Duke pulled off a massive upset over No. 9 Clemson Monday night, beating the Tigers as 12.5-point underdogs.
A victory like that doesn’t come without a lot of grit and determination. But it also required a little good fortune and Duke got plenty of that too.
Aside from two Clemson fumbles in the red zone on drives that should have resulted in touchdowns, Duke also benefitted from a mind-boggling loophole in the targeting rule. In the fourth quarter, with Clemson attempting to climb out of a 21-7 deficit, Blue Devils linebacker Cam Dillon was penalized for targeting as Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik was attempting to run for a first down on fourth-and-7.
Klubnik went into a slide short of the first, so Duke would have gained possession. But the penalty was supposed to give Clemson an automatic first down … or so we thought. Here’s the play:
@PickemsWithTheg please explain how the Clemson quarterback can get smoked like this, clearly targeting, and now it’s Duke ball? pic.twitter.com/HYhHN0EXvT
— At The Buzzer (@AtTheBuzzer1) September 5, 2023
After a review, officials confirmed it was targeting but still awarded the ball to Duke. Why? Because the targeting was considered a dead-ball penalty since the play was over when Klubnik began his slide. So the 15 yards were enforced on the next possession rather than the previous one.
Yeah, that makes no sense at all. If the goal is to protect players, that ain’t helping. Dillon was ejected, but Duke still got the ball. CFB fans on Twitter were understandably confused.
I know the rules work out that way but “Duke gets the ball after a targeting penalty” is a wild look
— BUM CHILLUPS AKA SPENCER HALL (@edsbs) September 5, 2023
For those that care. This is absolutely absurd https://t.co/q81Y90d3Vk
— Reese Smoak (@ReeseSmoak23) September 5, 2023
I'll happily take the Duke outright win, but let's not pretend that Clemson shouldn't have won that game. Ridiculous turnovers in the red zone, mental errors, missed kicks, bad luck on the targeting penalty. Not often that a 28-7 loser should have been in an opportunity to win.
— Dan Karpuc (@DanielKarpuc) September 5, 2023
They said after the play. Absolutely insane lol
— Christopher Powers (@chrisstlmo) September 5, 2023
not entirely sure I understand what just happened in the Duke/Clemson game. How is targeting ever* a dead ball foul?
— Clinton Yates (@clintonyates) September 5, 2023
They call this play a dead ball targeting call but I'm sorry but how is that a dead ball foul the play has not ended#Clemson #Duke #CLEMvsDUKE pic.twitter.com/xSK6NnoV6z
— David Malandra Jr (@DaveMReports) September 5, 2023
So Cade Klubnik slides short of the first but Duke defender gets a targeting penalty yet it ain’t a first down. pic.twitter.com/dZh2qyjE6h
— Chris Williamson (@CWilliamson44) September 5, 2023
Makes absolutely no sense how Clemson quarterback can get clobbered like this. Insane targeting penalty and now Duke has the ball. If I’m Dabo Swinney I’m losing my mind right now. https://t.co/HsJhn9aIVz pic.twitter.com/lGfII63VTt
— At The Buzzer (@AtTheBuzzer1) September 5, 2023
I completely get why the ball went to Duke after the Targeting and it’s the damn stupidest technicality that only exists in college sports.
Why? No one ever thought “oh hey, what happens if someone goes for the QB’s head as he slides on fourth down?”
— albhood.bsky.social (@albhood) September 5, 2023
Disclaimer: I'm rooting for Duke, but I don't think I've ever seen this before where a targeting call is thrown and the other team gains possession of the ball.
How in the world is that Duke's football after a 4th down targeting play? That makes no sense to me.
— Hagen Bentley (@HagenNation) September 5, 2023
