The Division I Football Rules Subcommittee has proposed a one-year trial rule to modify the penalty structure for targeting in 2026, likely meaning one viral star will have to switch up his gameday uniform
15:49 ET, 27 Feb 2026Updated 15:50 ET, 27 Feb 2026
Oklahoma kicker Tate Sandell became renowned for the length of his shorts during the 2025 season
The latest set of uniform rules proposed by the NCAA will likely come as unwelcome news for Oklahoma star Tate Sandell, who went viral for his remarkably short shorts in 2025.
The Sooners kicker, 22, who crucially missed two field goal attempts in the closing stages of his side’s College Football Playoff First Round defeat to Alabama, became renowned for his unique gameday attire after initially making headlines during a game against Tennessee in November.
In recent times, however, several complaints have been made about how uniforms are policed at the collegiate level, leading the likes of Colorado head coach Deion Sanders to call on the NCAA to implement NFL-style fines for players who fail to wear the correct uniform.
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It would now appear that figures such as Sanders may soon get their wish, after the NCAA announced Thursday that the Division I Football Rules Subcommittee has proposed a one-year trial rule to modify the targeting penalty structure.
In addition to targeting, the new rules proposal also would require players to wear leg coverings from the top of their shoes to the bottom of their pants, which must match the same style and color for that particular game.
Should players fail to comply with the rule, they would have to leave the game for at least one down and correct the issue before being allowed to return.
Sandell hit the headlines for his unique shorts during a game against Tennessee in November
A team would receive a warning for the first offense, while a second offense would result in a five-yard penalty. Any subsequent violations of the rule would result in a 15-yard penalty.
“The current look of the uniform is clearly not meeting the expectations of the college football community,” said A.J. Edds, rules subcommittee chair and vice president of football administration for the Big Ten Conference.
“This will take a collective effort by administrators, coaches and officials to communicate expectations to players and equipment managers. This proposal, we believe, is definitive and gives us a chance for consistent enforcement across Division I football.”
The FBS and FCS Oversight Committees are scheduled to review rule recommendations in March.
After connecting on all four of his field goal attempts (three of which were over 50 yards) in Oklahoma‘s 33-27 win over Tennessee on Nov. 1, Sandell admitted after the game that he didn’t realize how short his shorts were until he saw a replay on TV.
Deion Sanders called on the NCAA to implement NFL-style fines for college football players who fail to wear the correct uniform during the Big 12 Media Days last year
“I did not know they were that short,” said Sandell. “But I’m not gonna say that I’m gonna change it, because it’s working. I didn’t know they were that short [until] I looked on TV, let’s say that.”
Sandell went on to explain that his pants ripped in pregame, and he kept having to pull them up during the game, making them even shorter. However, after going on to star in that game, he remained adamant he wouldn’t change a thing.
“Well, they ripped pregame, so they kept falling down,” he explained. “So I think I kept pulling them up a little bit higher, just trying to get them to stay…I’m not changing it. We’re gonna make it work.”
Unfortunately for Sandell, who was named the 2025 SEC Special Teams Player of the Year, that’s may not be the case, should the NCAA‘s new repercussions for unacceptable uniform be approved heading into the new season.