It wouldn’t be rivalry weekend in college football without some drama, and Saturday delivered several chippy moments: fights, verbal spats, heated flag plants, and in one instance, a trident plant.
Ohio State and Michigan, one of the sport’s most heated rivalries, started the day’s chaos when a fight broke out after the Wolverines upset the No. 2 Buckeyes. A group of Michigan players attempted to plant a UM flag at midfield at Ohio Stadium. The fight got so heated that multiple law enforcement agencies had to step in and break it up.
Here’s a roundup of all the skirmishes around college football.
If there were any doubts about what the College Football Playoff would do for rivalry games, they were answered in the third quarter of the Iron Bowl. Alabama defensive back DeVonta Smith and Auburn wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith remained entangled with each other after a Tigers pass fell incomplete.
The contact continued onto the Auburn sideline and drew a handful of Alabama players. A shoving match followed, and at least one Auburn player swiped at an Alabama player.
Two Crimson Tide defenders, Smith and Malachi Moore, were penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Tensions are high between Alabama and Auburn 😳 pic.twitter.com/YAPVTdb8UU
— ESPN (@espn) November 30, 2024
No. 13 Alabama went on to beat Auburn 28-14.
Ohio State vs. Michigan
After Michigan’s 13-10 win, one group of Wolverines players ran to the end zone to celebrate with fans and another gathered at midfield to plant the flag, just as they did after their victory over Ohio State in 2022. Buckeyes players tried to break up the celebration and the heated exchange evolved into a brawl. At one point, Ohio State defensive end Jack Sawyer ripped the flag away from a Michigan player and threw it to the ground.
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Police and team staff members stepped in to break up the fight and some officers used pepper spray. Ohio State University police said multiple officers representing Ohio and Michigan had pepper spray and OSUPD will investigate its use.
At one point, law enforcement officers formed a line with their bikes at midfield to separate the teams and players gradually cleared the field. At least one Ohio State fan was handcuffed on the field.
A fight has broken out between Michigan and Ohio State after The Game pic.twitter.com/XPwdAjfYzN
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 30, 2024
Another skirmish over a flag plant broke out after NC State beat UNC 35-30 at Kenan Stadium on Saturday night. Wolfpack safety DK Kaufman hoped to plant the flag at midfield, but UNC wide receiver JJ Jones ran to the group of NC State players, took the flag and threw it toward the Wolfpack’s bench.
A brawl between the two teams broke out and staff members attempted to break it up. Tar Heels players wouldn’t leave the logo at the 50-yard line until the field was cleared.
Rivalry Week just means more!
NC State and UNC are all about it pic.twitter.com/29VB6Ag9cm
— Unnecessary Roughness (@UnnecRoughness) December 1, 2024
The drama continued in Tucson when Arizona State defensive lineman Jacob Rich Kongaika planted ASU’s trident midfield after the Sun Devils’ 49-7 win over Arizona. Wildcats wide receiver Montana Lemonious-Craig immediately ripped the trident out of the turf and a small group of players argued over it.
Coaches intervened and the mild skirmish broke up quickly.
ASU plants the fork in Arizona Stadium 😈🔱@ASUFootball pic.twitter.com/F1sU4qJugA
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 30, 2024
Required reading
(Photo: Kyle Robertson / Columbus Dispatch / USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
