A fight has broken out between Michigan and Ohio State after The Game pic.twitter.com/XPwdAjfYzN
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 30, 2024
Ryan Zuke
mlive.com
Rod Moore might not have been playing, but the Michigan safety still was wearing his No. 9 jersey on the sideline Saturday at Ohio State.
Last year, Moore was the hero in the Wolverines’ 30-24 win over the Buckeyes in Ann Arbor, making a diving interception of Kyle McCord to cement Michigan’s third straight win in the rivalry.
The Ohio native never saw the field in 2024 after suffering a season-ending leg injury during spring camp, but was keenly watching Michigan’s defense try and close out the Buckeyes once again. Michigan’s defensive line, like it had throughout the game, got penetration and started pushing Ohio State’s line backward, collapsing the pocket on quarterback Will Howard. As soon as Howard’s fourth-down pass fell incomplete, Moore was the first one on the sideline to turn to the crowd:
“Take you’re a—- home,” Moore shouted.
The Wolverines had accomplished what few believed they could. Not with five losses already this year.
They arrived in Columbus as 19.5-point underdogs with nothing but bragging rights at stake. As Michigan closed out a 13-10 victory to keep No. 2 Ohio State out of the Big Ten title game, it wasn’t bashful about bragging.
“We own you,” screamed head coach Sherrone Moore, waving at the Ohio State faithful. Others joined in.
“This is our house.”
“Better beat the traffic.”
Some Michigan fans made their way down to the front row behind the Wolverines’ bench and were high-fiving with players. As the smack talk continued with Buckeyes fans, some fans fired back, including with some vulgar and racist comments.
Michigan players brushed it off and kept celebrating. In the immediate aftermath of the clock hitting zero, some Wolverines sprinted toward the north end zone to celebrate with the Michigan band and the small contingent of maize and blue fans in a sea of red.
Freshman quarterback Jadyn Davis embraced starter Davis Warren, a former walk-on and cancer survivor. Warren only threw for 62 yards and tossed two interceptions, but he will be remembered for winning this game.
“You did it,” Davis told Warren.
The brawl came out of nowhere. While videoing Michigan celebrating with the band, attention quickly turned to midfield. I saw the flag plant from afar, and by the time I arrived to the scene, pepper spray was being used by police.
Edge Chibi Anwunah was trying to wash his eyes with a water bottle.
An Ohio State reporter was in agony.
“I can’t see! I can’t see!” she screamed while wiping her eyes with a microphone still in her hand.
The throng of Wolverines and Buckeyes didn’t disperse quickly. As Ohio State finally made its way back into the locker room, a police brigade stretched across the 50-yard line, with police bikes blocking Michigan from heading to its locker room until OSU cleared the field.
The Wolverines gladly continued to celebrate and incite the few remaining red-clad fans in the stands.
Junior defensive tackle Kenneth Grant was among the last players remaining on the field and pulled one out of Curt Cignetti’s playbook as a departing message.
“You can Google me,” he shouted.
After Kalel Mullings shed multiple Ohio State defenders in the backfield and scampered for 27 yards on a third-and-6 in the final 3 minutes that set up the game-winning field goal, police had started preparing for a potential upset.
Behind Michigan’s sideline, three officers congregated.
“OK, no matter what happens, this is …” (I now wish I had stopped to listen to the rest of the sentence to hear the gameplan to manage potential unruliness).
With Michigan driving in the final minutes, the sideline remained collected.
Defensive coordinator Wink Martindale was experiencing his first installment of the rivalry but is a seasoned veteran, having coached the previous two decades in the NFL. There was no fiery speech to his unit before it took the field on Ohio State’s final drive. Martindale remained stoic when talking with star defensive tackles Kenneth Grant and Mason Graham, who were both sitting on the bench getting a final breather. They had dominated the line of scrimmage through the first 59 minutes and were determined to go out and do the same on the final drive.
With the game in the balance, Ohio State’s fanbase was on edge. With 1:46 remaining and Michigan about to run a play on third-and-goal from the 4, ACDC’s “Hell’s Bells” blasted through the stadium’s speakers. The fans, though, could sense the game slipping away.
Now they have to wait another year for a shot at Michigan, while the Wolverines delivered their lone signature moment of the 2024 season.
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