Overview
- Notre Dame defensive end Boubacar Traore was initially flagged for roughing the passer and then ejected for targeting after replay review of a helmet-first hit five plays into the game.
- Video review showed Traore strike BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier in the face with the crown of his helmet, and Bachmeier stayed in the game after appearing shaken.
- The targeting call converted the 15-yard penalty into favorable field position that BYU turned into an 11-play, 75-yard touchdown to open the scoring.
- Traore entered the game as Notre Dame’s sack leader with 3.5 sacks and 17 tackles, so his removal forced Notre Dame to adjust its pass-rush rotation and weakened its early defensive personnel.
- The play illustrates how replay enforcement of the NCAA targeting rule can swing momentum and it continued a pattern of slow defensive starts for Notre Dame, which has allowed a touchdown on its opening series twice in three games.