Officials should not have ejected Penn State linebacker Brandon Smith for targeting in the second quarter of Saturday's game against Michigan, the Big Ten acknowledged in a statement Wednesday afternoon.
Smith, attempting to break up a pass near the goal line, hit the helmet of a diving Grant Perry. Officials threw a flag -- which the Big Ten said was the right move -- but the conference said the referees should've then reversed the call upon further review.
"In this particular play, the defense was making a legitimate attempt to get the ball and, upon full review, the call of Targeting should have been reversed by the Replay Official," the Big Ten wrote.