Target—to take aim at an opponent for purposes of attacking with an apparent intent that goes beyond making a legal tackle or a legal block or playing the ball.
Incidental helmet contact that is not part of targeting but is due to the players changing position during the course of play.
I saw that Columbus, but it doesn't seem to be part of the rule text. It's also from 2013 so I looked up the 2015 rulebook - see
http://www.ncaapublications.com/p-4387-2015-ncaa-football-rules-and-interpretations.aspx Full text is below, and note last bullet of Note 1, which is consistent with ESPN's on-air rule summary stating "leading with crown of helmet in any situation":
Targeting and Making Forcible Contact With the Crown of the Helmet
ARTICLE 3. No player shall target and make forcible contact against an
opponent with the crown (top) of his helmet. When in question, it is a foul.
(Rule 9-6) (A.R. 9-1-3-I)
Targeting and Making Forcible Contact to Head or Neck Area of a Defenseless Player
ARTICLE 4. No player shall target and make forcible contact to the head or
neck area of a defenseless opponent with the helmet, forearm, hand, fist, elbow
or shoulder. When in question, it is a foul (Rules 2-27-14 and 9-6). (A.R. 9-1-
4-I-VI)
PENALTY [ARTICLE 3 and ARTICLE 4]—15 yards. For dead-ball
fouls, 15 yards from the succeeding spot. Automatic first down for fouls
by Team B if not in conflict with other rules. For fouls in the first half:
Disqualification for the remainder of the game. (Rule 2-27-12) For fouls in
the second half: Disqualification for the remainder of the game and the first
half of the next game. If the foul occurs in the second half of the last game
of the season, players with remaining eligibility shall serve the suspension
during the first game of the following season. The disqualification is
subject to review by Instant Replay (Rule 12-3-5-f). [S38, S24 and S47]
When the Instant Replay Official reverses the disqualification:
If the targeting foul is not in conjunction with another personal foul by the
same player, the 15-yard penalty for targeting is not enforced. If the player
commits another personal foul in conjunction with the targeting foul, the
15-yard penalty for that personal foul is enforced according to rule. (A. R.
9-1-4-VII-VIII)
For games in which Instant Replay is not used:
If a player is disqualified in the first half, at the option of the conference
or by pre-game mutual agreement of the teams in inter-conference games,
during the intermission between halves the Referee will be provided a video
of the play in question for his review in the officials’ private secure location.
The Referee will review the video to determine whether the disqualification
is reversed. The decision of the Referee is final. (A. R. 9-1-4-IX)
Note: The video source and the location of the review will be determined
prior to the game through mutual agreement of the teams and the Referee.
If a player is disqualified in the second half, the conference has the option
to consult the national coordinator of football officials who would then
facilitate a video review. Based on the review, if the national coordinator
concludes that the player should not have been disqualified, the conference
may vacate the suspension. If the national coordinator supports the
disqualification, the suspension for the next game will remain.
Notes to Articles 9-1-3 and 9-1-4
Note 1: “Targeting” means that a player takes aim at an opponent for purposes of attacking with forcible contact that goes beyond making a legal tackle or a legal block or playing the ball. Some indicators of targeting include but are not limited to:
• Launch—a player leaving his feet to attack an opponent by an upward and forward thrust of the body to make contact in the head or neck area
• A crouch followed by an upward and forward thrust to attack with contact at the head or neck area, even though one or both feet are still on the ground
• Leading with helmet, forearm, fist, hand or elbow to attack with contact at the head or neck area
• Lowering the head before attacking by initiating contact with the crown of the helmet
Note 2: Defenseless player (Rule 2-27-14):
• A player in the act of or just after throwing a pass.
• A receiver attempting to catch a forward pass or in position to receive a backward pass, or one who has completed a catch and has not had time to protect himself or has not clearly become a ball carrier.
• A kicker in the act of or just after kicking a ball, or during the kick or the return.
• A kick returner attempting to catch or recover a kick, or one who has completed a catch or recovery and has not had time to protect himself or has not clearly become a ball carrier.
• A player on the ground.
• A player obviously out of the play.
• A player who receives a blind-side block.
• A ball carrier already in the grasp of an opponent and whose forward progress has been stopped.
• A quarterback any time after a change of possession.
