Following Michigan’s win over Ohio State, it’s now a waiting game to see who the Wolverines will play in their bowl game following a 7-5 regular season. Michigan is attempting to fill out its 2025 recruiting class and look at potential transfer portal targets to bring to Ann Arbor for the 2025 season.

But Michigan also has to recruit its own players to stay in Ann Arbor. There are plenty of seniors who have eligibility remaining who can either use it playing for Michigan or use it somewhere else. There are a handful of Wolverines who could stay and make an impact for Michigan next season, but I chose five Wolverines that Michigan needs to make a priority to keep around for one final season in Ann Arbor.

This is the most obvious of them all. Rod Moore never redshirted, so he would have to file for an injury redshirt — which he would receive for not playing a single game in 2024.

This would be a win-win for both sides. Michigan needs experience in its secondary. The Wolverines will lose Quinten Johnson, Wesley Walker, and Makari Paige this season. Moore would step right into the limelight and star for the Michigan defense.

Moore was arguably a top-five safety before his injury and would’ve likely been a second-day pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, but after not playing in ’24, his draft stock would take a hit. Coming back one more year in Ann Arbor makes all the sense in the world.

It’s a foregone conclusion that both Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant will enter the 2024 NFL Draft, which means both starting tackles are gone for the ’25 season. Rayshaun Benny redshirted his freshman season in 2021 and he’s been a formidable rotational piece the past three seasons.

The defensive tackle spot is going to be one to watch to see how Michigan targets it moving forward. The transfer portal is a legitimate option, but getting a guy like Benny to come back for a fifth year would be huge. He would have a chance to finally start in Ann Arbor and shine on the line.

Benny finished the regular season with 28 tackles (12th on the team) and No. 8 on the team with 3.5 TFLs.

Playing behind Derrick Moore and Josaiah Stewart, TJ Guy doesn’t get his just due. Guy has had a terrific 2024 season. The senior finished the regular season second on the team with 5.5 sacks, and tied for second with seven TFLs — as a backup.

Stewart is off to the NFL after this year and while Moore’s future is up in the air — coming back for his senior year is likely the right move — Guy would be a for sure starter on the defensive line as a fifth-year senior in 2025. Keeping Guy on the roster for one more season would be a great thing for Wink Martindale and the Wolverines’ defense.

You talk about a leader and a captain, you think of Max Bredeson. Keep Bredeson around for what’s likely going to be a new-look offense would be huge for the maize and blue. Bredeson could come back for a fifth year after redshirting in 2021.

A physical beast, Bredeson would provide blocking and we’ve seen Bredeson run routes more this season than years past. It’s unlikely Bredeson would receive a big draft grade in the 2024 NFL Draft, so coming back one more year in Ann Arbor to improve his game for NFL scouts would make all the sense in the world.

Nothing went the way Greg Crippen thought it was going to go when he came to Michigan with J.J. McCarthy in 2021. He had to sit behind Andrew Vastardis, Olu Oluwatimi, and Drake Nugent before thinking he would start his senior year — but he didn’t. Dom Giudice got the shocking start to begin the season before Crippen took a hold of the job.

Center isn’t an easy plug-and-play spot — unless you land guys like Oluwatimi or Nugent. Getting Crippen back for a final year would help keep some continuity on a line that’s going to be essentially new. Michigan will lose Myles Hinton, Josh Priebe, and Gio El-Hadi (who has another year of eligibility if he uses it). The Wolverines’ offense clearly operated better once Crippen got the starting job.

Others who could come back for another year:
OL Raheem Anderson
Edge Kechaun Bennett
OL Tristan Bounds
WR C.J. Charleston
P Tommy Doman
RB Tavierre Dunlap
OL Gio El-Hadi
OL Dom Giudice
LB Jaydon Hood
DT Ike Iwunnah
CB Ricky Johnson
CB Ja’Den McBurrows
Edge Tyler McLaurin
WR Peyton O’Leary
OL Jeff Persi
QB Davis Warren

– Enjoy more Michigan Wolverines coverage on Michigan Wolverines On SI –

Takeaways: Michigan stuns Ohio State and wins for the fourth year in a row

PFF grades: Michigan Football player grades, snap counts following major win over Ohio State

National media slams Ohio State, praises Michigan Football after shocking CFB Saturday

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.”

COMPLETE FIGHT

Michigan attempts to plant the flag on the Ohio State O, and a full-scale brawl ensues!

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Punches thrown! Helmets ripped off! A second flag plant attempt! The flag gets torn apart! Police sprint onto the field to break it up!

Wild scene in Columbus. pic.twitter.com/gzAmjNTRif

— InAllKindsOfWeather.com (@AllKindsWeather) November 30, 2024

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.

