Officials uphold controversial non-targeting call in Miami vs. Cal

Targeting is a penalty that evokes great emotions out of people and causes plenty of controversy in the college football world. On Saturday night in the Miami-Cal game, we saw one of the hardest hits of the day when Miami linebacker Wesley Bissainthe absolutely leveled Cal quarterback Fernando Mendoza.

Bissainthe hit Mendoza high to where the call was really close as to whether or not he hit Mendoza in the shoulder or if it was a helmet to helmet hit.

Brock Osweiler of ESPN shared his thoughts on the broadcast. He was shocked that it wasn’t called targeting.

"Back-to-back weeks Miami is in a situation where it comes down to replay and you question if the officials are getting the calls correct. I do not know by the definition of the rulebook, how that is not targeting."

– Brock Osweiler pic.twitter.com/dIt0dLdbF3

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) October 6, 2024

If targeting had been called in this instance, the Hurricanes’ historic comeback likely would have fallen just short.

They trailed by 25 points at one point, and somehow managed to storm back and pull out the win. It was the largest comeback in college football this season.

Miami managed to outscore Cal 21-3 in the final quarter, in one of the wildest comebacks of the 2024 college football season. Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward finished completing 35 of his 53 passes for 437 yards, while tossing in two touchdowns with one interception.

The interception was a highly egregious decision, a pick six that he threw when he rolled to his right and threw across his body to the middle of the field.

Miami running backs Mark Fletcher Jr. and Damien Martinez combined for over 120 yards and two touchdowns. Quarterback Cam Ward finished with 15 rushing yards and one touchdown. Miami receiver Xavier Restrepo was spectacular for the ‘Canes down the stretch, making some clutch catches in the fourth quarter when they had to have them. He hauled in seven catches for 163 receiving yards and a touchdown.

Miami keeps their undefeated record in tact at 6-0 overall and 2-0 in the ACC, whereas Cal dropped to 3-2 overall and 0-2 in the ACC.