, and likely force overtime. In very rare and risky instances, a trailing team who scored a touchdown, and as a result is down by 1 point, may attempt a two-point conversion to gamble on a win and avoid overtime (or, under NCAA or NFHS rules, a subsequent overtime period). Two famous examples of this gamble were by Nebraska in the last minute of the 1984 Orange Bowl (unsuccessful) and by Boise State in the first overtime of the 2007 Fiesta Bowl (successful). Note that under NCAA rules, teams are required to "go for two" starting with the third overtime procedure.

• Under college rules, if the defensive team gains possession and advances the ball the length of the field into the opposite end zone on the try (for example by an interception or a fumble recovery, or by blocking a kick and legally recovering the ball), they score two points. This is officially recorded as a touchdown scored by the defense. The NCAA adopted this rule in 1990.
  • This scenario cannot occur under NFL or high school football rules; the ball is ruled dead and the try is over immediately when the defense gains possession.

• In the extremely rare event that the offensive team scores a safety on the try, it receives one point. In college football, this can occur when, for example, the defense gains control of the ball and attempts to advance it, then fumbles it out of bounds in its own end zone. In the NFL, this cannot occur because a defensive player hitting a fumbled ball out of the end zone is by rule a touch back or the defender first possessing the ball ends the try, thus awarding no points to either team. In the event that a defensive player did possess the ball long enough to fumble it out of the back of the end zone or return to his own end zone after establishing possession outside of his own end zone it would not matter as possession of the ball by the defender already ends the play.

• The game clock is not advanced during a try, however, the play clock is enforced. A delay of game penalty, false start, or similar penalty, by the offense results in a 5-yard penalty assessed for the try. Typically, penalties charged against the defense give the offensive two options: half the distance to the goal for the try, or assessing the full penalty on the ensuing kickoff. Since the try is not timed by the game clock, if a touchdown is scored as regulation time expires (and game clock subsequently reads :00), the try is still allowed to be conducted. This instance is relatively common as teams score a game-tying (or game-winning) extra point after regulation has expired.
  • During sudden-death overtime, particularly in the NFL, if a team scores a touchdown in the overtime period, the game is immediately over, and the try is not attempted.
  • In NCAA overtime, if the second team to possess the ball in the overtime scores a touchdown which puts them ahead of the opponent in points the game ends immediately and no try is attempted.

• The officials' signal for a successful try, whether an extra point or a two point conversion, is the same as for a touchdown. After the try, the team that scored the touchdown kicks off to the opposing team.