Editing Mercy rule (section)

== American football ==

===Middle and high school football===
At the middle- or high-school level, 34 states use a mercy rule that may involve a "continuous clock" (the clock continues to operate on most plays when the clock would normally stop, such as an incomplete pass) once a team has a certain lead (for example, 35 points) during the second half ([[Louisiana High School Athletic Association|Louisiana]] adopted a rule in 2022 which states the running clock is invoked when the margin reaches 42 points at any time during the game). That greatly decreases the amount of time taken for a game to complete, which reduces the leading team's chances to score more and the time that the trailing team must spend in facing an insurmountable deficit. In most states, the clock stops only for scores, timeouts (officials', injury, or charged), or the end of the quarter. Plays that would normally stop the clock, such as penalties, incomplete passes, going out of bounds, or change of possession, would not stop the clock. The rule varies by state; for example, the clock does not stop upon a score in [[Colorado High School Activities Association|Colorado]], [[Indiana High School Athletic Association|Indiana]], [[Kansas State High School Activities Association|Kansas]] (regular-season games only), or [[Missouri State High School Activities Association|Missouri]] (fourth quarter only).

In most states, once the point differential is reduced to below the mercy rule-invoking amount, normal timing procedures resume until either the end of the game or the mercy rule-invoking point differential is re-established; in Colorado, Georgia, Kansas and Louisiana, the clock continues to run even if the differential falls below the threshold. Most states that have mercy rules waive this rule for a championship game.

In some states, coaches and game officials may choose to end a game at their own discretion at any time during the second half if the continuous clock rule is in effect; that usually happens if a lopsided margin continues to increase or if threatening weather is imminent. Sometimes the coach of the team that is losing agrees to shorten the length of a quarter in addition to the continuous clock rule. Although it is rare, some states or high school conferences have rules in which the team with a very large lead may not run a certain play for the rest of the game, such as a deep pass or outside run.

In some states (where [[Eight-man football|8-man]] and [[Six-man football#Scoring|6-man football]] is widely used), the rules call for a game to end when one team is ahead by a certain score (like 45 or 50 points) at halftime or any time thereafter.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nfhs.org/core/contentmanager/uploads/2007MERCYRULE.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2008-10-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080921023325/http://www.nfhs.org/core/contentmanager/uploads/2007MERCYRULE.pdf |archive-date=2008-09-21 }}</ref> In other states with 6- or 8-man football, continuous clock rules are used, and the rule may be modified; for instance, in Iowa, the rule goes into effect if the 35-point differential is reached at any time after the first quarter.

In a variant on the mercy rule used in [[Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference|Connecticut high school football]] from 2006 to 2016, the team's coach was issued a one-game suspension (i.e., for the team's next game) if at any point the team had a 50-point lead.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.norwichbulletin.com/sports/20160627/ciac-eliminates-50-point-rule-in-high-school-football|title=CIAC eliminates 50-point rule in high school football|last=Poole|first=Owen|work=The Bulletin|access-date=2018-05-21|language=en}}</ref> In 2016 it was replaced with a running clock rule.

===College football===

The [[National Collegiate Athletic Association]]'s mercy rule provides, "Any time during the game, the playing time of any remaining period or periods and the intermission between halves may be shortened by mutual agreement of the opposing head coaches and the referee." (NCAA Football Rule 3-2-2-a)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://amarefs.org/FR16.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2016-09-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927104903/http://amarefs.org/FR16.pdf |archive-date=2016-09-27 |url-status=dead }}</ref> NCAA Football Approved Ruling 3-2-2-I cites an example: "At halftime the score is 56–0. The coaches and the referee agree that the third and fourth quarters should be shortened to 12 minutes each. The coaches also request that the second half be played with a 'running clock' i.e., that the game clock not be stopped." The NCAA Football Rules Committee determined, "The remaining quarters may be shortened to 12 minutes each. However, the 'running clock' is not allowed; normal clock rules apply for the entire game."<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://amarefs.org/FR16.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2016-09-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927104903/http://amarefs.org/FR16.pdf |archive-date=2016-09-27 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The most recent example of an NCAA football game shortened by invoking this rule occurred on September 13, 2024, when the [[2024 South Alabama Jaguars football team|South Alabama Jaguars]] played the [[2024 Northwestern State Demons football team|Northwestern State Demons]]. After the third quarter, with the Jaguars leading the Demons 87–10, both coaches agreed to shorten the fourth quarter to six minutes, resulting in 51 minutes of play. This was the most points scored by a FBS team since 1991.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stephenson |first=Creg |date=2024-09-13 |title=South Alabama set Sun Belt record for points in 87-10 victory over Northwestern State |url=https://www.al.com/sports/2024/09/south-alabama-set-sun-belt-record-for-points-in-87-10-victory-over-northwestern-state.html |access-date=2024-09-15 |website=al.com |language=en}}</ref> The shortened game resulted in some [[sportsbook]]s voiding bets due to house rules requiring 55 minutes of play for the game to count.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Valentino |first=Ian |date=2024-09-13 |title=See why bettors are fuming despite South Alabama football setting an FBS record for points |url=https://atozsports.com/college-football/bettors-fuming-despite-south-alabama-football-set-fbs-points-record/ |access-date=2024-09-15 |website=atozsports.com |language=en}}</ref>

