How long is the average football game?

Professional and college football games last for 60 minutes, divided into two 30-minute halves and four 15-minute quarters. High school football games last for 48 minutes, divided into two 24-minute halves with four 12-minute quarters. read more

Fifteen teams averaged at least 3:30 in game length during 2014, up from 10 teams in 2013. As recently as 2009, no teams had an average game length that long. Among last season's 15 teams at 3:30 or longer, 14 had more scoring in their games and 12 produced more plays than the respective national averages. read more

An average professional football game lasts 3 hours and 12 minutes, but if you tally up the time when the ball is actually in play, the action amounts to a mere 11 minutes. Part of the discrepancy has to do with the basic rules of American football. read more

The average football game is actually longer than the average baseball game. According to The Boston Globe, baseball games average 2 hours, 57 minutes and 33 seconds. This isn't to suggest baseball is inherently more exciting. But one of the contemporary knocks against baseball is its games take too long. read more