On Facebook
On Flipboard
On Twitter
The controversy over the blown targeting call in Arizona State's 39-31 double-overtime loss to Texas in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals is picking up steam.
The consensus: The officials blew the call. And no one knows why, especially since potential targeting calls are automatically reviewed by the booth.
ESPN anchor Scott Van Pelt is the latest media member to weigh in. During the New Year's Day broadcast of SportsCenter, SVP and college football analyst Dusty Dvoracek expressed bewilderment at how Texas safety Michael Taaffe wasn't called for targeting on Arizona State wide receiver Melquan Stovall late in the fourth quarter of a tie game.
"If that's a 1 o'clock window game between a couple of ACC or any conference ... or whatever. I don't care who it is. That's targeting a hundred times out of a hundred," said Van Pelt. "It wasn't in this case."
"I thought it was targeting," said Dvoracek. "I picked up the phone, I made a few phone calls. I talked to [rules analyst] Bill LeMonnier, who I think is one of the absolute best ... and 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.'"
"That looked to me to be the letter of the law targeting."
"That's targeting a hundred times out of a hundred. It wasn't in this case."
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 2, 2025
Scott Van Pelt on the controversial non-targeting call late in the Arizona State-Texas game. pic.twitter.com/2e7tFO64O6
With the Peach Bowl tied 24-24 and just over one minute to play, Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt completed a 10-yard pass to Stovall over the middle. Stovall was immediately hit, helmet to helmet, by Texas safety Taaffe. Stovall fell to the turf and did not get up for several minutes.
No flag was thrown on the field, but the play was reviewed for targeting. The officials determined it was not targeting, and Arizona State was faced with 4th-and-5 at their own 48-yard line with 1:03 to play. If targeting had been correctly called, ASU would have had the ball 1st-and-10 at the Texas 37-yard line — and Taaffe would have been ejected.
There's no guarantee Arizona State would have won the game, but the Sun Devils should have had the opportunity to control the final 1:03 and set up a potential game-winning field goal — or even bust a big run by running back Cam Skattebo, who dominated Texas in the second half.
After the game, Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham was clearly frustrated, but held back in his comments to the media.
"To be honest I don't know what targeting is," Dillingham said after the game. "We lost one of our best players in the first half [Shamari Simmons] for targeting and I just don't know what it is, so I don't want to comment on something that I have to get a better grasp of what it is. ... I just don't quite understand it."
Simmons, Arizona State's best defensive back, was suspended for the first half of the Peach Bowl after being flagged for targeting in Arizona State's 45-19 win over Iowa State in the Big 12 championship game.
Here's the targeting play in question:
I have watched every college football game that matters — and tons that don’t — for the entire targeting era. How is this not targeting? Legit would love to hear this explained. It’s textbook. pic.twitter.com/yjNOtnoEX4
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) January 1, 2025
More must-reads:
- Notre Dame quarterback race takes surprising turn
- Major college football coach says athletes, society 'softer'
- The '2024-25 NFL TD catch leaders' quiz
Breaking News
Trending News
Customize Your Newsletter
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
TODAY'S BEST
Historic college football program questioned over preseason quarterback decision
The Georgia Bulldogs could have arguably used a quarterback upgrade last season. Carson Beck underperformed in 2024, throwing for 3,485 yards, 28 touchdowns and 12 interceptions before suffering a season-ending injury in the SEC Championship Game. Beck's performance wasn't enough for him to jump to the NFL, but he did succeed in getting Miami to pay him appropriately $4 million for the upcoming season. Stewart Mandel of The Athletic is worried about Beck's replacement at Georgia in 2025, Gunner Stockton. He was "surprised" that head coach Kirby Smart didn't upgrade at quarterback after losing to Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal. "There’s one position I’m surprised he did not try to upgrade: quarterback," Mandel wrote. Georgia has a lot riding on Gunner Stockton, who, after understandably struggling in relief of Carson Beck in the SEC Championship Game against Texas (off the bench), went 20-of-32 for 234 yards, one