Florida Defensive Tackle Ejected After Spitting on South Florida Lineman
Brendan Bett's unsportsmanlike conduct penalty late in the fourth quarter set up a 29-yard completion that left USF in field-goal range with under two minutes remaining
Florida defensive tackle Brendan Bett was ejected late in the fourth quarter Saturday after he was seen spitting on South Florida offensive lineman Cole Skinner during the Gators' game against the Bulls.
The incident occurred after a South Florida rushing play. Bett rose from the pile, confronted Skinner and appeared to expectorate toward him. Skinner pushed Bett in response, and officials threw flags on the play. Bett was assessed an unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty and ejected, giving South Florida 15 free yards.
On the following play, South Florida completed a 29-yard pass that moved the Bulls into field-goal range with 1:54 remaining in the game. The sequence shifted late-game field position and provided South Florida an immediate opportunity to score after the penalty.
Bett, a defensive lineman wearing No. 90 for Florida, had been active earlier in the season; a separate image from an earlier game shows him celebrating a tackle. The ejection ended his participation in the game's closing minutes.
The incident came days after a high-profile altercation involving Jalen Carter and Dak Prescott that drew national attention for on-field conduct. Officials in college and the NFL have increasingly enforced unsportsmanlike conduct rules in recent seasons, with spitting and physical confrontations routinely resulting in penalties and ejections.
Florida coaching staff and school officials had not released an immediate statement following the ejection. The on-field penalty and subsequent play underscored the potential game-altering consequences of conduct violations in the closing moments of tight contests.
Game officials enforce unsportsmanlike-conduct penalties under rules intended to preserve player safety and sportsmanship. Ejections for spitting are consistent with those rules when officials determine the act occurred and was directed at an opponent.
No additional discipline had been reported by Florida or the opposing program as of the end of the game coverage; further decisions by conference or school authorities could follow an internal review of the incident.