Is a field goal worth three points in football?
How the kick earns points
A field goal happens when the offense kicks the ball from scrimmage through the opponent's goalposts. The kick can be attempted from almost anywhere on the field, and the play ends once the kick is good or missed.
The three points are added on top of any other points already on the board. A missed field goal hands the ball to the other team, usually at the spot of the kick or the line of scrimmage.
- Field goals count three points in the NFL and college football.
- A field goal is worth less than a touchdown, which is six points before the extra point or two-point try.
- A missed field goal gives the other team possession.
- A safety is worth two points, not three.
Field goals versus other scores
A touchdown is worth six points, and the team can then add one or two points on a try after the touchdown. Teams often kick a field goal when they are close to the end zone but cannot get in, which is why field goals show up often in tight games.
Keeping the values straight helps when you are tracking a close score late in a game, especially when a safety is involved.
Common mistakes
- Confusing a field goal with an extra point, which is a separate kick after a touchdown.
- Counting a missed kick as any points at all.
- Forgetting that a safety is worth two points and not three.