An on-field view of the Michigan flag plant and the altercation with Ohio State that followed pic.twitter.com/If9Ng7ecW0

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 30, 2024

A fight has broken out between Michigan and Ohio State after The Game pic.twitter.com/XPwdAjfYzN

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 30, 2024

Michigan tries to plant the flag mid Carmen Ohio pic.twitter.com/OHv2s7NXy2

— Dave Holmes (@DaveHolmesTV) November 30, 2024

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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.

Cops distributing pepper spray, good work fellas (via @UMGoBlog) pic.twitter.com/VwcbORG2Is

— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) November 30, 2024

Ohio State police appear to have used pepper spray on players during the brawl

(via @CFBONFOX)https://t.co/FumXdAJzYu pic.twitter.com/nmNFxz7stG

— On3 (@On3sports) November 30, 2024

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.

Watch the Michigan flag pic.twitter.com/e8jd1sPgCL

— Tim Hanrahan (@TimJHanrahan) November 30, 2024

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Multiple fights breaking out after Michigan takes down Ohio State for the 4th straight year #Buckeyes pic.twitter.com/jURVibT6kG

— Nicole Shearin (@NicoleShearintv) November 30, 2024

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

Michigan tried to plant the flag again at midfield, Jack Sawyer ripped it off and threw it. pic.twitter.com/xpU0fWbVof

— Adam King (@AdamKing10TV) November 30, 2024

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.

Amidst the chaos of the fist fights, Ohio State players kneeled down to pray. pic.twitter.com/AjCIjKqsWJ

— Caroline Rice (@carolinerice19) November 30, 2024

Day simply looked on, shocked and stoic.

Ryan Day looks on after a fight breaks out between Michigan and Ohio State pic.twitter.com/doGNxOlZdy

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 30, 2024

The Big Ten and NCAA have not yet released any statements regarding the altercation or potential punishments.

EAST LANSING, Mich. — — Kyle Monangai rushed for 129 yards and a touchdown, Antwan Raymond added two scoring runs and Jai Patel kicked four field goals on Saturday to help Rutgers to a 34-14 victory over Michigan State in the wintry regular-season finale for both teams.

Rutgers scored on eight of its nine possessions in the game that was played in blowing snow and wind chills in the teens.

It is the first time since 2014 that the Scarlet Knights (7-5, 4-5 Big Ten) have registered seven wins in the regular season and the first time that Rutgers has won four Big Ten games.

“I’ll tell you, 7-5 isn’t what we set out to do before the season,” Monangai said. “It’s the first time it’s been done. So it’s history. It’s special. And you know, for guys that came into my class, like we always talked about leaving the place better than we found it. So I’m glad that we can say that our last year we’re able to make a step in the right direction, in a sense, and then leave a mark as a first team to do something.”

The Spartans (5-7, 3-6 Big Ten) lost four of their last five games and failed to earn bowl eligibility for the third consecutive year.

Michigan State opened the scoring on its first possession with Nate Carter’s 25-yard touchdown run. Rutgers responded in five plays with Monangai running for a 7-yard score.

The Scarlett Knights took the lead for good when Patel connected on a 25-yard field goal with 7:29 left in the first quarter. His kick was set up when a snap went through Michigan State punter Ryan Eckley’s hands and was recovered at the 1-yard line.

In the second quarter, Rutgers added a 13-yard touchdown run by Antwan Raymond and a pair of field goals by Patel to go up 23-7.

The Scarlett Knights’ Athan Kaliakmanis tossed a 9-yard touchdown pass to Ian Strong and a two-point conversion pass to KJ Duff in the third quarter and Patel made a 29-yard field goal in the fourth quarter to build the margin to 34-7. The Spartans last touchdown came on Aidan Chiles’ 5-yard throw to Jack Velling. Raymond closed the scoring with a 5-yard touchdown run.

“We didn’t play well enough to earn a win or the chance to continue to play on,” first-year Michigan State coach Jonathan Smith said. “It is going to take work to get this to a better place. We’ve had definite ups and downs. We got to get it going. We got to get better; that starts with the coaches.”

The game was slightly delayed with 3:38 remaining in the first half when Spartan defensive back Jaylen Thompson was carted off the field after his head appeared to hit the ground while tackling Monangai along the sidelines. Smith said after the game that Thompson was evaluated and is in concussion protocol.

The takeaway

Rutgers: After the Spartans took a brief lead, the Scarlett Knights controlled all phases of the game. The defense prevented Michigan State from moving the ball, the offense was able to convert seven of 13 third downs and special teams hit all four of its field goal attempts.

““I think we’re getting better and better, and to close out the regular season, the way we did as a team, not just offensively, as a team, was awesome,” said Kaliakmanis, who completed 13 of 22 passes for 137 yards. “And I think it’s only going to keep improving.”

Michigan State: The Spartans continued to struggle on defense. They failed to put pressure on the quarterback and could not get off the field. Michigan State totaled only one sack and Rutgers ran 70 plays.

Up next

Rutgers: Rutgers awaits its bowl destination.

Michigan State: Michigan State waits to learn whether there are any bowl spots remaining for 5-7 teams.

——

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