Overview
- Officials initially flagged Downs for targeting on a late fourth-quarter hit to Penn State’s Khalil Dinkins, then removed targeting on review but enforced a 15-yard personal-foul penalty.
- Fox rules analyst Mike Pereira and NBC analyst Terry McAulay said the play met targeting criteria, citing a launch and forcible contact to the head or neck of a defenseless receiver.
- Pereira explained on the broadcast that the personal-foul yardage would remain even if targeting was taken off, which is how the ruling was announced.
- A confirmed targeting would have required an immediate ejection and a first-half suspension for Ohio State’s next game at Purdue under NCAA policy.
- The call and reversal intensified long-running complaints about inconsistent replay enforcement of the targeting rule during Ohio State’s 38–14 win over Penn State.