By Holt Hackney
The NCAA Division I Football Rules Subcommittee has proposed a one-year trial to modify the penalty structure for targeting, a move that could ease one of the most debated rules in college football while maintaining a focus on player safety.
Under the proposal, a player disqualified for targeting for the first time in a season would not be required to miss the first half of the next game, regardless of when the foul occurs. Currently, players ejected for targeting must sit out the remainder of the game, and if the penalty occurs in the second half, they also miss the first half of the following game.
The proposal introduces a tiered penalty system. A player ejected for a second targeting offense in the same season would be required to miss the first half of the next game. A third offense would result in a suspension for the entire next game.
“This continues the evolution of our targeting rule and balances the important safety impact with an appropriate penalty structure,” said A.J. Edds, chair of the rules subcommittee and vice president of football administration for the Big Ten Conference. “We will closely monitor this one-year adjustment, and the committee believes it is important to enhance the progressive penalty to ensure proper coaching and player education.”
The recommendation must be approved by the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision Oversight Committee and the Football Championship Subdivision Oversight Committee before it can take effect. The FBS committee is scheduled to review the proposal March 19, followed by the FCS committee on March 23.
If adopted, the change would mark another revision to the targeting rule, which has been adjusted multiple times since its introduction more than a decade ago.
The NCAA first implemented the targeting rule in 2008 as part of a broader effort to reduce dangerous hits to the head and neck. Initially, the penalty resulted in a 15-yard personal foul but did not include automatic ejection. In 2013, amid growing concern over concussions and long-term brain injuries, the NCAA added automatic disqualification for players who target defenseless opponents or initiate contact with the crown of the helmet.
Since then, the rule has been refined several times. Replay review was added to confirm or overturn targeting calls, and definitions of defenseless players and indicators of targeting have been clarified. In 2022, conferences were given the ability to appeal second-half targeting ejections to prevent players from missing time in subsequent games due to questionable calls.
Despite those changes, the penalty structure has remained controversial, particularly the automatic carryover suspension for second-half fouls.
The proposed rule seeks to address those concerns by distinguishing between first-time and repeat offenders while still emphasizing accountability for dangerous play.
Under the proposal, conferences would also have the option to initiate an appeals process after a player’s second targeting offense of the season. Appeals could cover both the first and second offenses and would be reviewed by the NCAA national coordinator of football officials using video evidence. If a call is overturned, the player would not be required to miss the next game.
Supporters say the change would introduce greater proportionality into the rule without undermining its focus on safety.
Critics of the current system have long argued that the penalty can be overly severe, particularly in cases where intent is unclear or incidental contact leads to ejection and suspension. However, the NCAA has maintained that the rule is designed to change player behavior and reduce high-risk contact.
The subcommittee plans to monitor the effects of the proposed changes during the 2026 season before determining whether to make them permanent.
If approved, the trial would represent another step in the NCAA’s ongoing effort to balance player safety with competitive fairness in a sport that continues to confront the risks of head injuries.
For now, the proposal remains pending final approval, with potential changes expected to take effect for the 2026 college football season.
