Florida DT Brendan Bett Ejected After Spitting on South Florida Lineman Late in Game
Bett was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct and ejected; the 15-yard penalty set up a 29-yard completion that put USF in field-goal range with under two minutes left.
Florida defensive tackle Brendan Bett was ejected late in Saturday’s game against South Florida after he was seen spitting on Bulls offensive lineman Cole Skinner, a sequence that drew a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and immediately shifted field position in South Florida’s favor.
The incident occurred after a South Florida rushing play in the fourth quarter when Bett, No. 90 for Florida, stood up and appeared to hock a spit toward Skinner. Skinner shoved Bett in response, and officials threw flags for unsportsmanlike conduct on Bett. Bett was ejected on the spot and South Florida was awarded 15 yards. On the ensuing snap, the Bulls completed a 29-yard pass that moved them into field-goal range with 1:54 remaining in the game.
Replay of the play circulated on social media and drew immediate attention from fans and commentators. Skinner reacted by pushing Bett before officials intervened and assessed the penalty. Spitting on an opponent is explicitly prohibited under NCAA sportsmanship rules and typically results in severe in-game penalties and possible further disciplinary action by a team or the league.
The episode came days after an altercation between former Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter and NFL quarterback Dak Prescott that attracted national attention, prompting renewed focus on on-field behavior and sportsmanship across levels of football.
Florida head-coach and institutional representatives had not issued an immediate comment following the game. The NCAA and the university typically review incidents of unsportsmanlike conduct and can impose additional sanctions, including suspensions or fines, after further review.
Bett, a defensive lineman who played earlier in the season against Long Island University, has been a part of Florida’s defensive rotation. The ejection removed a starter from the Gators’ front line in the closing minutes and altered the team’s personnel and strategy in a decisive stretch of the game.
The 15-yard penalty for Bett’s conduct directly improved South Florida’s position and set up the completion that placed the Bulls within field-goal distance with under two minutes to play. Game officials enforced standard unsportsmanlike conduct protocols, removing Bett immediately.
Further disciplinary steps, if any, will depend on reviews by Florida’s athletics department and the NCAA.
The incident highlights ongoing scrutiny of player conduct after high-profile altercations earlier in the week and may prompt institutional review as the season continues.