NORMAN, Okla. — Freshman wide receiver CeeDee Lamb appeared to deliver a perfect shoulder-to-numbers block to spring fellow wide out Jeff Badet for a touchdown in the first half.

Yet, officials called targeting, bringing the touchdown back and ejecting Lamb from the remainder of the contest.

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After the game, referee Dan Romeo explained the crew’s decision to eject him:

“The rule that was recited on this play is targeting and making forcible contact to the head and neck area of a defenseless player,” Romeo told a pool reporter. “This is Rule 9-4-1: ‘No player shall target and make forcible contact to the head or neck area of a defenseless player with the helmet, forearm, hand, fist, elbow or shoulder. This foul requires that there be an indicator of targeting. Targeting means that the player takes aim at an opponent for the purposes of attacking with forcible contact that goes beyond making a legal tackle or block or playing the ball.’

“So, in this instance we had a defenseless player—that’s note No. 2. No. 7 is a player who receives a blind-side block. That means he doesn’t see it coming and there’s contact to the head and neck area. That’s what was ruled.”

The replay booth simply confirmed the call in their explanation, Romeo said.

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For anyone who may not have seen the play, here it is:

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The Sooner crowd certainly didn’t take long to voice their opinion on the matter, giving the freshman phenom quite the reception as he exited the field.

CeeDee Lamb with the applause as he exits the game. pic.twitter.com/rIremo7JGe — Joe Buettner (@Joe_Buettner) September 16, 2017

After the game, head coach Lincoln Riley mentioned he was also surprised by the call.

“We expected it was going to be overturned,” Riley said.

And FOX Sports rules analyst Mike Pereira agreed.

How could they confirm the targeting hit in Oklahoma? It was shoulder to the chest. I can see why it was called but I don't see it as a foul — Mike Pereira (@MikePereira) September 16, 2017

Lamb finished with 131 yards—just 10 shy of Ryan Broyles’ freshmen-record 141 against Cincinnati back in 2008—and two touchdowns on four catches.

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