touchdown and no picks against Notre Dame. "That game was effectively over once the Irish scored on a strip-sack of Stockton just before halftime, then returned the opening kick of the second half to go up 20-3. Stockton was sacked four times, fumbled twice and spent much of the game throwing underneath. But he connected with Arian Smith on a 67-yard deep ball and threw a 32-yard TD to a wide-open Cash Jones on a wheel route. "If those two throws were indicative of what Stockton can do with a better supporting cast and another year in the system, then Georgia will make me look silly for even entertaining the idea of a slip. But if the rest of that game, and the Texas game before it, were more representative of his ceiling, then it wouldn’t be a total shock if this preseason top-five team was out of the running by the end of October." Stockton, a six-foot-one, 215-pound junior from Tiger, Georgia, didn't look impressive against Texas or Notre Dame, two stiff defenses that made deep CFP runs last year. He was used more as a game manager, and that won't be helpful come December. Unless Stockton shows massive improvement this season, Georgia could miss out on a chance to make the CFP by Thanksgiving. The Bulldogs have to play tough SEC foes like Tennessee, Alabama, Ole Miss, Florida and Texas by Nov. 15. Stockton doesn't have much room for error, and it's curious why Smart didn't look to the transfer portal to find an experienced quarterback better suited to take on a tough SEC schedule.
Yankees trading for Rockies' Jake Bird would be a mistake
The New York Yankees still have multiple holes to fill in their roster before MLB’s July 31 trade deadline. One of those holes is in the bullpen, as New York’s 4.38 relief squad ERA is good for the fifth highest in the American League. However, one of the main relievers Yankees GM Brian Cashman is targeting doesn’t appear to be much of an upgrade. Colorado Rockies RHP Jake Bird is reported to be at or near the top of the Yankees’ bullpen wishlist. A month or so ago, a glance at his stat line made the idea of New York acquiring him seem like a great idea. On June 21, the 29-year-old had a sterling 2.06 ERA. Entering play on Monday, that number has nearly doubled, up to 4.05. And that’s the type of pitcher Bird is. His career monthly ERA splits indicate he’s a middling reliever who pitches well at the beginning of the season and then tapers off by the end: April/March: 3.29 May: 2.92 June: 4.46 July: 8.31 August: 3.31 September/October: 5.21 One of the main problems with Bird is that he allows too many hits. He’s given up a few more hits than innings pitched in every season since he broke into the league in 2022, and he’s on pace to do the same in 2025. That’s not ideal for a reliever who often has to come in with runners on base. Bird’s issues aren’t a result of his notoriously hitter-friendly ballpark in Denver, either. Over his career, he’s pitched to a 4.60 ERA at home and a 4.20 ERA on the road. Also, some of his worst performances this year have come on the road, including a July 8 outing in Boston when he allowed five runs (four earned) on three hits and a walk in just a third of an inning. Maybe the Yankees see Bird as a guy they can help reach his full potential, like Fernando Cruz or Tim Hill, both of whom produced drastic ERA drops immediately upon donning pinstripes. What’s more likely, though, is that they view Bird as a decent player who they’ll have control over for the next three seasons. That kind of thinking is great for the bottom line. But it won’t bring the World Series trophy back to the Bronx.
New York Mets acquire centerfielder Cedric Mullins from Orioles
The New York Mets have swung another deal with the Baltimore Orioles. First, it was a trade to acquire left-handed relief pitcher Gregory Soto last Friday. Fast forward six days later and the Mets have now landed centerfielder Cedric Mullins from the Orioles in exchange for minor leaguers: Raimon Gomez (No. 30 prospect), Chandler Marsh and Anthony Nunez. Anthony DiComo of MLB.com was on Mullins first and Will Sammon of The Athletic had the full return. The Mets were in need of a centerfielder and got their man in Mullins, who is a rental piece. Mullins is slashing .229/.305/.433 with a .738 OPS, 15 home runs and 49 RBI. Although Mullins has had a rough go at the plate since May, he is beginning to heat up lately, hitting .306 with a .852 OPS in his last 15 games. Mullins, a left-handed bat, joins a fully left-handed hitting outfield with the Mets alongside Juan Soto and Brandon Nimmo. The lefty swinging Jeff McNeil has also seen extensive time in center this year as well. Outfielder Tyrone Taylor, who has struggled offensively, will likely lose playing time.
