NCAA Oversight Committee Open to Targeting and Overtime Rule Changes

ESPN

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Lyons said the committee talked over a host of issues, including transfers, instant replay, recruiting and staff sizes. Though the committee is not ready to make any recommendations after meeting for roughly seven hours to discuss the myriad topics at the forefront of the sport, Lyons said there will be further study on all of them.

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The AFCA unanimously supports a model that puts targeting fouls into two separate categories: targeting 1 for hits without malicious intent, and targeting 2 for more egregious hits. Targeting 1 would carry a 15-yard penalty and no ejection or suspension; targeting 2 would result in automatic ejection and possible suspension. Lyons said the way targeting is called on the field and the way it is reviewed in the replay booth are also up for further discussion and review. The committee recommended further study by the football rules committee and football competition committee during their meeting in February.

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As for the overtime rule, Lyons said that is something the oversight committee wants the rules committee to study further in the wake of the seven-overtime game between LSU and Texas A&M this past season. Though only a handful of games went beyond a few overtimes during 2018, Lyons said player safety is at the forefront of any possible tweaks to the overtime format, in which both teams get a possession at the 25-yard line and teams must go for two after touchdowns starting in the third overtime. He reiterated any change would rule out allowing games to end in a tie. "The question is: Are there things we can tweak in the overtime that could possibly shorten the length?" Lyons said. "Do you leave it the same? Do you automatically have to go for two even after your first touchdown for both teams? What are some things to potentially lessen the overtime?"

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Other topics discussed included:
-No movement to allow student athletes out of their letters of intent if they sign in December and a Head coaching change is made.
-How to handle the growing number of waiver requests to become immediately eligible upon transfer.
-Potentially allowing transfer players to retain the year of eligibility after sitting out.
-Too many official visit weekends.
-Staff size, who gets to wear a headset on the side line.
-Replay and the use of league offices or a centralized system outside conference offices.

Sounds like they are listening to complaints about targeting. Having 2 different levels of targeting and no automatic suspensions would be a huge improvement to the rule.