Late in the game, with just 1:15 remaining in regulation and the score tied, Taaffe made a helmet-to-helmet contact with Arizona State receiver Melquan Stovall as Stovall caught a pass near midfield. Despite the severity of the hit, no penalty flag was thrown on the play. Referee Larry Smith, representing the Big Ten, paused the action to review the play for potential targeting. After Stovall was assisted off the field, Smith announced that there would be no penalty assessed.
Had a 15-yard targeting penalty been called, it could have placed the Sun Devils in a favorable position to attempt a go-ahead field goal. Instead, Arizona State was forced to punt, and Texas ultimately came out on top, winning 39-31 in a tense double-overtime finish.
In a statement released Thursday, Yormark expressed his pride in how Arizona State performed on the national stage and recognized the team as one of the country’s most talented squads. He subsequently addressed the officiating decision regarding the no-call.
“As a participant in the College Football Playoff management committee, I have engaged in numerous discussions about gaining clarity concerning the targeting call during Arizona State’s last drive of the fourth quarter with Richard Clark,” Yormark noted, referring to the executive director of the CFP.
Yormark continued by stressing the importance of establishing clear officiating standards for the CFP moving forward. “It is essential that we work towards a cohesive set of rules that will influence the future of the College Football Playoff,” he added. “I look forward to engaging in discussions with my fellow committee members at our next meeting.”