On September 7, 2024, the [[2024 Georgia Bulldogs football team|Georgia Bulldogs]] led the [[2024 Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles football team|Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles]] 45–0 at the end of the third quarter. Both coaches agreed to shorten the fourth quarter to ten minutes. The final score was 48–3.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Weiszer |first=Marc |title=Georgia football opens home schedule with big win against Tennessee Tech |url=https://www.onlineathens.com/story/sports/college/bulldogs-extra/2024/09/07/georgia-football-carson-beck-tennessee-tech-trevor-etienne/75001798007/ |access-date=2024-09-15 |website=Online Athens |language=en-US}}</ref>

On August 29, 2024, the [[2024 Arkansas Razorbacks football team|Arkansas Razorbacks]] led the [[2024 Arkansas–Pine Bluff Golden Lions football team|Arkansas–Pine Bluff Golden Lions]] 49–0 at halftime. By mutual agreement, the coaches agreed on ten minute lengths for the third and fourth quarters. The final score was 70–0, and some sportsbooks voided bets due to an insufficient game length.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-30 |title=Why DraftKings voided all Arkansas bets after 70-0 victory |url=https://ftw.usatoday.com/2024/08/why-draftkings-voided-all-arkansas-bets-after-70-0-victory |access-date=2024-09-15 |website=For The Win |language=en-US}}</ref>

October 1, 2022, when the [[Syracuse Orange football|Syracuse Orange]] played the [[Wagner Seahawks football|Wagner Seahawks]]. The mismatched Wagner team trailed the 4-0 Syracuse team 49–0 at halftime. In the second half coaches and the referee agreed to 10 minute quarters. Syracuse head coach Dino Babers made the controversial choice of leaving some of Syracuse's starting players in late into the second half. The final score of the game was 59–0.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/2022/10/syracuse-football-cruises-to-5-0-but-it-comes-with-a-cost-sean-tucker-leaves-the-blowout-win-with-an-injury.html|title=Syracuse cruises to 5-0, but it may have come with a cost after Sean Tucker leaves the lopsided win}}</ref>

September 21, 2019, [[2019 Ohio State Buckeyes football team|Ohio State]] was leading [[2019 Miami RedHawks football team|Miami (OH)]] 76–5 in Columbus, Ohio with 2:40 left in the 4th quarter when the game was temporarily suspended due to lightning. Both coaches agreed to end the game with the final score standing as is.<ref name="v417">{{cite web | title=Ohio State 76-5 Miami (OH) (Sep 21, 2019) Game Recap | website=ESPN | date=2019-09-21 | url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap/_/gameId/401112253 | access-date=2024-05-17}}</ref>

September 1, 2018, the rule was enacted during a game Georgia played against Austin Peay in Athens, Georgia.  With the score 45–0 in the 3rd quarter and a high heat index, the Austin Peay Coach [[Will Healy]] suggested to Georgia head coach Kirby Smart that they play a 10-minute fourth quarter instead of the typical 15 minute fourth quarter.  The coaches and referee agreed and the game was shortened.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/georgia-opens-season-with-rout-austin-peay/oRmlUq5gQFE8rwmdsGHQ2K/|title=Georgia opens its season with a rout of Austin Peay|work=ajc|access-date=2018-09-04}}</ref>

