COLUMBUS, Ohio — With about six minutes remaining in the third quarter of Monday’s national championship game, Clemson linebacker James Skalski lowered his head and made a tackle. Hundreds of miles away, Ohio State football fans watched in anticipation for what came next. Would Skalski share the fate of Buckeyes cornerback Shaun Wade — ejected from the College Football Playoff semifinals for a similar hit two weeks earlier? Or would the officials’ response confirm that the targeting rule continues to be applied inconsistently, almost arbitrarily, with overly punitive consequences? Through the same process that Wade faced, replay officials reviewed the play, determined Skalski was guilty of targeting and ejected him. For the second time in three CFP games, a crucial defensive player began a somber walk to watch his team’s eventual defeat from the locker room. If you haven’t said “I hate the targeting rule” out loud, you’ve probably heard…
Continue Reading: College Football Playoff ejections prove more work needed on targeting rule — by the players: Buckeye Takes
