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NCAA changes the penalties for Targeting

Posted on 3/19/26 at 3:53 pm
Posted by TideSaint
Hill Country
Member since Sep 2008
84143 posts
Posted on 3/19/26 at 3:53 pm
quote:

For the 2026 season, the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision Oversight Committee on Thursday approved a one-year trial rule to modify the penalty structure when players are penalized for targeting.

Under the rule, a player disqualified for targeting for the first time during the season, regardless of which half it occurs, may participate in the next game.

Any player disqualified for targeting a second time during the season will be required to miss the first half of the next game. If a player is disqualified for a third targeting penalty during the season, the player will be required to miss the entire next game. No players were disqualified for targeting three times in the 2025 season.

A conference has the option to initiate an appeals process after a player's second targeting offense. The appeal, which can cover the first and second targeting offenses, would be sent to the NCAA national coordinator of football officials, who would then facilitate a video review.

If the call is overturned on appeal, the player will be able to play without sitting out the first half of the next game.  




This post was edited on 3/19/26 at 3:55 pm
Posted by BigBinBR
Baton Rouge
Member since Mar 2023
10074 posts
Posted on 3/19/26 at 3:59 pm to
It's a start. But they need to fix the issue with the accidental/incidental contact that gets called "targeting." No defender should get called for targeting if they are aiming for the thighs but the ball carrier slips or braces at the last second and lowers their head.
Posted by GoCrazyAuburn
Member since Feb 2010
40509 posts
Posted on 3/19/26 at 4:00 pm to
They also need to figure out how to call it with any semblance of consistency. Instead of one game something meeting the requirement and the next game the very same hit can not be targeting.
Posted by TopekaTiger
Member since Nov 2018
379 posts
Posted on 3/19/26 at 4:03 pm to
A commonsense approach would be great. Anyone who's played or knows about football can recognize a malicious hit vs "football play" from a few replays - also I'm a firm believer targeting mostly gets called when the TV announcers bring it up
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