As one of college football’s greatest rivalries erupted into a brawl after a heated game, police used pepper spray, hitting players on both sides as well as other field personnel.
On Saturday, Nov. 30, the Michigan Wolverines were celebrating a 13-10 road win over the Ohio State Buckeyes (their fourth straight win over the team) by flying their flag at Columbus’ Ohio Stadium when an OSU player intervened — and a fight broke out.
In a postgame clip shared on X (formerly known as Twitter) by Columbus radio station WBNS-FM, OSU’s Jack Sawyer could be heard saying, “They don’t—– put a flag on our p- – —- field again.”
As the Wolverines attempted to do just that — place the Michigan flag at midfield — the defensive team grabbed the flag and threw it to the ground, leading to a physical altercation between the two teams, according to footage shared by sports reporter Brandon Marcello on X.
After the Michigan fan took the flag, several OSU players tried to grab it, the video shows.
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As the fight on the field escalated, security officials and police officers tried to break it up, and several officers used pepper spray, OSU police confirmed in an official statement on X after the game.
“After the game, officers from multiple law enforcement agencies assisted in breaking up the altercation on the field,” the statement said. “During the fight, multiple officers representing Ohio and Michigan used pepper spray.”
OSU police also said they are the “lead agency” for the games at Ohio Stadium and said they will “continue to investigate” the incident.
Footage captured by Michigan fan blog UMGoBlue shows one officer knocking an OSU player to the ground and another using pepper spray. The official appeared to aim the blast at a group of players, but due to the wind on the pitch, some of the spray flew in the opposite direction.
An overhead view of the fight that broke out at the Michigan vs. Ohio State game on November 30, 2024.
FOX
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The pepper spray reportedly hit not only the players involved in the altercation, but also others who were on the field, including the photographer who took the UMGoBlue footage and a reporter.
After the fight, Sports Illustrated writer Pat Forde wrote on X that he “got pepper spray used,” and said in a separate post that “a lot of people” on both teams were hit by the spray.
Two Michigan players were seen squinting and rubbing their eyes after the fight on the field, sideline footage shared by FOX College Football broadcasts.
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Speaking about his players’ fight and demeanor in a postgame news conference, OSU head coach Ryan Day said his team has too much pride to sit back while Michigan marks territory.
“I don’t know all the details about it,” Day said, according to CBS Sports. “I know those guys wanted to put the flag on our field, and our guys didn’t want to let it happen. I will find out exactly what happened, but this is our field.”
The coach added: “Of course we’re embarrassed to lose the game, but there are some proud lads in this team who weren’t going to let that happen.”
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Source: HIS Education