How to Divide the Possession of a Football?

Yeon-Koo Che, Columbia University
Terrence Hendershott, University of California, Berkeley

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Discussion Paper 0506-25

Abstract

The current National Football League overtime rule favors the team starting on offense. Auctioning off or dividing-and-choosing the starting possession can potentially restore ex post fairness. We find auctions to provide a better outcome when teams have asymmetric information.