Oklahoma grabbed a potentially game-sealing interception with under two minutes to go in a shootout at rival Oklahoma State. However, Big 12 officials ruled the Sooners had committed targeting. Complicating matters: before the necessary review of the targeting call, the head referee announced the targeting infraction had occurred before the interception, meaning the ball would remain OU’s either way, unless the officials overturned that part of the call.
Why Big 12 officials overturned part of a targeting call in a crucial Bedlam moment, but not the targeting itself
This was a huge moment.
Here are the INT and Will Johnson’s targeting hit. As you can see, the hit’s before the catch.
First, two parts of the targeting rule are relevant here:
No player shall target and make forcible contact against an opponent with the crown (top) of his helmet. This foul requires that there be at least one indicator of targeting (See Note 1 below). When in question, it is a foul.
Also:
No player shall target and make forcible contact to the head or neck area of a defenseless opponent (See Note 2 below) with the helmet, forearm, hand, fist, elbow or shoulder.
Second, the interception was clearly not before the hit.
The ball was picked off after the hit, meaning the penalty should’ve rendered the INT moot.
After review, the officials got it all right.
Johnson was out, the Cowboys got the ball back, and they picked up 15 yards as well.
This didn’t even end up mattering.
OSU turned the ball over on downs, and the Sooners won.
See More:
