Targeting or no targeting? Officials controversially made the latter ruling in Wednesday’s Peach Bowl. The no-call came at the delight of Texas, its fans and apparently, Doug Gottlieb.
And Gottleib weighing in led to further opinions. Terry McAulay, NBC’s rules analyst, let the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay’s men’s basketball coach and sports talk host know—in no uncertain terms— that he disagreed with the take.
The play in question happened late in the fourth quarter with the score tied. A targeting call would have given Arizona State a first down in Texas territory, with a chance to win the game in regulation. But while ESPN rules analyst Matt Austin suggested that targeting should have been called, no targeting was ruled after the review. McAulay voiced his displeasure at the ruling on social media.
Gottlieb went the other way, though not because he didn’t think it was targeting.
“Was it Targeting? Sure. Do you call it in this situation? No,” he shared on X.
Was it Targeting? Sure. Do you call it in this situation?
No. pic.twitter.com/y4FBD4PKah— Doug Gottlieb (@GottliebShow) January 1, 2025
McAulay didn’t see it that way.
“This is now the worst take I’ve seen,” he replied.
This is now the worst take I’ve seen. https://t.co/Dij1JbaaIq
— Terry McAulay (@tjmcaulay) January 1, 2025
At the risk of piling on Gottlieb, we have to take McAulay’s side here.
It would be one thing if Gottlieb didn’t think it was targeting. The play certainly looked like targeting and we’ve seen it called in less blatant situations. But it was close enough that we could understand an argument that targeting didn’t occur.
But to argue that it shouldn’t have been called because of the situation? That’s a tough enough argument to make when it comes to calls like holding, which could realistically be called on nearly every play. In those situations, the best path for an official to take is usually to call it late in the game as it’s been called throughout.
But targeting isn’t one of those fouls. When it happens, it needs to be called—even if it’s a potentially game-changing call. Because realistically, the no-call was no less game-changing.
[Doug Gottlieb/Terry McAulay on X]
