Unraveling the ugliness that unfolded after Michigan defeated Ohio State for the fourth straight year is as convoluted as the reasons for the outcome of The Game.
During a melancholy Carmen Ohio, Michigan players gathered around midfield and attempted to plant a team flag at the 50-yard line. Ohio State players heard cheers from Michigan fans, turned to see what was unfolding, and ran to meet the Michigan players, arriving just after the flag was stabbed into the ground. A melee ensued.
“I don’t know all the details of it, but I know that these guys are looking to put a flag on our field, and our guys weren’t going to let that happen,” Ryan Day said after the game. “I’ll find out exactly what happened, but this is our field. And certainly, we’re embarrassed at the fact that we lost the game, but there’s some prideful guys on this team that weren’t just going to let that happen.”
Several individual altercations can be seen in the mass of bodies at midfield. Ohio State safety Jaylen McClain (No. 18) stepped into a crowd of Michigan players and started throwing punches, then got punched himself and slammed to the ground by Michigan defensive end Cameron Brandt (91) with assistance from defensive tackle Kenneth Grant (78). Grant and Ohio State linebacker Gabe Powers (36) then grabbed at each other as Ohio State cornerback Davison Igbinosun (1) struck at Grant. Ohio State defensive end JT Tuimoloau (44) followed to get involved in the shoving between McClain and Brandt, but was held back by tight end Patrick Gurd (49).
Ohio State cornerback Lorenzo Styles Jr. (3) was standing in a mass of players on the Michigan side when the altercation started, and got shoved toward the middle by Michigan defensive back Brandyn Hillman (6) with a melee following. Styles exchanged blows with Michigan defensive back Quinten Johnson (28) and running back Bryson Kudzdal (41). Johnson shoved Styles backward as an Ohio State staffer tried to break them up.
Michigan defensive back Jyaire Hill (35) grabbed a Gatorade bottle and threw it at McClain, hitting an Ohio State staffer in the head, then grabbed Styles by his nameplate and slammed him to the turf from behind. Ohio State tight end Bennett Christian (85) stepped in and delivered a punch to Johnson’s gut.
Ohio State safety Lathan Ransom (8) was pulled into a pile of Michigan players. Ohio State defensive tackle Eric Mensah (90) tried to step in and help, but he was shoved and pulled away by Michigan offensive lineman Raheem Anderson (62). Michigan defensive lineman Rayshaun Benny (26) leaped over the pile pinning Ransom down and threw a punch at Mensah but missed. Anderson pulled Mensah to the ground, exchanged jabs with an Ohio State staffer and backed away.
Ohio State and Michigan police officers arrived to try and break the brawl up, with help from additional local law enforcement. After both sides stayed at each other’s throats, throwing shoves and punches, officers deployed pepper spray on both sides.
Ohio State police released the following statement via X after the game:
“Following the game, officers from multiple law enforcement agencies assisted in breaking up an on-field altercation. During the scuffle, multiple officers representing Ohio and Michigan deployed pepper spray. OSUPD is the lead agency for games & will continue to investigate.”
The initial and main fight at midfield wasn’t the only one to break out. Several other skirmishes erupted about the field. Michigan defensive end Derrick Moore took the Block M flag and started parading it about the field looking to plant it again, but Ohio State defensive end Jack Sawyer ripped it from its staff. Cornerback Davison Igbinosun tried to collect it but Michigan staffer Jason Avant tucked it away and held onto it. More shoving and fighting followed.
Safety Brenten Jones (No. 32) and quarterback Devin Brown (33) led a crowd of Buckeyes who fought with Moore before Ohio State defensive end Dominic Kirks (55) shoved him back toward Michigan’s side, then Hillman (6) stepped in and threw a punch at Kirks. The altercation was at last broken up with help from Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles (6) and a few Michigan players including defensive back Zeke Berry (10).
Michigan linebacker Jason Hewlett (44) can also be seen throwing a punch at Kirks as he surged into Michigan coaches and players. Ohio State cornerback Dianté Griffin (43) and Michigan defensive end Kechaun Bennett (52) grabbed each other’s jerseys and began to throw punches as they shoved back and forth.
Ohio State’s players stayed mum about the topic, as is probably advised. Quarterback Will Howard declined to comment, while linebacker Cody Simon said he didn’t see much of anything.
“I heard the commotion late,” Simon said. “I ran in there. We want to stay together as a team. I don’t want to focus on anything about that. Just focusing on trying to regroup and we know there’s more season left for us.”
Michigan coach Sherrone Moore understood the emotions that started the brawl but didn’t condone the actions. He also took some responsibility for his team’s role in it.
“It was emotions on both sides,” Moore said. “I did see they had the flag and guys were waving it around, then their guys charged at us. There was emotion on both sides, (that) can’t happen. Rivalry games get heated, especially this one, it’s the biggest one in the country. So we’ve got to handle that better.”
On the field there was a mix of reactions. Some players knelt to pray.
Day simply looked on, shocked and stoic.
The Big Ten and NCAA have not yet released any statements regarding the altercation or potential punishments.
