Should Syracuse’s Mikel Jones have been ejected for targeting on UNC’s Sam Howell?

Syracuse linebacker Mikel Jones took a shot at UNC’s Sam Howell late in Saturday’s game. Was it enough for a targeting penalty? The referees thought not.

On first and 10 from UNC’s 49-yard line, right at the start of the fourth quarter, Howell scrambled left for a 12-yard gain and gave himself up on a slide. Jones dove toward the quarterback as he slid and hit Howell in the head, making helmet-to-helmet contact.

Jones was promptly called for a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty, but after a review, the officials determined it wasn’t enough to trigger a targeting call.

If called, Jones would have been automatically ejected for the rest of the quarter and the first half of Syracuse’s next game at Pittsburgh on Sept. 19. The general consensus on Twitter: he got away with it.

On North Carolina’s next play from scrimmage, Howell, who wasn’t injured on the play, hit running back Michael Carter for a 23-yard screen pass. UNC scored to go up 24-6 a play later.

This story was originally published September 12, 2020 at 3:09 PM.