How long is halftime?

As of 2014, the National Football League allows a 12-minute halftime, unless otherwise specified. In college football games, halftime is 20 minutes. The halftime interval normally occurs between the two halves of a football game.

After halftime, the football teams swap positions on the field to reduce any advantage a team might have from natural causes, such as wind. Halftime has several purposes. The time can serve as a resting period for players to recover, and fans can use the time as an intermission. At major football events, such as the Super Bowl, musicians and other entertainment acts perform during halftime.