Can it be 1 / 0 in football?

Has a 1-0 Score Ever Happened in Football?

At first glance, a 1-0 score in football sounds impossible—like a typo or a punchline. But believe it or not, it's technically possible, even if it's never actually happened in the NFL or college football.

The reason lies in a rare rule: the one-point safety. Most fans know that after a touchdown, teams attempt an extra point by kicking the ball through the uprights for one point, or going for two. But few consider what happens if things go terribly wrong.

Here’s how a 1-0 score could unfold: After a touchdown, the offense lines up for the extra point. Instead of kicking, they run a play. If the ball carrier is tackled in their own end zone during that attempt, and the defense doesn’t gain possession, the offensive team is penalized with a safety. But because this happens during a conversion attempt—not a regular play from scrimmage—it’s worth just one point to the defense.

Yes, you read that right: the defending team would be awarded one point. That would make the score 1-0 in their favor.

Now, here’s why we’ve never seen it. The scenario requires a perfect storm of unusual decisions: the offense must choose a two-point style play instead of a kick, then fumble or get tackled in their own end zone, all while the defense refuses to pounce on the ball. Coaches don’t run such risky plays on conversions, especially when a simple kick guarantees the point.

So, while a 1-0 game lives in the realm of theoretical possibility, it’s more of a football trivia footnote than a real expectation. Still, the fact that it could happen—even if only in imagination—adds to the unpredictable charm of the sport.