DALLAS (AP) — Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark is calling for more consistency in determining what constitutes a targeting penalty after no call was made on Texas safety Michael Taaffe's high hit on Arizona State receiver Melquan Stovall late in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Peach Bowl.
Taaffe struck Stovall with a helmet-to-helmet hit as Stovall caught a pass near midfield with 1:15 left in regulation and the game tied Wednesday. No flag was thrown, but referee Larry Smith of the Big Ten halted play to check the replay for possible targeting. As Stovall was being helped off the field, Smith announced there was no penalty.
Had a 15-yard penalty been called, ASU would have been in range to attempt a tiebreaking field goal. Instead, the Sun Devils punted and Texas won 39-31 in two overtimes.
Yormark said in a statement Thursday he was proud of how ASU represented the Big 12 and that the Sun Devils proved they were one of the most talented teams in the nation. He then addressed the no-call.
“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 Richard Clark,” Yormark said, referring to the CFP executive director.
“Moving forward, we need to address CFP officiating to ensure national standards are developed,” Yormark added. "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.”
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Arizona State wide receiver Melquan Stovall (5) and Texas defensive back Warren Roberson (24) collide during the first half in the quarterfinals of a College Football Playoff, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Adrian Kempe broke a tie with 5:48 to play and the Los Angeles Kings beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 on Saturday night for their fourth consecutive victory.
Mikey Anderson scored in the first period and Darcy Kuemper made 34 saves for the Kings, who shut out Tampa Bay over the final 58 1/2 minutes. Los Angeles has won 12 of 16.
Captain Victor Hedman scored and Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 19 shots for Tampa Bay, which has lost three straight games for the first time in two months.
Hedman, who was bloodied by a puck to the head Thursday at San Jose, scored just 70 seconds after the opening faceoff in Los Angeles. The star defenseman's powerful shot ramped off Anderson's stick and beat Kuemper for his fifth goal of the season.
Anderson answered several minutes later with a long shot through traffic for his career high-tying fifth goal.
Lightning: The NHL’s highest-scoring team is in a mini-slump with just four goals during its three-game skid.
Kings: They've earned a point in 14 of 16 games since late November. Kuemper was outstanding to lead a strong, physical defensive performance.
The winning goal was created by Alex Turcotte, who capitalized when Nick Perbix fell down while skating toward a pass from Brayden Point in the Lightning's end. Turcotte outskated Perbix to the puck before dropping a pass to Kempe, who fired home his 19th goal.
Lewis returned from a 12-game injury absence and played in his 1,000th career NHL game. The 37-year-old forward won the Stanley Cup with Los Angeles in 2012 and 2014, and he returned to the Kings last season after three years away.
The Lightning take the I-10 freeway to the I-5 south to face the Ducks on Sunday night. The Kings get three days off before hosting the Flames on Wednesday night.
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL
Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, right, deflects a shot as Los Angeles Kings left wing Warren Foegele, center, is shoves to the ice by defenseman Erik Cernak during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Darren Raddysh, left, moves the puck while Los Angeles Kings left wing Warren Foegele puts pressure on him during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy makes a glove safe during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper makes a glove save during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Kings left wing Kevin Fiala, left, and Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Mitchell Chaffee scuffle during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Tampa Bay Lightning center Luke Glendening, left, and Los Angeles Kings defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov fall as they vie for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
