What if targeting had been called during Arizona state’s Peach Bowl comeback?

It’s a moment trapped in time for Arizona State fans.

Sam Leavitt and the Sun Devil offense were facing a third-and-15 with roughly a minute left in an epic 2024 Peach Bowl matchup against the Texas Longhorns. The CFP quarterfinal contenders were knotted at 24 points a piece. ASU’s redshirt freshman quarterback rifled a completion to graduate student wideout Melquan Stovall for a 10-yard gain, only for the Sun Devil wide receiver to be put down by Texas junior defensive back Michael Taaffe.

Arizona State players and coaches searched for a penalty flag that never hit the turf.

The Sun Devils begged for an explanation on why Taaffe hadn’t been called for targeting. The Mercedes-Benz Stadium crowd roared with a cocktail of boos and cheers. Replay after replay on the television broadcast showed Taaffe make forcible contact to the head of Stovall with the crown of his helmet. The officials deemed the hit clean after an official review.

Terry McAulay, a former 20-year NFL game official, was quick to voice his thoughts on the decision by the Peach Bowl officials.

“Clearly a targeting foul,” McAulay tweeted. “The rule was just obliterated.”

Ultimately, Kenny Dillingham’s Big 12 Champion Sun Devils punted on the next play. Texas went on to win the 2024 Peach Bowl 39-31 in double overtime.

“In terms of the targeting, I’m going to be honest, I don’t know what targeting is,” Dillingham said following ASU’s postseason loss.

What if the officials did rule targeting on Taaffe?

Leavitt and a red-hot Arizona State offense would’ve been given a fresh set of downs deep in Texas territory with roughly 57 seconds left in the game. Offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo and the Sun Devils were in the midst of engineering a 21-7 second-half scoring run thanks to the heavy lifting of running back Cam Skattebo. It’s no guarantee Leavitt, Skattebo and company would’ve continued their march down the field, but given the momentum it felt likely at the time. Arroyo’s offense covered 154 yards in just 13 plays during the team’s two scoring drives leading up to the final one minute and 39 seconds of regulation.

Not to mention, Taaffe, a second-team AP All-American in 2024, would’ve been met with an immediate ejection for the targeting foul. Dillingham likely might’ve opted to continue feeding the rock to Skattebo. Whether ASU scored a touchdown or attempted a field goal, one thing is for certain — the Sun Devils would’ve had a chance to end the game in regulation.

A field-goal attempt wouldn’t have given ASU fans much hope considering the team boasted the second-worst team field-goal percentage in the country. Regardless, an attempt would’ve been an at-worst situation for the Dillingham’s squad.

a targeting call with national championship implications

Texas’ win in the Peach Bowl propelled the Longhorns to a CFP semifinals matchup against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic. Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns fell short in a 28-14 loss to the Buckeyes.

If Taaffe had been called for targeting nine days earlier there’s a chance college football fans would’ve been blessed with a 1997 Rose Bowl rematch between ASU and Ohio State. There’s no doubt Will Howard’s Buckeyes would be heavy favorites against the Sun Devils. Even so, Arizona State played the entire season as underdogs.

Dillingham’s Sun Devils were never supposed to be in the College Football Playoff, yet there they were in the Peach Bowl. Leavitt and Skattebo weren’t the favorites to hoist the Big 12 Championship trophy at the start of the year, but they did exactly that.

A Big 12 team picked to finish deadlast in the conference by the media had already accomplished the unthinkable — a conference championship and CFP appearance. Who’s to say the magic wouldn’t continue in the Cotton Bowl?