A controversial targeting call cost a star player, impacting championship hopes. Now, new NCAA rules offer a lifeline for future offenses.
En route to a National Championship, the Miami Hurricanes faced adversity before stepping on the field at Hard Rock Stadium. A week earlier, in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl semifinals against the Ole Miss Rebels, cornerback Xavier Lucas was ejected in the fourth quarter due to a targeting penalty.
As quarterback Trinidad Chambliss got the ball out in time before getting hit by a cornerback (Keionte Scott) blitz, caught by wide receiver Cayden Lee for 19 yards, getting a first down on a third-and-nine situation, the Fort Lauderdale native came in with the tackle. However, he initiated contact with the crown of his helmet, which resulted in the penalty and ejection, plus suspension in the first half of the National Championship game.
There were debates about whether or not the call was fair, especially with what was at stake. Also, there were talking points about Lucas being helpless due to his momentum, with Lee appearing to be coming down on his own. Regardless, there was no overturning the call. Lucas sat out the first half of the National Championship, returned for the rest of the game, and the Hurricanes suffered a 27–21 loss to the Indiana Hoosiers.
If they find themselves in a similar situation for next season, the results will likely be different. It was announced on Thursday, March 19, that the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision Oversight Committee approved a one-year trial rule to modify the penalty structure when players are penalized for targeting.
“Under the rule, a player disqualified for targeting for the first time during the season, regardless of which half it occurs, may participate in the next game,” according to the NCAA statement. “Any player disqualified for targeting a second time during the season will be required to miss the first half of the next game. If a player is disqualified for a third targeting penalty during the season, the player will be required to miss the entire next game.”
In addition to the trial rule, a conference has the option to initiate an appeal process after a player’s second targeting offense. If the call is overturned, then there will be no first-half suspension implemented for the following game.
Lucas played a key role in the Hurricanes’ secondary, starting in 13 of 16 games. He recorded 45 total tackles, 30 solos and 15 assists, two tackles for loss, eight passes defended, and an interception.
The penalty put the program’s championship hopes in jeopardy before the game was close to kicking off. Despite the loss, it potentially shifted a significant rule.
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