to the defender to go really low or distort their body position in some way to avoid the head or neck area of the defenseless receiver.

I am not saying this was a dirty play, but still seems like textbook targeting.

The defender made no effort to avoid head or neck area. The first part of the defender's body to make contact with the receiver's body was the defender's helmet (which made contact to helmet of receiver). This, the defender led with his helmet.

15 years ago it was a totally normal play and wouldn't have been considered dirty at all.

I still don't think it's a dirty play, but that type of play has now usually been called targeting even within this season. It was always up to the defender to avoid head or neck area.

I can see how the rule allows for some helmet to helmet contact to not trigger the rule, but presumably the defender would have first had to make that drastic effort to avoid the head or neck area, which this defender didn't do at all.

But if ASU has a bad kicker then ASU still likely doesn't win it in regulation and it still goes to OT.