Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark is calling for change after a controversial ruling by officials at Wednesday's Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl sparked massive debate in the college football world.
Since Texas defeated ASU 39-31 in double overtime, Texas safety Michael Taaffe's hit on Arizona State receiver Melquan Stovall for a no-call was the first game in the College Football Playoff. It has become a hot topic.
Yormark, who served as CEO of Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment for 14 years, praised ASU's performance during the 2024 season before calling for “national standards” for officiating.
“As a member of the College Football Playoff Management Committee, I have had numerous discussions to clarify the targeting call for Arizona State's final drive of the fourth quarter. [CFP executive director] Richard Clark,” Yormark said in a statement. “We now need to address the authorities in charge of the CFP to ensure the development of national standards. These standards are critical to the future of the CFP and we hope that this can be discussed with other commissioners at our next meeting. I’m looking forward to it.”
The play occurred late in the fourth quarter of a thrilling game between the Sun Devils, who are in their first year in the Big 12, and the Longhorns, who left the conference and moved to the SEC after the 2023 season.
Taaffe landed a blow on Stovall and appeared to connect with Stovall's head with a face mask.
The referees reviewed the play but did not issue a penalty for targeting. That would have given ASU the ball and another down at the Texas 37-yard line.
Instead, the Sun Devils had to punt the ball.
The fact that officials did not throw the flag has drawn the ire of soccer fans and analysts, including CBS Sports Rules analyst Gene Steratore. People who posted on X The play should have been flagged for targeting.
NBC Rules Analyst Terry McCauley also criticized the decision. in multiple posts on social media.
“I've seen dozens of comments from people who think there are no metrics, but they all seem to leave out the 'put on your helmet and take control' part. That's exactly what he did. “This is a systemic problem,” he wrote in one post, before stating that it goes beyond CFP.
