USA Football Rules Editor Bill LeMonnier is a former college referee who currently serves as an ESPN NCAA rules analyst. Click here to ask Bill a question. Make sure to put “Ask the Official” in the subject line.

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During a recent college game, a QB’s helmet came off following a facemask penalty on the defense. The QB was forced to leave the game for one play. Why should the offense be penalized when the defense commits the penalty?

If a player’s helmet comes off directly because of the foul, then that player can stay in the game. The only exception would be if that player was also injured on the play.

When we say, “directly because of the foul,” that means the facemask was grabbed and as a direct result, the action pulled the helmet off or hands to the face jarred the helmet off. If you hold me and when I hit the ground, my helmet comes off, that is not directly a result of the foul.

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When a running back and defensive player both lower their heads and collide crown to crown, what should the call be?

Helmets hitting crown to crown in itself is not a foul. For either to be called for using the crown of the helmet on their opponent, I want to see the approach of the player.

Is he taking aim at his opponent? Is this incidental or intentional? Did the player have a choice to do something else? Basically, I want to see the play, not imagine the play.

Again, just because helmets hit, even crowns of helmets, it doesn’t mean there was a targeting foul.