“SEC and Big 12 show complete disregard for the targeting rule”

NFL rules analyst Terry McAulay on Saturday released scathing indictments of the SEC and Big 12’s incumbents regarding targeting enforcement, or more specifically, what he called a lack of enforcement.

McAulay, the rules analyst for both NBCs Football on Sunday evenings and Prime Video’s Football on Thursday evenings and Notre Dame football, two games in particular called out. In the Georgia-Georgia Tech game, a crucial play occurred late in the fourth quarter when Georgia defensive back Dan Jackson hit Tech quarterback Haynes King, who fouled up the play.

Officers did not report Jackson for targeted attacks, although McAulay did repeat it. He went a step further.

“Failure to review and commit a targeting foul here not only ignores the rule, I would argue that the SEC’s repetition shows complete disregard for the targeting rule,” McAulay wrote. “This happens all season long across the country.

“It is clear that the rules have to change. A model that punishes without disqualification is long overdue.”

Failure to review and commit a targeting foul here not only ignores the rule, I would even say that the SEC’s repetition shows complete disregard for the targeting rule.

This happens all season long across the country. It is clear that the rules must change. A model that… https://t.co/W5pZJGY2FD

– Terry McAulay (@tjmcaulay) November 30, 2024

About an hour later, McAulay called out the Big 12 sternly in almost identical fashion when he posted a replay of a hard hit in Friday’s UCF-Utah game.

“And here the Big 12 shows complete disregard for the targeting rule,” McAulay wrote.

And here we have the Big 12 showing complete disregard for the targeting rule.https://t.co/Wvyj6LMUUN https://t.co/vUXdmm9yqG

– Terry McAulay (@tjmcaulay) November 30, 2024

Those are harsh words from the respected rules analyst, known for his measured approach to breaking down games and not prone to exaggeration.

(Terry McAulay)