Controversy Erupts Over Blown Targeting Call During Arizona State’s Peach Bowl Loss
The controversy over a blown targeting call that took center stage during Arizona State’s 39-31 double-overtime loss to Texas in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals is gaining considerable attention.
Fans, analysts, and players alike are questioning why the officials failed to call targeting. The incident occurred late in the fourth quarter of a tied game when Texas safety Michael Taaffe collided with Arizona State wide receiver Melquan Stovall.
ESPN anchor Scott Van Pelt shared his thoughts on the blown call during the New Year’s Day broadcast of SportsCenter. He stated that, ‘If that’s a 1 o’clock window game between a couple of ACC or any conference… that’s targeting a hundred times out of a hundred. It wasn’t in this case.’
Adding to the discussion, college football analyst Dusty Dvoracek emphasized, ‘I thought it was targeting.’ After consulting with rules analyst Bill LeMonnier, Dvoracek explained, ‘He said, verbatim, it’s a defenseless player. There was an upward thrust indicator. Forceable contact to the head or neck area. It’s targeting.’ This illustrates how even experts find discrepancies in the application of the targeting rules.
The turning point happened with just over a minute left and the score tied at 24-24. Stovall was hit helmet to helmet by Taaffe but no flag was thrown. The play was reviewed for targeting, yet officials ruled it was not targeting.
If targeting had been correctly called, Arizona State would have gained possession at the Texas 37-yard line, with the opportunity to control the remaining moments and possibly set up a game-winning field goal.
Frustrated by the decision, Arizona State’s head coach Kenny Dillingham expressed confusion over the targeting rules, stating, ‘To be honest, I don’t know what targeting is. I just don’t quite understand it.’
Arizona State’s magical season ended at 11-3, with coach Dillingham emphasizing pride in their journey despite the heart-wrenching loss. He noted, ‘We started off not so great, but the way the guys battled back is remarkable.’
The aftermath of this game raises critical questions about the officiating in key college football playoff games and the consistency of rules applied. With the spotlight on the targeting call, discussions are likely to continue as teams gear up for upcoming seasons.
