Oregon wide receiver Traeshon Holden was kicked out of Saturday night’s game against Ohio State for unsportsmanlike conduct after he spat on a Buckeyes player. This was the second spitting incident of the day in college football and the third this season.
The third-ranked Ducks were moving the ball in the second quarter when Holden was ejected for spitting at cornerback Davison Igbinosun’s facemask. This happened away from a running play that went for a loss at the Ohio State 10-yard line. Igbinosun had pushed Holden along the sideline, and in response, Holden spat at him.
After his ejection, Holden was escorted off the field and into the tunnel, where he removed his helmet and threw it. The 15-yard penalty pushed the Ducks back to the 25-yard line, and they ended up kicking a field goal. They won the game 32-31.
Earlier on Saturday, Memphis running back Mario Anderson Jr. was also ejected for spitting on a South Florida player. Additionally, SMU defensive back Brandon Crossley was thrown out for spitting on a Nevada player on August 24.
Steve Shaw, the NCAA supervisor of officials, told The Associated Press that spitting on an opponent is always considered flagrant unsportsmanlike conduct and requires ejection. He noted that while this doesn’t seem to be a major trend, it might be discussed this week among conference supervisors.
When Holden was ejected, he had one catch for 32 yards. The senior receiver was second on the Ducks with three touchdown catches this season and had recorded at least three receptions in Oregon’s previous six games dating back to last season.
Holden previously played three seasons at Alabama before transferring to Oregon before last season. In his first year with the Ducks, he played all 14 games, setting career highs with 37 receptions and 452 receiving yards, while also matching his career-high with six touchdown catches.
