USA Football Rules Editor Bill LeMonnier is a former college referee who currently serves as an ESPN NCAA rules analyst. Click here to ask Bill a question. Make sure to put “Ask the Official” in the subject line.

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Let’s say there is one second left on the clock, and the kicking team is losing by six points. The kicking team successfully executes an on onside kick, cleanly fielding the ball after 10 yards and without the receiving team touching it. The kicking team can't advance the ball, so does the clock ever start?

My question really boils down to: Does the kicking team get to run one more play, or does the clock run out on the kickoff?

If you were watching the Michigan-Michigan State game this weekend, you'll understand why I'm asking.

If the kick has traveled 10 yards and the kicking team touches the ball, this is legal touching and the clock starts on the official’s signal. With one second left, the odds are time will expire. If the kick has not traveled 10 yards and a kicking player is first to touch the ball, this is illegal touching and the game clock would not start unless the receiving team now touches the kick.

In the Michigan-Michigan State game, the officials ruled the kick was not touched by either team, but it was a kick out-of-bounds, so the game clock did not start. Michigan, following the penalty enforcement, took a knee to end the game. Had the kick been touched by either team once it traveled 10 yards, the clock would have started, and the one second remaining would have expired.

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Can an offensive player who is running the ball get flagged for targeting? For example, a quarterback was running the ball, and as the tackler came in for the tackle, the quarterback lowered his shoulder. The two players hit helmet to helmet. The tackler, being the smaller player, took a majority of the impact and was down after the play.

In this case, I would think spearing would be the call, not targeting. If it can be flagged as targeting, please explain.

In the scenario you describe, no. The ball-carrier would not be called for targeting on a would-be tackler.

Targeting is a violation that comes on top of another penalty, namely illegal helmet contact, and it is triggered by two things:

• The contact is against a defenseless player (quarterback in throwing motion, wide receiver in catching action, running back who has had forward momentum stopped or is already on the ground, etc.)
• Initiating the contact with the crown of the helmet or the contact occurs to the head or neck area of the opposing player.

Illegal helmet contact can be called on an offensive player who lowers his or her helmet and initiates the contact with the crown. This happens most often at younger levels with pulling guards who “ear hole” a defender while blocking. It also can be called on offensive players who deliver a blindside block or hit a player who is already down or out of bounds.

And as you describe, a ball-carrier can be called for spearing, though since a tackler is not defenseless, it carries no targeting call.