CFP ‘needs to address’ officiating after targeting controversy: Brett Yormark

Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark is calling for change after a controversial ruling by officials during Wednesday’s Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl created massive debate in the college football world. 

The targeting no-call on a hit by Texas safety Michael Taaffe on Arizona State receiver Melquan Stovall has been the talk of the College Football Playoff since Texas defeated ASU, 39-31, in double overtime.

Yormark, who was the CEO of Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment for 14 years, praised ASU’s performance during the 2024 season before calling for “national standards” when it came to officiating. 

“As a member of the College Football Playoff Management Committee, I have had multiple discussions seeking clarity surrounding the targeting call on Arizona State’s final drive of the 4th quarter with [CFP executive director] Richard Clark,” Yormark said in a statement. “Moving forward, we need to address CFP officiating to ensure national standards are developed. These standards will be crucial to the CFP’s future, and I look forward to discussing them with my fellow committee members when we meet next.” 

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 for the SEC after the 2023 season. 

Taaffe made the hit on Stovall and appeared to connect with Stovall’s head with his facemask. 

While the officials did review the play, they did not call a penalty for targeting, which would have given ASU the ball on the Texas 37-yard line and a fresh set of downs. 

Instead, the Sun Devils had to punt the ball.

The fact that the officials did not throw a flag has drawn ire from football fans and analysts, including CBS Sports rules analyst Gene Steratore, who posted on X that the play should have been flagged for targeting. 

NBC rules analyst Terry McAuley also criticized the decision in multiple posts on social media.

“I’ve seen dozens of comments from people who think there is no indicator, and they all seem to leave out “leading with the helmet”, which is exactly what he did,” he wrote in one post before saying it’s a systemic issue that goes beyond the CFP.