KJ Costello nailed by Earnest Brown but no targeting called

Stanford Cardinal quarterback KJ Costello was nailed by Northwestern Wildcats defensive lineman Earnest Brown on a targeting play just before halftime Saturday.

Stanford had the ball near midfield with 10 seconds left and Costello decided to run. He began a slide around the Northwestern 47 and was leveled by Brown, who hit him with a forearm.

Such a dangerous hit to the head of Stanford QB K.J. Costello. Somehow Northwestern's Earnest Brown was not ejected. pic.twitter.com/FWfD5YIfok

— Yahoo Sports College Football (@YahooSportsCFB) August 31, 2019

Costello was helped into the locker room by a trainer and was replaced in the game.

A personal foul was called on Brown but he was not ejected for targeting a defenseless player, which should have resulted in an ejection. He got away with a late hit on the Stanford quarterback.

The Cardinal ended up kicking a field goal on the possession to take a 10-0 lead into halftime.