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WATCH: Second Auburn player ejected for targeting in Birmingham Bowl

ns_headshot_2024-clearby:Nick Schultz•12/28/21•

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(Photo by John Korduner/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

For the second time in as many quarters, an Auburn player was ejected for targeting in the Birmingham Bowl.

Late in the fourth quarter, Jaylin Simpson hit Houston quarterback Clayton Tune after he started sliding. After review, he was called for targeting and thrown out of the game. Simpson was the second Auburn defender who was tossed in the second half after Smoke Monday in the third quarter.

Former NFL referee and current NBC rules analyst Terry McAulay weighed in on the decision and explained why the referees made the call.

“Ball carrier is defenseless once he begins a feet first slide and is protected from forcible contact to the head/neck area,” McAulay tweeted. “Defender leads with shoulder and makes forcible contact to head/neck area. This is targeting.”

Simpson entered the day with 25 tackles, including 20 solo stops, on the season. He also had an interception and three passes defended to his name.

Houston ended up scoring on the drive to take a 17-13 lead over the Tigers with 3:27 remaining in the fourth quarter. The Cougars scored on the first drive of the game, but Auburn re-took control and had a 13-10 lead deep into the fourth quarter.

Auburn safety Smoke Monday ends career with targeting call in Birmingham Bowl

Auburn’s defense took a huge blow late in the third quarter of the Birmingham Bowl on Tuesday.

Tigers safety Smoke Monday was ejected for targeting with 2:28 left in the third quarter against Houston. Earlier in the game, the referees called targeting on Monday before a review and ruled it “incidental contact.”

Former referee and current NBC rules analyst Terry McAulay weighed in on the call, saying the officials got it right. He also criticized the decision to overturn the first targeting call.

“[He] lowers his head (again), leads with the crown and makes forcible contact using the crown,” McAulay tweeted. “Unfortunate for the 2nd player that was illegally contacted in the head by the same player.”

The ejection marked the end of Monday’s career with Auburn. He entered the game with 58 total tackles, including 40 solo stops, two sacks and an interception on the year. Monday was a big part of the Auburn defense and a leader for the Tigers in the locker room.