Shilo Sanders’s Targeting Ejection Has Many College Football Fans Very Upset

Colorado already had its hands full against No. 25 UCLA Saturday evening—the Bruins are a Chip Kelly-coached team, after all, and the Buffaloes have hardly been airtight on defense this season.

However, one particular play in the first half thinned out Colorado’s defense even further. With 3:18 left in the second quarter, Buffaloes safety Shilo Sanders laid a massive hit on UCLA running back Carsen Ryan. As he celebrated, the officials flagged him for targeting and he was promptly ejected from the game.

Sanders’s ejection drew a highly negative response from college football fans and observers—many of whom believed Sanders delivered a clean, if violent, hit.

Fanning the flames was ESPN commentator and former Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III, who asked, “WHAT HAPPENED TO THE GAME WE LOVE?”

Many wondered how Sanders was supposed to tackle Ryan in this situation.

The inconsistency of the targeting rule was singled out as a college football-wide problem.

The usual “flag football” accusations flew.

A recurrent case against Sanders’s ejection was the fact that he appeared to lead with his shoulder, while the targeting rule is intended to punish defenders who lead with their head.

Shilo clearly led with his shoulder, the tight-end is like 6’6 so of course his helmet is gonna be chin level with Shilo…….BAD CALL https://t.co/O4oGqkuh2q
— BillyDaKid (@billythatman) October 29, 2023

Another reaction pointed to the fact that Ryan appeared to turn upfield, which would make him a ballcarrier and thus change how the play would be officiated.

he caught the ball and made a football move before getting hit. terrible call. https://t.co/uBgA2tG7Yd
— Roy Bellamy (@roybelly) October 29, 2023

And some viewers, as always, had jokes.