I just went through every game from 2016-2018, and there were 45 overtime games over the three seasons (including playoffs). Here were the results:
- 10 times (22.2%) the team who got the ball first in OT immediately drove for the GW touchdown
- 14 times (31.1%) the team who got the ball second scored either a FG or TD to win the first time they touched the ball
- 2 times (4.4%) the team who got the ball first scored a FG and then stopped the other team from scoring
- 15 times (33.3%) the teams traded multiple possessions before a winner was determined
- 4 times (8.9%) the teams couldn't score and ended in a tie
So only 22.2% of the games ended without the other team touching the ball. The team touching it second won 4 more times on their initial drive than the number of times the team won the game on the opening drive of OT.
Three seasons may seem like a small sample size, but it's 45 games, probably large enough to determine if it's a fair system. Given the actual results, it's hard for anyone to claim that the team that gets the ball first has an unfair advantage.
- 10 times (22.2%) the team who got the ball first in OT immediately drove for the GW touchdown
- 14 times (31.1%) the team who got the ball second scored either a FG or TD to win the first time they touched the ball
- 2 times (4.4%) the team who got the ball first scored a FG and then stopped the other team from scoring
- 15 times (33.3%) the teams traded multiple possessions before a winner was determined
- 4 times (8.9%) the teams couldn't score and ended in a tie
So only 22.2% of the games ended without the other team touching the ball. The team touching it second won 4 more times on their initial drive than the number of times the team won the game on the opening drive of OT.
Three seasons may seem like a small sample size, but it's 45 games, probably large enough to determine if it's a fair system. Given the actual results, it's hard for anyone to claim that the team that gets the ball first has an unfair advantage.