Alabama and Wisconsin will both be missing key linebackers for the first half of their upcoming game due to targeting penalties incurred in their previous matchups. This rule, which has been in effect since 2013, mandates that players penalized for targeting are ejected from the game and must sit out the first half of the next game as well.
The NCAA's national coordinator of officials, Steve Shaw, defends the rule, stating that the threat of ejection serves as a deterrent and helps reduce dangerous hits on the field. Despite some coaches advocating for a two-tiered system for targeting penalties, where less severe infractions wouldn't result in ejections, the current policy remains unchanged.