September 24, 2016, the [[2016 Missouri Tigers football team|Missouri Tigers]] led [[2016 Delaware State Hornets football team|Delaware State]] 58–0 at halftime. The coaches agreed to shorten the third and fourth quarters from 15 minutes to 10 minutes each, shortening the total game time from 60 minutes to 50 minutes. Missouri added three touchdowns in the abbreviated second half to make the final score 79–0, setting team records for the most points scored in a game (79), the greatest margin of victory (79), and the largest number of touchdowns scored (11).

Also in 2016, the game between [[2016 Clemson Tigers football team|Clemson]] and [[2016 South Carolina State Bulldogs football team|South Carolina State]] had both the third and fourth quarters shortened from 15 minutes to 12 as a result of  Clemson leading the game at half 45–0.  The final score of the game was 59–0.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/ct-college-football-shortening-games-spt-20160918-story.html|title=Clemson's 59-0 win latest example of game being shortened|website=[[Chicago Tribune]]|date=18 September 2016 }}</ref>

Earlier in 2016, the game between [[2016 Texas State Bobcats football team|Texas State]] and [[2016 Arkansas Razorbacks football team|Arkansas]] saw the fourth quarter shortened to 10 minutes when severe thunderstorms were approaching [[Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium]]. Arkansas led 42–3 at the end of the third quarter, and the final period was scoreless.  A similar scenario took place in 2017 in the game between [[2017 TCU Horned Frogs football team|TCU]] and [[2017 Kansas Jayhawks football team|Kansas]], where the coaches agreed to a running clock for the final 12:49 of the game due to severe thunderstorms approaching [[Amon G. Carter Stadium]].

In a 2013 game, [[2013 Old Dominion Monarchs football team|Old Dominion University]] (ODU) was losing to the [[2013 North Carolina Tar Heels football team|University of North Carolina]] (UNC) 80–20 when ODU coach [[Bobby Wilder]] asked for the fourth quarter to be shortened by five minutes, which UNC coach [[Larry Fedora]] agreed to. Fedora also directed his quarterback to take a knee on fourth and goal with 1:53 remaining to not run up the score.<ref>{{cite web|title=Tarheels score 80 in 3 quarters|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1862918-old-dominion-vs-north-carolina-shortened-as-tar-heels-score-80-in-3-quarters/|work=Bleacher Report}}</ref>

In a 1988 game, [[Kansas Jayhawks football|Kansas Jayhawks]] coach [[Glen Mason]] asked if a running clock could be used after his team trailed 49–0 at halftime to the [[Auburn Tigers football|Auburn Tigers]]. Auburn coach [[Pat Dye]] and the officials agreed, and Auburn ended up a 56–7 winner.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1004441/index.htm | archive-url=https://archive.today/20121202225828/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1004441/index.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=December 2, 2012 | work=CNN | title=Look, Toto! | date=1992-11-02}}</ref>

In 2015, another shortened game occurred when the [[Boston College Eagles football|Boston College Eagles]] dominated the [[Howard Bison football|Howard Bison]] 62–0 by halftime. The coaches agreed to remove five minutes from each quarter of the second half of the game.

Despite the NCAA Football Rules Committee's subsequent ruling (A.R. 3-2-2-I) that a "running clock" is not permitted, a continuous clock was used September 5, 2013, beginning in the fourth quarter when the [[2013 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team|Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets]] had a 63–0 lead against the [[2013 Elon Phoenix football team|Elon Phoenix]]. That was at the request of Elon coach [[Jason Swepson]] and agreed upon by Georgia Tech coach [[Paul Johnson (American football coach, born 1957)|Paul Johnson]]. Georgia Tech won the game 70–0.<ref>{{cite web|last=Sugiura|first=Ken|title=Johnson on Duke, Elon, no-huddle|url=http://www.ajc.com/weblogs/georgia-tech/2013/sep/04/johnson-duke-elon-no-huddle/|work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|access-date=5 September 2013}}</ref>

However, in the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges, a running clock is allowed if the team is ahead by 38 points or more. This rule, unique only to the MACJC, was instituted in 2013.