Brian Kelly calls out targeting rules after hits on DeShone Kizer

Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly is calling on the NCAA to clarify targeting rules after quarterback DeShone Kizer took two tough hits during Saturday's loss to Virginia Tech.

"It's just not right. We're either going to protect the quarterback or we're not going to protect the quarterback," Kelly said in the postgame news conference. "... Just have to figure out what they want to do with this. The supervisor of officials has got to make a clear edict as to how they want this officiated. He clearly has not made it clear enough how this is going to go."

Kizer was hit while sliding for a first down in the third quarter and remained in the game. He was forced out for the final play of the 34-31 loss after being hit on a scramble, leaving Malik Zaire to take the last snap.

On Sunday, Kelly added that he didn't understand why the officials didn't look at either hit.

"It's clear on film that it was a helmet-to-helmet on a defenseless player. ... It's just beyond me why it doesn't get reviewed," Kelly said. "That's what their job is, to review it."

The Fighting Irish have submitted tape of the hits to the supervisor of officials for review, Kelly said.

For his part, Kizer said he was feeling "fine" Saturday.

"Any time you get hit, you're gonna take a bruise of some sort," Kizer said. "Let the adrenaline kick in, get back out there and continue to do your job."

On Saturday, Kelly compared the hits to those thatCarolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton has taken this season and wondered whether NFL commissioner Roger Goodell could help the NCAA officiate bigger, mobile quarterbacks.

"I'm going to ask them to go see Roger Goodell," Kelly said. "That may be the way to do it. Maybe he could do something about it."

Kizer is 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds.

The loss to the Hokies dropped Notre Dame to 4-7 on the year, clinching their first losing season since 2007 and first under Kelly.