One spit, two headlines, and a storm of blame. Just days after Jalen Carter’s ejection for spitting at Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott rocked the NFL, a Florida Gators player mirrored the same act, and paid the price. Now, fans and critics alike are drawing a direct line between the two.

The tweet from @PardonMyTake said it all: “WE GOT ANOTHER SPITTER.” The target this time wasn’t a star NFL quarterback, but South Florida offensive lineman Cole Skinner. The perpetrator was Florida Gators defensive lineman Brendan Bett, a redshirt sophomore transfer from Baylor. With 2:07 left on the clock and the No. 13 Gators clinging to a one-point lead, Bett came face-to-face with Skinner on the Bulls’ game-winning drive and spit right into his facemask.

The flag flew, the 15-yard penalty was assessed, and Bett was ejected. Seven agonizing plays later, Nico Gramatica nailed a 20-yard walk-off field goal to seal an 18-16 upset for USF. A half-million-dollar paycheck game, Florida’s playoff hopes, and a season on the brink all altered in a split-second decision of pure frustration.

The reaction came quickly, all eyes turned to Philadelphia. Just two nights earlier, Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter was ejected only six seconds into the NFL season for spitting at Cowboys quarterback. Prescott had spat on the ground first, which seemed to provoke Carter’s response.

Carter’s postgame apology, “It was a mistake that happened on my side, and it just won’t happen again,” was still hanging in the air. Now, here was a young player in a Florida uniform replicating the exact same “non-football act,” as the referee called it. The connection was instantly made. The court of public opinion had its verdict.

“Carter teaching them well,” one fan quipped. Another lamented, “The Jalen Carter influence is real,”  The narrative was set in stone: Jalen Carter was being blamed for a bad influence.

Brendan Bett made a poor decision under pressure, and in football, such acts don’t go unnoticed. When star players cross the line, younger ones often follow, turning one moment into a ripple effect across the game. A fan bluntly stated, “Sc*m Carter setting a bad example for the kids wow.” Carter’s career, already marred by a fatal crash and plea deal, now includes a spitting ejection, fueling concern over the example he’s setting for younger players.

The NFL may have granted Carter leeway, with a league official anonymously indicating a suspension wasn’t coming, but the court of culture has not. His influence, for better or worse, is under a microscope. As one fan put it, “Praying that’s the only time he takes after Jalen Carters poor decision making.”

One spit led to a penalty, a loss, and a tougher road ahead. With top-10 teams looming, Florida’s season just got harder. And for everyone watching, it’s a stark reminder that the game is always watching, and the stains we leave behind are often the hardest to wash out.