College Football Playoff executive director Rich Clark defended the Peach Bowl’s refereeing staff, calling their procedures “appropriate and orderly” after Texas lost 39-31 in overtime to Arizona State in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals, with potential targeting penalties almost twice had won were ultimately not called upon after testing. The second ruling prompted the Big 12 commissioner to demand that the CFP’s office be addressed.

“The rules and everything that officers are supposed to follow were appropriate and proper,” Clark said Thursday. “Ultimately a decision was made and it was a difficult decision. As with anything that is a gray area judgment, some people will see it one way and others will see it another way. But we have to let the officers do their job and use their judgment.”

Targeting has been the most controversial rule in college football since its inception in 2008, in part because it involves a 15-yard ejection penalty and also because fans and commentators still can’t define exactly what it is .

In the first situation of Wednesday’s game, Arizona State’s Javan Robinson intercepted a deep pass with 5:45 minutes left in the game, just as another Arizona State defender delivered a strike to Texas receiver Isaiah Bond, whose head was at Contact swung back. Officials reviewed the play and concluded there were no targeted attacks, so the interception stood. Arizona State tied the game with a touchdown on the ensuing drive.

With 1:15 left and still tied, Arizona State completed a 10-yard pass to receiver Melquan Stovall at midfield on third-and-15. Texas defenseman Michael Taaffe stopped Stovall and both helmets collided on the hit. That play was also reviewed for accuracy, but no penalty was called, angering Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham.

Texas is not targeted here 👀 pic.twitter.com/3BkmiD73MM

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) January 1, 2025

“As far as targeting goes, I have to be honest: I don’t know what targeting is,” Dillingham said after the game. “…But I want to protect the players, so I’m all about the rules that protect the players.”

The target is defined as either a violent blow with the crown of the defender’s helmet or a violent blow (with any part of the body) to the head or neck area of ​​a defenseless player.

Terry McAulay, a former NFL official and current NBC rules analyst, tweeted that he believed Texas’ hit was due to a defenseless player:

To be clear:

1. He aimed specifically at an opponent
of attacking with violent contact that goes beyond a legal tackle, a legal block or playing the ball.
2. He led with his head.
3. He made forceful contact with his… https://t.co/oEAot8DGB8 on the head/neck area of ​​a defenseless recipient

– Terry McAulay (@tjmcaulay) January 1, 2025

A penalty would have extended the drive and given Arizona State a chance to play for the win. A punt was forced, although as time expired Texas missed the field goal that would have clinched the game and the game went into overtime. There, the Longhorns threw a touchdown on fourth-and-13 to tie the score in the first overtime period, then won in the second overtime period.

The day after the game, Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark called for a review of the CFP’s official and national standards. The Peach Bowl had Big Ten referees.

“I am incredibly proud of the way Arizona State represented the Big 12 in the CFP quarterfinals,” Yormark said in a statement. “As a member of the College Football Playoff Administrative Committee, I have had several discussions with (CFP Executive Director) Richard Clark to seek clarity regarding Arizona State’s fourth-quarter final-round call.

“Going forward, we must address the leadership of the CFP to ensure that national standards are developed. These standards will be crucial to the future of the CFP and I look forward to discussing them with my committee colleagues at our next meeting.”

Clark pointed out that the teams that work College Football Playoff games are the highest-rated officials in their respective conferences and that the CFP determines which conferences officiate which games.

“At the end of the season we’ll look at everything, the commissioners on the management committee, we’ll look at all aspects and we’ll just have to see where they go with it,” Clark said. “I’m not ready to back out before that.”

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(Photo: Brett Davis / Imagn Images)