HOW TO USE
Your complete guide to checking halftime possession for NFL and College Football
Visit Who Gets The Ball
Start by going to whogetstheball.co. You'll see a list of current and upcoming NFL and college football games organized by date. Each game card displays the team matchup, kickoff time, and current score status.
Browse or Search for Your Game
Scroll through the games or search for the specific matchup you're interested in. Games are organized by kickoff date and time, making it easy to find the game you want to check.
Click the Game Card for Full Details
Click on any game card to open the detailed game page. Here you'll find comprehensive information about the coin toss, including the winner, their choice, and halftime possession decision once the game starts.
Review Coin Toss and Halftime Possession
Once the coin toss is called, you'll see: the coin toss winner, their choice (receive, kick, or defer), and critically, who gets the ball at halftime. This halftime possession decision can significantly impact game flow and scoring momentum.
Share Your Results
Use the "Share This Result" section to post the result on X (Twitter) or copy the shareable link to send to friends. The link includes all the game details, coin toss information, and halftime possession data in one easy-to-share URL.
Key Concepts to Understand
🏈 The Coin Toss
Before every game, the visiting team captain calls heads or tails. The winner chooses between three options: (1) RECEIVE the opening kickoff, (2) KICK OFF to start the game, or (3) DEFER their choice to halftime. This choice significantly impacts game strategy.
🎯 Deferral (The Modern Strategy)
When a team defers, they delay their possession choice until halftime. The losing team starts with the ball in the 1st quarter, while the deferring team gets to choose who receives in the 2nd half. Over 90% of NFL teams now defer because controlling halftime possession is strategically more valuable.
⏱️ Halftime Possession
The team that gets the ball to start the 3rd quarter (2nd half). This is critical because it provides immediate scoring opportunities when momentum shifts and teams have made halftime adjustments. Starting the 2nd half with the ball can swing close games significantly.
📊 The Strategy
Since 2008, when the deferral rule was introduced, adoption has grown from just 7.8% to 92% by 2018. Teams discovered that having the final possession decision at halftime—knowing exactly what they need to accomplish—provides a crucial competitive advantage in close games.
🔄 Overtime Rules (2026 NFL)
If the game is tied after four quarters, both teams get a guaranteed possession in overtime. The coin toss winner can defer to play defense first and gain information about what they need to accomplish on their drive. This makes the deferral decision even more strategic in overtime situations.
🏆 CFP Champions 🏆
Congratulations to the Indiana Hoosiers!
The 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship has crowned a new champion!
Championship Game Result
Final Score
35-14
Opponent
Notre Dame
Halftime Possession
Indiana received at halftime
This champion dominated through strategic coin toss decisions and halftime possession control. Their mastery of possession strategy powered them to the ultimate college football glory.
See you next season, football fans. Where will the next great coin toss decision be made?
College Football Differences
📚 College Football Coin Toss
College football has similar coin toss rules to the NFL—the visiting team captain calls heads or tails, and the winner chooses to receive, kick, or defer. However, the strategic implications differ due to college's unique overtime format and game dynamics.
🏈 Halftime Possession in College
Halftime possession still matters in college football, but the strategic value is different. College coaches have more varied approaches to deferral because the overtime rules don't create the same late-game possession advantages that drive NFL teams to defer in 90%+ of cases.
⏱️ College Overtime Rules
In college football overtime, both teams are guaranteed a possession starting from the opponent's 25-yard line. This guaranteed possession format means teams don't need to control the clock or halftime momentum the same way the NFL does, so deferral strategies vary more widely between coaches.