They say tempers always run hotter in rivalry games.
That was the case Saturday as Michigan and Ohio State players scuffled for several minutes following the Wolverines’ 13-10 upset of the No. 2 Buckeyes.
Shortly after the Wolverines had put the finishing touches on their fourth straight win over OSU when a group of players gathered at midfield to plant a “Block M” flag in the middle of the “O.”
That marks the second straight win in Columbus that was followed by Michigan players planting the flag, and the Buckeyes quickly took exception, with a large skirmish breaking out for several minutes.
Things escalated a second time as a Michigan player carried the flag into a group of OSU players and personnel, leading to one Buckeye snatching the flag in anger.
It appears punches were thrown and some social media reports suggest some players may have been pepper sprayed by police during the incident.
It was an ugly end to an ugly game, albeit ugly in a different way. Michigan’s Dominic Zvada hit a 21-yard field goal with under a minute to play, capping a nearly 5:30 drive to take the lead.
Zvada’s field goal was the only points of the second half for either team. The teams headed to halftime tied 10-10 after the Buckeyes scored late in the second quarter.
Michigan’s only touchdown of the game came from Kalel Mullings from a yard short, two plays after picked off Will Howard and returned it to the 2-yard-line. Mullings finished with 116 yards on 32 carries.
Howard threw a pair of interceptions, as did Michigan starter Davis Warren. Each team turned the ball over on downs once, while OSU missed a pair of field goals.
The Wolverines finish the regular season 7-5, while the Buckeyes are at 10-2, in need of help from Penn State and Indiana later Saturday in order to reach next week’s Big Ten Championship Game.
Saturday's postgame skirmish was the second the Wolverines were involved in this season -- with the other coming after a close win over Michigan State -- and one of several high-profile dust-ups with the likes of OSU, MSU and Pen State in recent years.