College football's targeting rule, intended to enhance player safety for both the player making a hit and the player being hit, remains a contentious aspect of the sport. The rule defines targeting as initiating forcible contact against an opponent beyond what is considered a routine legal tackle, block, or play on the ball, with a particular focus on contact to the head and neck area.
Specific actions that can be flagged as targeting include leading with the crown of the helmet during forcible contact, or making forcible contact above an opponent's shoulders, especially with the helmet or shoulder. Officials assess a foul if there is at least one indicator of targeting, such as leading with the helmet, shoulder, forearm, fist, hand, or elbow to the head or neck area, or lowering the head before making forcible contact with the crown of the helmet. According to NCAA rules, if a player leads with the crown of their helmet, it is considered targeting regardless of whether the opponent is defenseless. All targeting calls are subject to instant replay review, with no option for officials to overrule a call on the field.
Penalty Adjustments
The penalties for targeting have seen modifications. Previously, a targeting foul in the second half of a game resulted in automatic disqualification for the remainder of that game and the first half of the subsequent game. For the current season, the rule has been adjusted so that a targeting foul in the second half does not carry over to the next game's first half. However, a second targeting foul within the same season will result in a suspension for the first half of the next game.
Should a player commit three or more targeting penalties in a single season, individual conferences have the discretion to consider an appeal. This appeal process involves a video review by the NCAA national coordinator of football officials. If an appeal is successful, the player is not subject to the suspension and remains eligible to play for the full duration of the next game.
The NCAA's experimental rule for 2026 outlines that a player's first targeting foul in a season will result in disqualification for the remainder of that game, with no carryover suspension. A second targeting foul in the same season would lead to disqualification for the rest of the current game and the first half of the team's next scheduled game, including postseason contests.
Rule Evolution
NCAA secretary-rules editor for football and national coordinator of officials, Steve Shaw, stated that a significant change for the current season requires confirmation of all aspects of a targeting foul through replay. This experimental rule is intended to prevent unintended shifts in player behavior and the emergence of new targeting trends. The rule is currently in place for one season as an experiment.