Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark has reached out to College Football Playoff (CFP) leaders to discuss a targeting non-call in ASU’s Peach Bowl loss to Texas. The play, which occurred with just over a minute left in regulation and the game tied at 24, was widely viewed as a clear targeting call.
The incident sparked debate about the lack of clarity on targeting penalties, which has been a topic of discussion for weeks. Arizona State AD Graham Rossini confirmed that Yormark had spoken to him about the issue, stating that they will work together to understand how the rule applies across conferences and make sure there is clarity on what constitutes a targeting call.
This is not the first controversy involving targeting penalties in the Big 12. In their previous game against Iowa State, ASU’s defensive back Shamari Simmons was ejected for targeting an unprotected quarterback, an incident that occurred just before halftime. The Sun Devils’ coach, Kenny Dillingham, admitted he did not fully understand the rule and expressed his desire to protect players while also having a clear understanding of the penalty.
Yormark has pledged to address CFP officiating and develop national standards for the sport. He will discuss this issue with fellow committee members at their next meeting.
Source: https://arizonasports.com/story/3569100/asu-texas-targeting-no-call-big-12