Officials miss Colorado targeting call on North Dakota State's would-be game winning drive
Deion Sanders and Colorado football escaped their season opener with a 31-26 victory over FSC foe North Dakota State on Thursday in Boulder, Colorado.
The game ended up coming down to the final drive, as Bison quarterback Cam Miller fired a Hail Mary throw to receiver Tyler Terhark, just 4 yards short of a game-winning touchdown as time expired. However, one play in particular during NDSU's final drive caught fans' attention on social media: a missed targeting call.
Smith completed a pass to Braylon Henderson for 19 yards to the North Dakota State 47-yard line with 23 seconds remaining. However, replays showed Colorado's Colton Hood appeared not only to lead with the crown of his helmet, but also make contact with Henderson's helmet in the process. That normally would be ruled a targeting penalty, giving the Bison 15 free yards and stopping the clock.
REQUIRED READING: Colorado holds on, begins Deion Sanders' second season with win over North Dakota State
Officials, however, missed the call.
Insane ref show on the final drive.
Clear targeting. Bison should’ve been 15 yards closer to the end zone and the clock should’ve stopped saving them 6 seconds for another play. pic.twitter.com/EBw82p7QnQ— CFB Kings (@CFBKings) August 30, 2024
Three plays later, Miller completed a 49-yard pass that was 4 yards of the end zone, raising questions as to how the no-call may have affected the outcome of the game.
Here's a look at social media reactions to the potentially missed targeting call on the NDSU would-be game-winning drive:
Social media reactions to missed targeting call in NDSU vs Colorado game
It sure looks like they both missed a targeting and also cost NDSU like four full seconds by running the clock before setting the ball
— Shehan Jeyarajah (@ShehanJeyarajah) August 30, 2024
This was such a poor call. Then the refs mismanagement of the clock and the missed targeting call. The @CUBuffsFootball are the new Patriots, they get everything handed to them. https://t.co/2h0RLBhJlP
— Tyler (@ToomuchTyler13) August 30, 2024
This not only could've been targeting, it could've been taunting afterwards.
#3 stepped back, stood over NDSU #1 and had a few words for him. https://t.co/qDhyboHEyw— Mark Schipper - 5th Down CFB (@5thDownCFB) August 30, 2024
This has to be the worst missed targeting I have ever seen. https://t.co/DMt248caEJ
— Joel (@fd_sidekick) August 30, 2024
Was this blatantly missed targeting on Colorado???
RT for YES
Like for LOL HOW DID THEY MISS THAT pic.twitter.com/lW0alqcaQO— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) August 30, 2024
- Ignored a false start on Colorado crucial 3rd down conversion
- Ignored targeting on Colorado on final drive
- Rolled clock on NDSU after 1st down before ball was even on the ground
REFS HAD A GENERATIONAL PERFORMANCE 💪 pic.twitter.com/e0ClH8yw62— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) August 30, 2024
Call me a Colorado Hater but refs were the real 12th man:
- Travis Hunter Pushes off constantly.
- under thrown ball what is a defender supposed to do to not get a PI call?
- missed false start on 3rd down.
- targeting on SDS last drive was not called
- Rolled Clock…— Austin Perkins (@saustinperkins) August 30, 2024
The referees went OFF tonight for Colorado 🔥
-Missed blatant false start on Colorado 3rd down conversion
-Missed targeting on NDSU first down on final drive
-Started the clock 8 seconds early while NDSU was still getting set— Ned Schneebly (@SchneeblyNed01) August 30, 2024
The real MVPs in Colorado https://t.co/P4mVZDv8n2 pic.twitter.com/VHFODVdEVg
— Redneck Demon Slayer (kevin b🙃rdi) (@YeeHashira) August 30, 2024
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Officials miss Colorado targeting call on NDSU's final drive