What is the targeting rule in college football?

The targeting rule in college football is one of the most debated each season. What does the rule actually say and how is it enforced?

In an effort to lessen the risk of brain injury, the NCAA has made it a point of emphasis to stop hits to the helmet in college football.

That’s what the targeting rule is all about forbidding “forcible contact to the head or neck area of a defenseless opponent.”

What is the targeting rule in college football?

Here’s the official guidance for judging targeting in the NCAA rule book:

“‘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.”

That’s the language college football referees use when applying the targeting rule, which results in a 15-yard penalty and an ejection.

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