Was it targeting or not?
Dan Lanning blasts targeting no-call from Oregon's game against Penn State originally appeared on The Sporting News
The Penn State Nittany Lions and Oregon Ducks played their biggest game of the college football season so far on Saturday for the second-ever full stadium White Out at Beaver Stadium.
The Ducks came out victorious in a 30-24 overtime thriller, and coach Dan Lanning was overcome with emotions after the hard-fought victory.
However, there was another aspect of the game the Ducks' coach was particularly passionate about - a targeting no-call.
Dan Lanning Blasts Targeting No-Call
On Oregon's first drive of overtime, running back Jayden Limar was smoked on a run up the middle. The Penn State defender lowered his head and nailed Limar with what looked to be the crown of his helmet.
However, there was no flag thrown, and even after official review, it was deemed a clean play. Lanning disagreed, and joined the "Bussin' With The Boys" Podcast on Monday to explain why.
"They didn't play it in the stadium, obviously. They didn't play the replay up top, you know, because everybody in the stadium that would have seen that replay would have been like, 'Oh, he's done,' right? Like, if that's not, I don't know what is," Lanning said. "All they tell you is, 'We're looking at it up top. We're looking at it up top.' So it's really frustrating as a coach, and you're like, 'What are they looking at? What do they see?'
NO TARGETING CALLED
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 28, 2025
Do you agree with this no call?
📺:NBC pic.twitter.com/MLtQMzEt4y
"Because that felt like one that was pretty clear, and I guess it wasn't, you know. You've got to stick to what the rules are, and the rules obviously say that was not targeting."
It feels like we've gone back and forth in college football between calling too many targeting calls, to then missing blatant hits that seem to meet the requirements.
However, the Ducks did finish that drive with a touchdown and Limar was not injured on the play. But, that doesn't mean it shouldn't have been called.
"Jayden Limar is a beast, man," Lanning said. "To be able to handle that... Somebody told me it had something to do with a hairline. I saw a meme afterwards on Twitter of, like, a hairline, like, all the way back around his head. I mean, I guess I shouldn't say anything. I don't know. Yeah, I thought it was targeting. I definitely thought it was targeting."
" it wasn't with his crown, it was more with his hairline"
— PUDDLES (@scoduckz) September 28, 2025
The hairline https://t.co/dqn9zLzuwKpic.twitter.com/1PqyjEjo1Z
Lanning obviously did not agree with the call, and will likely be watching future targeting calls, or non-calls, for that matter with a closer eye. The Ducks' coach added one more comment just to make sure people knew how he felt.
"That was definitely some crazy contact there. That was wild. But, they obviously got the call right, you know," Lanning said with a sly smile. "I guess."
The Ducks now have a bye week before they face their second AP Top 10 opponent of the season when they welcome No. 8 Indiana to Eugene.
Category: General Sports
