Rule 3 – Section 3 – Article 2 – Starting and Stopping the Clock

If the margin in the score becomes more than 34 points, a running clock session will start. During a running clock session, the game clock will stop only for reasons marked * below. For other events listed here, the clock will keep running. Competitions may adopt regulations to:

1. forgo the running clock rule completely;
2. forgo the rule only in the first half of a game;
3. limit the running clock rule to use after an elapsed time no later than 2 hours 15 minutes after kickoff, but only in games that are broadcast live;
4. reduce the score margin below 34 points.

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f. Snap Supersedes Referee’s Signal. Whenever one or more incidents that cause the game clock to be started on the referee’s signal (Rule 3-3-2-e) occur in conjunction with any that cause it to be started on the snap (Rules 3-3-2-c and 3-3-2-d), it shall be started on the snap. (Exception: Rule 3-4-5 (10-second runoff) supersedes this rule.) (A.R.
3-3-2:VIII-IX)