Closer David Bednar Acquired By New York Yankees In Blockbuster Trade
David Bednar is heading to The Bronx. That means the Yankees bullpen might finally have the edge it desperately needs heading into crunch time. Let’s break this trade down and see why the Yankees targeted Bednar and what they are giving up in return. David Bednar Career Summary After enduring a miserable start in 2024 that screamed, “Send me back to Triple-A,” Bednar recalibrated, introduced a filthy curveball, and essentially told everyone, “Yeah, I’m better now.” The guy has been lights-out since his mid-April return to the majors. Zero blown saves. He has converted 17 of 17 of his save opportunities. His 2.37 ERA and 51 strikeouts in just 38 innings say enough. What Did the Yankees Trade Away? Now, nothing in baseball comes for free, and the Pirates weren’t going to part with their two-time All-Star for pocket change. New York sent Pittsburgh Catcher Rafael Flores, ranked the Yankees’ No. 8 prospect, along with two promising youngsters, catcher/first baseman Edgleen Perez (No. 14) and Outfielder Brian Sanchez. The Yankees fanbase is likely feeling relieved that they did not have to cough up any higher-ranked prospects. Flores is a solid offensive catcher, so the Pirates took a calculated shot at adding depth to one of their weaker spots. Perez and Sanchez are still raw, but with enough seasoning, they could turn into valuable major-league pieces. Why Bednar? At this point, asking why the Yankees targeted Bednar feels rhetorical. Have you seen their bullpen lately? Their closer corps has been a revolving door of unpredictability this season. Devin Williams and Luke Weaver cannot be trusted in high-leverage situations. Every game feels like a cardiac event for Yankees fans. No one expects Bednar to wave a magic wand and fix all of their problems overnight, but adding a proven closer who does not flinch under pressure is a significant upgrade. Plus, his ability to handle late-game heroics and career-high 39 saves back in 2023 proves he thrives in high-stakes moments. The Yankees are banking on that being the case again. For Pittsburgh, Is This a Win Or a Loss? Losing Bednar, a hometown favorite from Mars, PA, is a gut punch. He had 100+ saves with the Pirates and gave the fans plenty to cheer for during some rough seasons. But the harsh reality is, the Pirates are dead last, and keeping a closer whose talent is being wasted in low-pressure games does not make sense. Flipping an elite reliever like Bednar for prospects could help the rebuild. Will Flores, Perez, and Sanchez be the keys to unlocking future success? That is a wait-and-see game, but moves like these can lift a struggling franchise. What’s Next for Bednar and the Yankees? For Bednar, the stakes only get higher from here. The pressure of wearing those iconic pinstripes comes with expectations that many players struggle to fulfill. Can he keep the zero blown saves streak alive? Will Yankees fans immediately crown him a hero, or will he be eaten alive by the Bronx Zoo? For the Yankees, this is as much about survival as it is about success. Their division is a slugfest, and the Wild Card race will be tough. Adding Bednar signals they know the bullpen could make or break their playoff ambitions. Final Pitch The Bednar trade encapsulates the chaos of the MLB trade deadline. The Pirates get their prospects, Bednar gets a shot at October baseball, and Yankees fans get some hope. Whether it is false hope or not remains to be seen.
PRIVACY POLICY EDITORIAL POLICY CONTACT US
ABOUT YARDBARKER TERMS OF SERVICE
Use of this website (including any and all parts and
components) constitutes your acceptance of these
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
This site is for entertainment purposes only.
There is no gambling offered on this site.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
