Why Lance Leipold doesn’t want to ‘keep spending money’ after KU targeting calls
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Leipold criticized targeting call after Gibbs’s ejection and fourth-quarter review.
- Targeting review removed Gibbs; he will miss KU’s first half against Arizona.
- Leipold questioned officiating consistency and weighed whether to pursue an appeal.
Coach Lance Leipold carefully thought about his answer when asked about the latest targeting call against the Jayhawks.
The call came late in the fourth quarter. Kansas cornerback Syeed Gibbs sacked OSU quarterback Banks Bowen, which led to a fumble and recovery by defensive lineman Gage Keys.
No flag was thrown, but the play was reviewed. The replay showed Gibbs lowered his helmet and hit Bowen in the head/neck area. After the review, targeting was called and Gibbs was ejected. OSU retained possession.
Gibbs will miss the first half of KU’s game against Arizona next week. OSU would score on that drive Saturday, but the Jayhawks ultimately won 38-21.
Leipold didn’t exactly love the call.
“I can’t keep spending money that way, OK?” Leipold said after a long pause, referencing fines for criticizing officiating. “I don’t know what targeting is anymore. I really don’t. And I could see possibly where it’s at, but I thought his face was up, I thought it was in the shoulder, in the chest area.”
A few weeks ago, Kansas received a $25,000 fine from the Big 12 due to Leipold’s postgame comments regarding an alleged pocket knife incident against Texas Tech.
In fining Leipold, a Big 12 statement said he “questioned the integrity and professionalism of both the Conference and a member institution.”
Leipold is yet to receive a fine for his frustrations with targeting this season. But he has talked about targeting at multiple points. Four Jayhawks have been ejected on that rule in 2025.
Leipold shared a similar sentiment Saturday.
“I really didn’t see it close enough, where it’s at,” he said. “I don’t know. I know it’s frustrating to a lot of people right now where it’s kind of reverted back to (how the rule used to be called). So I don’t know where it’s at. But we’ll take a good look and see if we can appeal it or not — if it’s worth appealing — and go from there.”
KU players ejected for targeting this season are Gibbs, linebackers Jon Jon Kamara and Bangally Kamara and safety Devin Dye.
This story was originally published November 2, 2025 at 12:10 PM with the headline "Why Lance Leipold doesn’t want to ‘keep spending money’ after KU targeting calls."
