Rivals Crush: College football rivalry weekend heats up with brawls and chaotic flag displays

By Jenna West, Matt Baker and Justin Williams

It wouldn’t be a college football rivalry weekend without some drama, and Saturday delivered some heated moments: brawls, verbal arguments, heated flag-planting and, in one case, a trident-planting.

Ohio State and Michigan, one of sports’ most heated rivalries, sparked the day’s chaos when a fight broke out after the Wolverines upset the No. 2 Buckeyes. A group of Michigan players attempted to raise a UM flag at midfield at Ohio Stadium. The fight became so heated that multiple law enforcement agencies had to intervene and break it up.

Here’s a recap of all the skirmishes surrounding college football.

If there was any doubt about what the College Football Playoff would mean for rivalry games, it was answered in the third quarter of the Iron Bowl. Alabama defensive lineman DeVonta Smith and Auburn wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith remained tangled up with each other after a Tigers pass fell incomplete.

The contact continued down the Auburn sideline, drawing a handful of Alabama players. A shoving match ensued in which at least one Auburn player punched an Alabama player.

Two Crimson Tide defensive linemen, 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 defeated Auburn 28-14.

After Michigan’s 13-10 win, a group of Wolverines players ran into the end zone to celebrate with fans and another gathered at midfield to raise the flag, just as they did after their win over Ohio State in the Year 2022 did. Buckeyes players tried to separate The celebration and heated exchange turned into a brawl. At one point, Ohio State defender Jack Sawyer ripped the flag away from a Michigan player and threw it to the ground.

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Police and team members intervened to break up the fight, and some officers used pepper spray. Ohio State University police said several officers from Ohio and Michigan had pepper spray and OSUPD would investigate its use.

At one point, police officers with their bikes formed a line in midfield to separate the teams, and the players gradually cleared the field. At least one Ohio State fan was handcuffed on the field.

After the game, a brawl broke out between Michigan and Ohio State pic.twitter.com/XPwdAjfYzN

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

Another battle over a flag facility came after NC State defeated UNC 35-30 on Saturday night at Kenan Stadium. Wolfpack safety DK Kaufman hoped to place the flag at midfield, but UNC wide receiver JJ Jones ran over to the group of NC State players, picked up the flag and threw it onto the Wolfpack’s bench.

A brawl broke out between the two teams, with staff attempting to break up the brawl. Tar Heels players did not leave the logo at the 50-yard line until the field was cleared.

Rivalry Week simply means more!

NC State and UNC are all about that pic.twitter.com/29VB6Ag9cm

– Unnecessary Roughness (@UnnecRoughness) December 1, 2024

Another rivalry game and another post-game skirmish provoked by the visiting team’s winning flag on the midfield logo.

This time it was Florida’s 31-11 victory over Florida State in Tallahassee. As the final seconds ticked away, Gators edge rusher George Gumbs Jr. placed a Florida flag on the Seminoles’ 50-yard line, immediately sparking a shoving match between players from both teams.

No midfield logo is safe!!! pic.twitter.com/cqJzsBHNaF

– College Sports Only (@CollegeSportsO) December 1, 2024

At one point, Florida State coach Mike Norvell grabbed a Florida flag and threw it as the pressure play continued. He and Florida coach Billy Napier exchanged words but eventually shook hands and broke up.

Mike Norvell throws the Florida flag after Gator players place it at midfield👀

(via ESPN)pic.twitter.com/Pboy1DaEAg

— On3 (@On3sports) December 1, 2024

Asked what he discussed with Napier, Norvell said: “You’ve won the game and you have the right to celebrate, just like we have in previous years.” That’s how you work? That’s okay.

“Do you want to do that? This is absolutely your decision to make within a team. But I just told him what I thought.”

The drama continued in Tucson as Arizona State University defensive lineman Jacob Rich Kongaika placed the trident at ASU’s midfield following the Sun Devils’ 49-7 win over Arizona. Wildcats wide receiver Montana Lemonious-Craig immediately ripped the trident off the turf and a small group of players argued over it.

The trainers intervened and the light skirmish quickly broke up.

ASU plants the fork at Arizona Stadium 😈🔱@ASUFootball pic.twitter.com/F1sU4qJugA

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

The Big 12’s two Cougars are far from traditional rivals, but things got tricky in the power conference’s nightcap after BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff dove into the end zone for a late touchdown. After tight end Mata’ava Ta’ase attempted to pull Retzlaff off the turf, a shoving match ensued and Houston defensive lineman AJ Haulcy and BYU receiver Darius Lassiter were ejected.

Things got difficult after that TD in Houston-BYU 😮 pic.twitter.com/sQ1XNerUfa

– ESPN (@espn) December 1, 2024

Required reading

(Photo: Kyle Robertson / Columbus Dispatch / USA Today Network via Imagn Images)