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Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Entertainment
Jelani Scott

ACC Refs Are Getting Crushed After Questionable Targeting Call on Louisville

It didn’t take long for ACC referees to draw the ire of college football fans in 2023, thanks to a questionable targeting call that caused quite an uproar early in Friday’s Louisville-Georgia Tech game.

The Week 1 matchup was temporarily paused during the game’s third drive for a review after Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King took a hit from Cardinals defensive back Benjamin Perry on a scramble. The play saw Perry and safety Josh Minkins converge on King simultaneously following a six-yard scamper, with Perry appearing to make incidental contact with King’s head and neck area as he attempted a late slide. 

After flagging Perry for illegal contact, and after reviewing the play, the officiating crew opted to eject the redshirt sophomore for targeting, much to the chagrin of CFB and Cardinals fans alike.

While most fans know of the rule changes and increased emphasis on player, and specifically quarterback, safety in recent years, Perry’s tackle still sparked reactions from fans both confused and frustrated by what appeared to be the incorrect call.

Needless to say, with the season just starting, it already appears that ACC officials could be in for a long ’23 campaign, based on Friday night’s reactions:

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