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No. 4 Ohio State had a nail-biting game against Nebraska on Saturday, narrowly escaping with a 21-17 win. The Buckeyes jumped to an early 14-3 lead in the first half, but Nebraska fought back and even took the lead in the fourth quarter. Just when things were looking dicey for Ohio State, quarterback Will Howard connected with Quinshon Judkins for a touchdown with 6:47 left on the clock, securing the lead for good.
However, the game wasn’t without its share of controversy. In the final minutes, Nebraska’s quarterback Dylan Raiola threw an incomplete pass to Jahmal Banks on a critical 1st-and-22 situation. The officials called targeting on Ohio State’s Arvell Reese, which gave Nebraska 15 extra yards and a fresh set of downs after a review upheld the call.
Ohio State fans were outraged, similar to how Texas fans reacted the previous week, and they responded by throwing trash onto the field. Despite the heated moment, Nebraska’s drive ultimately stalled when Raiola threw an interception, so the controversial call didn’t end up costing the Buckeyes the game.
With this victory, Ohio State improves to 6-1 and is gearing up for a big matchup against No. 3 Penn State next week.
What happened with the Targeting Call?
The targeting incident involved Reese, who used his right forearm to hit Banks in the head or neck area, which the officials deemed illegal. Under NCAA rules, this is considered targeting, leading to Reese’s ejection from the game. As a result, he will also face a suspension for the first half of Ohio State’s next game.
Understanding Targeting in NCAA Football
Targeting is a rule implemented by the NCAA in 2008 to enhance player safety, and it has undergone various updates since then. The current guideline states that no player is allowed to target and make forcible contact to the head or neck area of a defenseless opponent using the helmet, forearm, hand, fist, elbow, or shoulder. In this instance, the officials determined that Reese’s hit on Banks qualified as targeting, leading to the penalties that followed.
