INDIANAPOLIS — Division I football rules makers have proposed a one-year trial rule allowing a player disqualified for targeting for the first time to play in his team’s next game regardless of which half the penalty was assessed, the NCAA announced Thursday.
Currently, players disqualified for targeting must sit out the rest of the game and, if the penalty occurs in the second half, sit out the first half of the next game.
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian was amused by the proposal, saying, «I’m just trying to figure out how we’re going to police socks to pants.»
«The NFL has that rule and they fine the players when they don’t meet their uniform requirements,» he said. «Are we hiring uniform police that the NFL does, and they come and they assess every player and they dock them pay and they fine them for when they’re suited properly? I would assume instead of worrying about socks to pants, are we going to tuck in our shirts? We’ve got T-shirts hanging out down to our knees now. There’s a lot of things, but for that to come up as being an issue seems kind of odd.»
If the ensuing kick goes through the uprights, it would be worth three points.
Subcommittee members believe adding the rule would align Division I rules with those in the NFL and high school football. The rarely used play came up in 2024 in the NFL when the Los Angeles Chargers’ Cameron Dicker converted from 57 yards against the Denver Broncos.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
