Let’s just cut to the chase here, sports fans; what we witnessed in the Peach Bowl on New Years Day was an instant classic. The show that Arizona State and Texas put on for the world in Atlanta was something to behold. It was one of those games that made us all say to ourselves; “hey….maybe the 12-team playoff wasn’t a waste after all.”

It was WONDERFUL! It had everything that we wanted from a College Football Playoff game, and THEN SOME! The Sun Devils and the Longhorns were trading blows all of the way to the bitter end, like they were a pair of heavyweight boxers fighting for the title. But sadly…..it all had to end in controversy. It all had to end with an asterisk, and a fan base asking “what if?”

What do I mean by that, you may ask? Well…

texas potential targeting; arizona state injury pic.twitter.com/nbz3VF3jA6

— ◇ (@H00DH3R0) January 1, 2025

Targeting, ladies and gentlemen. That was the word of the day on January 1st. For those of you who don’t know what that means, it can be defined by the NCAA as any hit that “goes beyond making a legal tackle or a legal block or playing the ball.” They further define the rule by saying that it involves leading with the crown of the helmet, and making forcible contact on the region above the shoulders.

Basically…..it’s an unnecessary helmet-to-helmet hit, which could lead to serious head or neck trauma. It’s a hit that College Football has been trying to eliminate for YEARS, and it’s something that can really change a game when it’s called.

Now, the question that I have for the world is……how was what you saw in the clip above NOT TARGETING? Seriously; how was that not targeting? How was a helmet-to-helmet hit on a defenseless receiver not called by the zebras on the field, or by the booth? To me…..it just seems like the most cut-and-dry sequence in the history of football.

Just think about it; a defenseless receiver turned his head, and immediately got crushed by a white helmet, before he even knew he was getting tackled. He was left in a vulnerable position, and could’ve been SERIOUSLY INJURED on the play. But the officials looked the other way? They said “play on,” and didn’t punish the Longhorns for their transgressions?

I….I’m appalled that I’m even writing this. The fact that the NCAA allowed this INCOMPETENCY to happen in the FIRST YEAR of their 12-team playoff, is inexcusable. It’s one of the biggest ‘black-eyes’ that an organization could take. A game that was EASILY one of the best of the tournament so far…..shouldn’t have ended with “what ifs” and “bullshits.”

Personally, if the call was made…..I think the Sun Devils would’ve taken the win. They had all of the momentum heading into this moment, and all they needed was a FG to win it all. They would’ve just needed to take the yards off the penalty, run a few more positive plays, and kick it through the uprights. Then we’d be talking about Cam Skattebo moving on, instead of Quinn Ewers.

It makes sense to me, and it’s sad that we’re in this spot right now. We could’ve been witnesses to the upset of a LIFETIME. But because of a bad call by a bunch of DORKS…..we missed out.

It’s a rough spot to be in. But in the end…..what do I know? I’m just a guy from the Midwest, with a beer and a laptop, trying to make sense of this world.