Suspension of LSU player shows glaring hole in NCAA rules that must be fixed

In the last two weeks, two different LSU players have been ejected for targeting in controversial fashion. First, star LB Whit Weeks was ejected on the third play of the game against Florida. Then, OL DJ Chester was ejected following one of the most bizarre plays you'll see. Chester attempted to make a tackle on a return after a missed field goal against Southeastern Louisiana. The play was reviewed, and he was ultimately ejected for targeting.

To make matters worse, Chester has to miss the first half of the Ole Miss game this Saturday. In such a massive game, not having Chester available for the first 30 minutes is a tough blow for LSU. The sophomore lineman can play multiple positions, and stepped in at center when Braelin Moore went down with an injury against Louisiana Tech.

Chester's ejection and subsequent suspension is just the latest cause of frustration for college football fans when it comes to targeting and how it is officiated. Controversial and subjective targeting calls are made on a weekly basis, and the NCAA needs to figure out a way to have it be officiated more consistently. Furthermore, it would help if the NCAA adjusted its approach to targeting to feature two different categories.

Targeting rules burn LSU

As it stands, targeting refers to initiated forcible contact with the head or neck area of a defenseless opponent, or by launching into an opponent with forcible contact to the head or neck. By definition, the NCAA defines targeting as "any hit that goes beyond making a legal tackle or a legal block or playing the ball." A 15-yard penalty and automatic ejection follows, and all targeting calls are subject to review.

College basketball utilizes two different tiers when it comes to flagrant fouls. A Flagrant 1 foul is deemed unnecessary contact committed by a player against an opponent, and does not result in the player being ejected or suspended. A Flagrant 2 foul is more serious, and is labeled as unnecessary and excessive contact committed by a player against an opponent. Flagrant 2 fouls result in an immediate ejection. If a player gets one Flagrant 2 foul or two separate Flagrant 1 fouls, then an ejection is issued. It's similar to the yellow and red card system in other sports.

This is something that can be beneficial in college football. It's something that was discussed by coaches a few years ago, but has never been implemented by the NCAA. In 2019, ESPN's Adam Rittenberg reported that the FBS coaches unanimously supported a model that would assign targeting penalties into two different categories: Targeting 1 or Targeting 2. Targeting 1 fouls would result in a 15-yard penalty but no ejection or suspension. Targeting 2 fouls would result in an automatic ejection and potential suspension.

Having two categories would help separate less dangerous incidental contact from more dangerous and malicious contact. In turn, a tiered system would give officials more clear definitions of targeting which could lead to more consistency in how it is called.

In Braelin Moore's case, his penalty would most likely have fallen into the Targeting 1 category. As a center, Chester obviously isn't a part of tackling drills very often. He was an offensive lineman trying to make a play on a runner in an awkward situation that he had likely never been in before. There wasn't an ounce of malicious intent behind his actions, so an ejection and suspension in this case seems extreme. To make the situation even more peculiar, the play ended up not even counting because of a penalty on SELU. The fact that he has to sit out the first half against Ole Miss is a shame.

Grouping all targeting calls together into one category is not working. Targeting is not officiated in a consistent and objective way, which leaves a lot of room for confusion. Instead, implementing a Targeting 1 and Targeting 2 system could be the answer.