<P> The team may use counterintuitive game plans, such as declining to score or allowing the opponents to score, to accelerate the end of the game . </P> <P> If the defense does not have enough time - outs to stop the clock before the ball is turned over on downs, the offense can run out the clock by executing repeated quarterback kneels until the clock runs out . In the NFL and college football, up to 40 seconds can be taken off the clock between plays . The NFL also has a built - in two - minute warning that stops the clock after the play that occurs when the clock hits two minutes ends . In order to successfully run out the clock by kneeling, there must be less than 40 seconds on the clock if the opponent has two time - outs, 1 minute 20 seconds if the opponent has one time - out, or 2 minutes if the defense has no time - outs remaining, at the beginning of the series of downs . The offense can burn further time off the clock by timewasting: keeping the ball live (and the clock running) simply by keeping away from any defensive player, regardless of position on the field . </P> <P> A team on offense that has the lower score seeks to conserve time . The team may: </P> <Ul> <Li> Use a no - huddle offense; forgo detailed design of a play and instead signal and initiate a play quickly . </Li> <Li> Have the quarterback "spike" the ball, sacrificing a down to stop the clock . (An explicit exception is written into the American football rule books so that the move is not penalized for intentional grounding .) </Li> <Li> Use a passing play (because an incomplete pass stops the clock) or a run play toward the sidelines (because taking the ball out of bounds also stops the clock). </Li> <Li> Most ideal after a 1st down . </Li> <Li> If a play ends such that the game clock continues running, use a timeout . </Li> <Li> If the ball is still alive while the clock runs out and the team with the ball is still trailing, do everything within the team's power to keep the ball alive until it can be advanced to the end zone . Often this incorporates a series of lateral and backward passes to avoid the ball carrier being tackled and the game ending . </Li> </Ul>

When does the game clock stop in basketball