Changes are on the horizon for college football's targeting rules in 2026, but whether the NCAA has hit the right note remains to be seen.
For the upcoming season, the targeting penalty will no longer automatically bench a player for the next game. The Division I Football Bowl Subdivision Oversight Committee has approved a one-year trial rule that escalates penalties for repeated targeting offenses.
Here's how it breaks down: a player flagged for targeting for the first time in the season will still be able to play in the next game, regardless of when the penalty occurs during the game. However, a second offense will sideline the player for the first half of the following game, and a third offense means sitting out the entire next game.
The targeting rule, first introduced in 2008, has been a hot topic and has seen several tweaks over the years. Indiana fans, for instance, vividly recall the impact of a targeting call during their 2021 season. All-American linebacker Micah McFadden was ejected during a crucial game against Cincinnati, which saw IU's lead crumble as Cincinnati rallied to win 38-24.
Interestingly, the same rule played to IU's advantage in the national championship game. Miami's Xavier Lucas missed the first half due to a targeting call in the previous game, which gave IU a strategic edge.
This raises an intriguing question: under the new rules, why would McFadden miss more game time than Lucas for the same offense? Could this lead to more strategic targeting late in games, where the consequences might be less severe? It's a situation worth watching.
In a 2024 game against UCLA, IU faced similar challenges. D’Angelo Ponds and C.J.
West were both flagged for targeting, though West's penalty was later overturned. IU coach Curt Cignetti emphasized the need for balance and common sense in these calls, advocating for a game that's tough but fair.
During the same UCLA matchup, linebacker Aiden Fisher was on the receiving end of a helmet-to-helmet hit after an interception. Defensive coordinator Bryant Haines, known for his candidness, expressed relief that no targeting was called, highlighting the need for consistency in officiating.
As these new rules take effect, the college football landscape will be watching closely to see how they play out on the field.