Oregon receiver Traeshon Holden was ejected from Saturday night's game against Ohio State for unsportsmanlike conduct after he spit on a Buckeyes player, marking the second spitting incident of the day in college football and the third of the season. The incident occurred in the second quarter as the third-ranked Ducks were driving towards the end zone. Holden was forced to leave the game after spitting at cornerback Davison Igbinosun's facemask.
The altercation took place away from an Oregon running play that resulted in a loss at the Ohio State 10-yard line. Igbinosun had given Holden a push along the sideline, prompting Holden to spit at him. Following the incident, Holden was escorted off the field and into the tunnel, where he expressed his frustration by removing his helmet and throwing it.
The unsportsmanlike conduct penalty resulted in a 15-yard setback for the Ducks, who ultimately settled for a field goal. Despite the setback, Oregon managed to secure a narrow 32-31 victory over Ohio State.
This incident was not an isolated one, as earlier on the same day, Memphis running back Mario Anderson Jr. was also ejected for spitting on a South Florida player. Additionally, SMU defensive back Brandon Crossley had been kicked out of a game on August 24 for a similar offense against a Nevada player.
Steve Shaw, the NCAA supervisor of officials, emphasized that spitting on an opponent constitutes flagrant unsportsmanlike conduct and warrants immediate ejection. While Shaw noted that spitting incidents are not a widespread trend, he indicated that the matter may be discussed further with conference supervisors in the coming week.
Holden, who had one catch for 32 yards before his ejection, was a key player for the Ducks with three touchdown catches this season. The senior receiver had been a consistent performer, recording at least three receptions in Oregon's previous six games dating back to last season.
Holden began his collegiate career at Alabama before transferring to Oregon. In his first season with the Ducks, he played in all 14 games, setting career highs with 37 receptions, 452 receiving yards, and six touchdown catches.
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