What is targeting in college football? Ohio State has latest controversy regarding rule

The targeting ejection called on Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese on Sunday and later reversed is confusing to many and has been controversial over the years.

Reese was penalized and ejected for targeting Saturday against Nebraska after he hit Cornhuskers receiver Jahmal Banks late in the Buckeyes’ 21-17 victory. Reese primarily hit Banks with his shoulder, but officials ruled that Banks was defenseless, so targeting applied.

Ohio State appealed the targeting ruling to the Big Ten, which went to the NCAA Football Secretary Rules-Editor. After review, it was determined that Reese was not guilty of targeting. If the appeal had failed, Reese would have had to sit out the first half of Saturday’s showdown at No. 3 Penn State.

“He’s able to play in this game, and they realize that should not have been targeting,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said Tuesday.

Banks caught a pass from quarterback Dylan Raiola and then was hit by Reese as he started running. The ball was jarred loose, and Ohio State recovered. But the targeting penalty nullified the turnover. The Buckeyes’ defense then held Nebraska from scoring a game-winning touchdown.

“I think part of that was the fact that he was ruled a runner,” Day said. “If you rule he’s a runner, it’s hard to be defenseless so how does that become targeting?”

That was the basis for Ohio State’s appeal to the Big Ten.

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“I give the league credit,” Day said. “I think the easy thing to do would have been just to say no (to the appeal). But they did at least stand up and say no, that should not have been targeting in that moment.”

But Day said it’s hard to know what is and isn’t targeting. Defensive coordinator Jim Knowles said he doesn’t have the definitive answer, either.

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“I think everybody’s trying to work through protecting the players,” he said. “You don’t want to see any shots to the head or anybody lowering their head. That’s how I see targeting.

“Don’t hit the other guy in the head and keep your own head up. To me, that’s a pretty, pretty good definition, and that’s for the safety of the players.”

But it is open to interpretation. Mike Pereira, rules analyst for Fox and former NFL vice president of officiating, said he believed the targeting penalty and ejection was justified because he considered Banks to be “defenseless” having just caught the ball and Reese hit Banks to the shoulder or neck.

“They’re trying to protect that player that is most vulnerable, a player who’s focused on something else and not anticipating being drilled like that,” Pereira said.

The targeting call has proven pivotal in previous OSU games. Star defensive end Nick Bosa was ejected late in the second quarter in Ohio State’s loss to Iowa in 2017. The Hawkeyes threw a touchdown pass on the next play for a 31-17 lead on their way to a 55-24 rout.

In the 2019 College Football Playoff semifinal loss to Clemson, the game turned when Ohio State safety Shaun Wade was ejected for targeting Tigers quarterback Trevor Lawrence. The Buckeyes led 16-0 at that point and lost 29-23.

Targeting is the subject of rule 9, section 1, articles 3 and 4. Here is exactly how it appears in the rulebook:

ARTICLE 3. No player shall target and make forcible contact against an opponent with the crown of their helmet. The crown of the helmet is the top segment of the helmet; namely, the circular area defined by a 6-inch radius from the apex (top) of the helmet. This foul requires that there be at least one indicator of targeting (See Note 1 below). When in question, it is a foul. (Rule 9-6) (A.R. 9-1-3-I)

ARTICLE 4. No player shall target and make forcible contact to the head or neck area of a defenseless opponent (See Note 2 below) with the helmet, forearm, hand, fist, elbow or shoulder. This foul requires that there be at least one indicator of targeting (See Note 1 below). When in question, it is a foul (Rules 2-27-14 and 9-6). (A.R. 9-1-4-I-VI)

Note 1: “Targeting” means that a player takes aim at an opponent for purposes of attacking with forcible contact that goes beyond making a legal tackle or a legal block or playing the ball. Some indicators of targeting include but are not limited to:

• Launch. A player leaving their feet to attack an opponent by an upward and forward thrust of the body to make forcible contact in the head or neck area.

• A crouch followed by an upward and forward thrust to attack with forcible contact at the head or neck area, even though one or both feet are still on the ground.

• Leading with helmet, shoulder, forearm, fist, hand or elbow to attack with forcible contact at the head or neck area.

• Lowering the head before attacking by initiating forcible contact with the crown of the helmet.

Note 2: Defenseless player (Rule 2-27-14). When in question, a player is defenseless. Examples of defenseless players include but are not limited to:

• A player in the act of or just after throwing a pass. This includes an offensive player in a passing posture with focus downfield.

• A receiver attempting to catch a forward pass or in position to receive a backward pass, or one who has completed a catch and has not had time to protect themselves or has not clearly become a ball carrier.

• A kicker in the act of or just after kicking a ball, or during the kick or the return.

• A kick returner attempting to catch or recover a kick, or one who has completed a catch or recovery and has not had time to protect themselves or has not clearly become a ball carrier.

• A player on the ground.

• A player obviously out of the play.

• A player who receives a blind-side block.

• A ball carrier already in the grasp of an opponent and whose forward progress has been stopped.

• A quarterback any time after a change of possession

• A ball carrier who has obviously given themselves up and is sliding feet first.

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State football sees controversy with NCAA targeting rule