Shamari Simmons did the thing that college football has been trying to rid the sport of for years now, launching himself helmet-first at the head of Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht in Saturday’s Big 12 championship game.
The hit was immediately reviewed for targeting and just as quickly confirmed. Simmons was thrown out of the game, per NCAA rules. Arizona State was already up 45-10 at the start of the fourth quarter when the hit occurred, but the consequences will linger for weeks.
The defensive back will now miss the first half of Arizona State’s first round College Football Playoff game as he serves the rest of his penalty.
— wow that was crazy (@CowardlyDoggo) December 7, 2024
The ruling is likely to have huge ramifications for ASU, which is already down star wideout Jordyn Tyson for the remainder of the year. Simmons, a senior from Alabama, has been one of the Sun Devils’ best defenders with 32 solo tackles, three pass deflections, two forced fumbles and an interception.
That’s not a loss an ASU pass defense ranked 70th in FBS (219.8 yards allowed per game) can really afford in any game, let alone in a playoff game.
Despite what the Sun Devils’ 45-19 victory on Saturday may imply, this is not a team built to compete in offensive shoutouts. Arizona State does its best work with Cam Skattebo running the ball hard on the ground and keeping opposing teams from scoring more than 30 points (which it did in 10 games this season).
That job just got significantly more difficult with Simmons unable to participate until the second half of ASU’s first playoff game.
