National Coordinator of Officials defends controversial targeting call on Virginia vs. Florida State

Targeting is one of the more challenging calls made in college football because of the criteria necessary for it. However, the NCAA broke down a clear example of one from last week by Virginia’s Antonio Clary.

Steve Shaw, National Coordinator of Officials, broke down the play towards the end of the second quarter where Clary was ejected for targeting on Florida State’s Duce Robinson, which comes from 4:10 through 5:05 on the video shared. Through all the angles of replay, which were used, Shaw says it was officiated correctly, in this being flagged for targeting.

2025 College Football Rules Review | Week 5 Plays @NCAAFootball National Coordinator of Officials Steve Shaw provides insight from notable college football officiating calls last week ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/BBisIyJOg2

— SEC Officiating (@SECOfficiating) October 3, 2025

“We get a pass down the far boundary. The receiver goes up, makes a great catch and then there’s a big hit by #0 of the defense,” Shaw explained. “Now, we get a flag down from our field judge for targeting a defenseless player. Now, as we go back and take a look at the first replay, it looks like the hit may be a lot of shoulder to the chest, and that’s what the coach thinks as well. But, we get two additional replays that are helpful.

“Remember, we must confirm all aspects of targeting or overturn it. At first, we must have a defenseless receiver. There’s no question here. He’s defenseless. Then we see there’s a launch up by the defender and he lowers his head, so we have an indicator of targeting. And, finally, there is forceable contact to the head or neck area of this defenseless receiver. So, replay can uphold the call of targeting. And, again, this is the type of hit we want to get out of the game.”

As a result of the flag after Robinson’s catch, Florida State scored a touchdown from the four-yard line on the following play to take their first lead of the game at 21-14. Clary was then ejected for the remainder of the win over the Seminoles, and will be available this week against Louisville, as the flag came in the first half.

There are a lot of questions to answer in calling someone for targeting, and that’s before any issues regarding ejections or suspensions. Still, in this scenario, Shaw thought this one was by the book and was called correctly by the crew in Charlottesville last Friday night.