A massive fight broke out postgame after Michigan stunned Ohio State, 13-10, Saturday in Columbus, capping off a heated rivalry showdown. As Wolverines players attempted to plant a flag on the midfield logo, Buckeyes players rushed to confront them, resulting in mayhem on the field and a chaotic scene that took several minutes to settle with law enforcement and security stepping in to breakup the brawl.
Brandon Marcello captured footage of Ohio State senior defensive end Jack Sawyer ripping away the Michigan flag and throwing it on the field during the scuffle. Police reportedly used pepper spray with two Wolverines players, as well as a photographer, on the ground rubbing their faces, according to Marcello. Police eventually formed a human wall at the midfield line to separate the two sides.
Michigan was nearly three-touchdown underdogs heading into ‘The Game’ Saturday and pulled off the stunning upset to secure its fourth-consecutive win against rival Ohio State. Head coach Ryan Day dropped to 1-4 in the series since taking over as head coach in 2019. The lone win came in his first season, a 56-27 blowout. Since then, the Wolverines have won each of the past four, including the last two by one possession.
Ohio State’s Jack Sawyer rips away the Michigan flag and throws it amid the insanity after the game. Cops. Pepper spray was even used. Two Michigan players were on the ground rubbing their faces. A photographer as well. Police later lined up at 50 to build a human wall. pic.twitter.com/xANs878xe7
— Brandon Marcello (@bmarcello) November 30, 2024
Emotions were high throughout the game, with a skirmish breaking out during the second quarter when Ohio State five-star freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith caught a short pass from quarterback Will Howard. He was spun around and tackled out of bounds by Michigan defensive back Keshaun Harris.
As Smith attempted to get to his feet, Wolverines players swarmed the area. At one point, it appeared as the Michigan coach tried to help Smith up from the pile before Smith pushed the assistant away from him, which only escalated the tension. Offsetting unsportsmanlike conduct penalties were called after the play, one on Ohio State running back Quinshon Judkins and another on a Michigan assistant. An official also went down during the chaos.
A Michigan flag is planted in the center of The Shoe and things get even more heated between Ohio State and Michigan pic.twitter.com/fPcvJ6Z8ND
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 30, 2024
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A disastrous performance by Ohio State resulted in a fourth-consecutive loss to rival Michigan as criticism of Day reached a new boiling point. The Buckeyes were unable to generate enough offense in a low-scoring defensive battle. Ohio State would owe Day more than $37 million to buyout his contract — the second-largest amount in the country behind only Kirby Smart at Georgia.
