NCAA rules panel approves new protocols for targeting penalties

New protocols for targeting penalties have been approved by the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel and will be enforced next year.

On Tuesday afternoon, the NCAA announced that there will be a new aspect to the targeting rule in which officials can overturn the penalty if there is no evidence of the foul. No longer will officials have the option to let the play “stand” as ruled on the field.

“Beginning in the fall in games using video review, instant replay officials will be directed to examine all aspects of the play and confirm the targeting foul when all elements of targeting are present,” the NCAA said. “If any element of targeting cannot be confirmed, the replay official will overturn the targeting foul. There will not be an option for letting the call on the field ‘stand’ during a targeting review — it must either be confirmed or overturned. Games using the halftime video review procedure will continue to use the current process.”

The NCAA will also institute harsher penalties for repeat offenders of the targeting rule.

Currently, players face an ejection or half-game suspension for a targeting penalty. Under the new rules, though, a player who commits three targeting penalties in one season will be suspended for one game.

Along with the targeting rules, the NCAA rules panel also approved new overtime rules for the future to try and cut down on the length of games.

“If a game reaches a fifth overtime, teams will run alternating two-point plays, instead of starting another drive at the opponent’s 25-yard line,” the NCAA said. “This rules change was made to limit the number of plays from scrimmage and to bring the game to a conclusion. Additionally, there will be a two-minute rest period after the second and fourth overtimes. The rules for the first four overtimes remain unchanged.”

All of the rules changed were in an effort to increase player safety.