The Peach Bowl ended in controversy on Wednesday as Texas defeated Arizona State 39-31 in double overtime, following a contentious no-call on a helmet-to-helmet hit late in regulation.<\/p>\n
With just over a minute left and the game tied at 24-24, Arizona State faced a pivotal third-and-15 at their own 38-yard line. Sun Devils quarterback Sam Leavitt completed a short pass to Melquan Stovall, who was hit hard by Texas safety Michael Taaffe. The collision left Stovall sprawled on the turf, and replays clearly showed helmet-to-helmet contact.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Despite reviewing the play for potential targeting, referee Larry Smith ruled no penalty, leaving Arizona State with a fourth-and-5. A targeting call would have granted the Sun Devils a 15-yard penalty and a first down at the Texas 37, possibly setting up a game-winning field goal attempt.<\/p>\n
Instead, Arizona State punted, sending the game into overtime.<\/p>\n
Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham voiced his frustration over the decision. \u201cI\u2019m going to be honest, I don\u2019t know what targeting is,\u201d he said, referencing a prior targeting penalty that sidelined star defensive back Shamari Simmons for the first half of the game.<\/p>\n
Targeting, which involves leading with the crown of the helmet during a hit, has been a point of contention in college football. While Taaffe\u2019s helmet made clear contact with Stovall, it appeared he did not lower his head, a key criterion for the call.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just don\u2019t quite understand it,\u201d Dillingham added. \u201cI want to protect the players, and I support rules that do so, but clarity on what constitutes targeting is needed.\u201d<\/p>\n
The no-call added tension to a game already filled with drama. Texas had squandered a 16-point lead in regulation before rallying in double overtime for the win. The victory propels the Longhorns to the College Football Playoff semifinals.<\/p>\n
For Arizona State, the loss leaves lingering questions about officiating and the implementation of targeting rules, which continue to spark debate across college football.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Peach Bowl ended in controversy on Wednesday as Texas defeated Arizona State 39-31 in double overtime, following a contentious no-call on a helmet-to-helmet hit late in regulation. With just over a minute left and the game tied at 24-24, Arizona State faced a pivotal third-and-15 at their own 38-yard line. Sun Devils quarterback Sam<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10087,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":{"twitter_1160854738579181570_1160854738579181570":"","facebook_3558452337540614_100649324928663":""},"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22,239],"tags":[285,319,266],"class_list":{"0":"post-10086","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports","8":"category-usa-canada","9":"tag-amnewsworld","10":"tag-new-york","11":"tag-reporters"},"yoast_head":"\n