Overtimes need tweak - not overhaul - in NFL and college football

I've covered college football and NFL games won - and lost - in overtime in part of because of the rules.

Ohio State moved the ball 3 yards and kicked a game-winning field goal to beat Iowa 27-24 in overtime for the Big Ten championship last November. The New Orleans Saints took the opening kickoff, gained 22 yards on offense, 17 more via questionable penalty and beat the Minnesota Vikings in overtime for the NFC championship on Sunday. Both endings were legitimate, but neither situation was ideal to decide a championship, either.

I'm not in favor of completely ditching the rules in either the NFL or college football. I think both systems have their merits. But there are a couple of system tweaks for each sport that could make outcomes easier to swallow for losing teams and would fit more in tune with the game's ebb and flow.

NFL: Sudden death works for me - if the winning team scores a touchdown. Here's an improvement: If Team A receives the overtime kickoff, drives 50 yards and kicks a 39-yard field goal, the Team B gets the ball via kickoff. If Team B ties the game with a field goal, the game continues. If Team B misses the field goal, Team A wins. If either team scores a touchdown, that team wins. I'm just not sold that a good kickoff return, a pass interference call and a 15-yard catch over the middle warrants an absolute conclusion in an extra frame.

COLLEGE: I'm fine with both teams getting the ball in overtime, but  I think an offense should gain at least one first down before it can try a decent field-goal attempt. The offense should start its possession from the opponents' 40-yard-line, rather than the 25. It seems silly that an offense sits in scoring position the second it takes the field in overtime. The current set-up is designed the end the game rather give it a proper conclusion, like shoot-outs in hockey and soccer.