What is a 2-point conversion in college football?
Daniel Martin
Updated on May 29, 2026
In gridiron football, a two-point conversion or two-point convert is a play a team attempts instead of kicking a one-point conversion immediately after it scores a touchdown.
How can you score 2 points in college football?
Two-Point Conversion in Football
A two-point conversion is a scoring play, occurring immediately after a touchdown, in which a team can add two bonus points by running or passing the ball into the end zone on one play starting from the opponent's two-yard line.
Are 2-point conversions allowed in college football?
"Teams can still choose whether to kick the point after touchdown or run a 2-point conversion play during the first overtime period." The first two overtime periods will still begin with each team getting one possession from the 25-yard line. The changes will go into effect for the 2021 season.
How do you score a 2-point conversion?
A defensive team is eligible to score on an offensive two-point conversion attempt. If the offense turns the ball over, via interception or fumble, the defense has the opportunity to return the ball to the opposite end zone. If they make it, it's two points.
Is a 2-point conversion considered a touchdown?
In American and Canadian football, a two-point conversion is a play a team attempts instead of kicking a one-point convert immediately after it scores a touchdown.
43 related questions foundWhy is it called a two-point conversion?
Tom Tupa scored the first two-point conversion in NFL history, running in a faked one-point attempt for the Cleveland Browns in a game against the Cincinnati Bengals in the first week of the 1994 season. He scored a total of three such conversions that season, earning him the nickname "Two-Point Tupa".
What happens if the defense score on a 2-point conversion?
What happens if you intercept a two-point conversion try? A defensive team is eligible to score on an offensive two-point conversion attempt. If the offense turns the ball over, via interception or fumble, the defense has the opportunity to return the ball to the opposite end zone. If they make it, it's two points.
What percentage of two-point conversions are successful in college?
As depicted in the graph below (while slightly outdated), the expected point value (average points per try for both) shows that the success rate of two-point conversions in college football typically hovers between 40 and 50%.
How many points is a 2-point conversion worth?
A two point conversion nets two points, whereas kicking an extra point only gains a team one point. Therefore, assuming a team can reliably kick extra points, the coach has to be confident that his offense can successfully execute a two point conversion more than 50% of the time to decide to go for two regularly.
When should you go for 2-point conversion?
Bottom line: teams should go for two points when they score a touchdown and they are down 10, 8, 3, or 2 or up by 1, 2, 4, or 5 (including the points from scoring the touchdown) near the end of the game. These conclusions hold when there are at least two additional possessions in the game.
Can you get a pick 6 on a 2-point conversion?
When a defense returns an interception to the end zone, it doesn't consistently score six points. If they achieve this feat during an extra point attempt or a two-point conversion, they will complete a defensive two-point conversion or a “Pick Two.”
What happens if you get a pick 6 on a 2-point conversion?
The ball is dead once the pass is intercepted, so nothing happens, no points the play is over.
Can you run back an extra point?
If an extra point kick is blocked and returned, it is worth two points, as it is not considered to be a touchdown. A blocked extra point is rare at all levels of football.
Can you advance a 2 point conversion?
That means that if the offense is going for a two-point conversion and turns the ball over, the defense can return it for points. Teams did not approve a rule that would have moved the line of scrimmage for two-point conversion attempts to the one-yard line.
Can you run back a missed field goal?
If a field goal attempt is missed and does not go out of bounds, a defensive player may catch the ball and return it, like a punt or kickoff.
What are the odds of getting a 2-point conversion?
The numbers say attempting a two-point conversion after a touchdown isn't a terrible gamble. This season, the NFL success rate is 49.6%. A 50% shot to steal a walk-off win with a backup quarterback?
What is a 1 point conversion?
In most cases in gridiron football, one point may be scored following a touchdown—bringing the total value of the touchdown to seven points—by place kicking the ball through the uprights.
Do interceptions count 2 point conversions?
No, interceptions do not count on a 2 point conversion, meaning the attempt fails but even though the result of the play is an interception, no interception is recorded in the official statistics. What is this? This is true both in fantasy scoring and real game statistics.
Can the defense score on a PAT?
The New Orleans Saints made history against the Carolina Panthers in Week 13, becoming the first team to block an extra point and return it all the way for two points. Among the rule changes the NFL made this past offseason was one that allowed defenses to score on an extra-point/two-point conversion attempt.
Why you should always go for it on 4th down?
Like many other advanced NFL statistics sites, we conclude that going for it on 4th down often leads to higher expected point values than simply kicking a field goal.
Why would you punt on 3rd down?
Belichick claimed he punted on third down because he feared a 10-man rush and a potential punt block on fourth down, but the Bills rushed 10 on third anyway. Plus, putting the regular punt unit out there meant the Bills could put Jackson, their only offensive player worth a damn that day, on the field to return it.
What is the name of the person that snaps the football between their legs to the quarterback?
The snap to the quarterback is one of the most critical elements to start a play. It allows receivers, running backs, and linemen to initiate contact. The center snaps the ball to the quarterback to start the play.
Should you ever punt on 4th down?
NFL coaches punt entirely too often. There was a study done by Berkeley economics professor David Romer. There are complicated statistics—some of which I will try to go over—but the basic summary is this: On a team's own side of the field, it should opt not to punt on 4th-and-4 or less.
Can you return a blocked field goal for a touchdown?
In all levels of football, a blocked field goal returned for a touchdown is worth six points. Additionally, after scoring the touchdown the team will attempt a one or two-point conversion. This means a field goal block return is going to be worth seven points the vast majority of the time.