The NCAA Division I Football Rules Subcommittee has just dropped a pretty big proposal for changing the targeting penalty rule in college football. If this goes through, it could shake things up for players and coaches alike.
Here’s the gist: they want to test out a new rule for a year. Players who get tossed for targeting for the first time in a season would be allowed to play in the next game, no matter when the infraction happened.
That’s a pretty big departure from what we have now. Currently, if you get ejected for targeting in the second half, you’re benched for the first half of your next game too.
But under this new idea, only repeat offenders would still face the extra suspension. If you’re flagged for targeting twice in a season, the old rule kicks in for the second time—meaning you’d still have to sit out the first half of your next game if the second call happens after halftime.
Understanding the Proposed Rule Change
It’s a more forgiving approach for first-timers, honestly. The committee’s saying, “Mess up once, learn, and move on.” But if you do it again, well, you pay the price.
They’re hoping this keeps things fair but still serious enough to keep the game safe. And let’s face it, nobody likes seeing a player miss a whole half the following week over a single mistake.
Approval Process and Timeline
Nothing’s official yet, though. The FBS Oversight Committee is set to look at this on March 19, and the FCS group follows on March 23.
If both committees give the thumbs up, the rule would go into effect as a trial for one year. They’ll be watching closely to see how it plays out.
Rationale Behind the Change
A.J. Edds, who chairs the subcommittee and works as the Big Ten’s VP of football administration, says this is all about evolving the targeting rule. They’re trying to strike a balance between safety and fairness.
The committee seems to think that tweaking the penalty system like this will actually help coaches teach better technique and keep players in the loop about what’s expected. It’s about getting the punishment right for the situation, not just dropping the hammer every time.
Enhancing Player Safety and Education
Targeting rules were brought in to cut down on head injuries and concussions—no one’s arguing against that. But the harsh penalties have been a sticking point for years.
This proposal tries to keep the spirit of player safety alive, while not punishing a guy too harshly for a first offense. It’s a tricky line to walk, honestly.
Appeal Process for Targeting Calls
There’s another twist: the NCAA is giving conferences the green light to appeal targeting calls. This isn’t just for second offenses anymore—it can happen for any call, first or second.
The appeals process involves a video review by the NCAA’s national coordinator of football officials. If they decide the call was wrong, the player’s good to go for the next game, no suspension hanging over their head.
Current Appeal Process
Since 2022, conferences could already appeal second-half targeting calls to try and save a player from missing the next game’s first half. Now, with this new proposal, any targeting call could be reviewed, which just feels more fair, doesn’t it?
Impact on College Football
If this rule gets the green light, it could really change the landscape. Fewer games might be decided by the absence of a key player who made one mistake.
Maybe it’ll also push players to pay more attention to their tackling form—nobody wants to get flagged twice and face a real suspension.
Conclusion
The proposed one-year trial rule change to the targeting penalty in college football is a pretty big deal. It shakes up how targeting calls are handled—maybe for the better, maybe not.
Now, first-time offenders might get to play in the next game. There’s also talk of an appeal process for every targeting call, which honestly seems overdue.
The NCAA says they’re trying to balance player safety with a penalty structure that actually makes sense. The FBS and FCS Oversight Committees are set to review the whole thing in March.
If they give the green light, everyone will be watching to see what happens next. Will it really change the game? Guess we’ll find out soon enough.
Curious about the details? You can read the full article on On3.
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