Whether it’s Clemson or Texas, Arizona State is set to be a key contributor in the first half of the 2025 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.
Sun Devils’ safety Shamari Simmons was ejected for a controversial targeting call in the Big 12 Championship on Saturday.
On the opening play of the fourth quarter, Simmons came untouched on a blitz and absolutely obliterated Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht.
It was a violent collision — no doubt — but targeting? What do the officials expect Simmons to do, cut him in half at the waist?
Either way, it appears the Sun Devils will be appealing this call, according to ASU head coach Kenny Dillingham.
“You know it was unfortunate. Shamari knew he saw the quarterback looking away, so he made an emphasis to keep his head up, and then at the last second, you can see the quarterback turn towards him and lower himself a little bit. And that little bit of the turning and lowering is what actually created the contact with the neck area,” Dillingham said.
If the appeal is successful, ASU will have one of its best players available for the first half of their biggest game of the season.
