Officials controversially uphold no targeting call against Penn State vs. Oregon

A controversial non-targeting call took place in overtime during Saturday night’s clash between No. 3 Penn State and No. 6 Oregon.

Following a Penn State touchdown on the first drive of OT, Oregon had its chance to respond. While driving to the goal-line, Oregon quarterback Dante Moore hit wide receiver Jayden Limar in stride for a five-yard gain. Limar however got met with a big hit to the helmet by linebacker Amare Campbell, which many claimed could have been called for targeting.

The call wasn’t made on the field but was reviewed. After review, the call of no targeting was upheld.

NO TARGETING CALLED

Do you agree with this no call?

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— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 28, 2025

Following the no-call, Oregon found the end zone for six to tie the game. It then scored on the opening play of 2OT and forced a Drew Allar interception to seal a monstrous road victory over the Ducks.

Oregon led 10-3 heading into the third quarter. The first three quarters of play were a defensive chess match, as the Ducks defense held Penn State to just 109 offensive yards through three quarters. The offense however broke through in the fourth quarter, as the Ducks took a 17-3 lead but the Nittany Lions scored 14 unanswered to send the game to overtime.

In overtime, the Ducks prevailed and slapped yet another big game loss on Penn State and James Franklin. Franklin’s teams are now 15-29 against ranked opponents and the program is now 13-9 in ‘White Out’ games. This loss will certainly not help his case of being a choker in big games, a narrative fueled by SEC Network‘s Paul Finebaum.

“Pressure would just intensify,” said Finebaum earlier this week. “The problem for James Franklin? He has played a miserably easy non-conference schedule, so nobody knows what they really look like. They haven’t looked great, but why should they? And then the pressure will just ratchet up for the Ohio State game, and that is where he has often just blown the entire season. So, I think a loss here complicates it for him and for Drew Allar.

“This is his best chance. I mean, Oregon is good, but they’re still a little bit untested at quarterback. It’s the White Out. I mean, if you can’t win this game, what game are you going to win?”

Penn State falls to 3-1 after the loss and has yet to win a game against a power-four opponent through five weeks of the college football season.