WATCH: Jackie Matthews ejected for targeting after brutal hit on Isaiah Bond
Mississippi State safety Jackie Matthews was ejected after a targeting penalty called on a hit he delivered to Alabama receiver Isaiah Bond. Bond was catching a pass along the sideline when Matthews made a direct line for him from the center of the field — eventually landing a helmet-to-helmet hit at a high speed that forced the incomplete pass.
Matthews was immediately flagged for targeting by the officials, and after a review of the targeting call he was ejected from the game.
The broadcast team didn’t take long to come to their own judgment of the hit, calling the tackle a textbook example of what not to do on the field. Matthews appeared to lead completely with his helmet into the hit, turning his head and delivering the blow with force to the helmet of Bond.
The penalty not only resulted in an ejection for the Bulldogs, but the yards gained set up a 19-yard touchdown run by Jahmyr Gibbs on the very next play to give Alabama a 14-0 lead.
Bond picked himself up off the field after the hit and didn’t seem immediately injured in any capacity, but Alabama took him into the injury tent for further evaluation after the play due to it being a hit to the head.