(WWJ) — The latest fiery chapter in the Michigan-Michigan State football rivalry Saturday night at the Big House saw a hard-fought contest end with more postgame fireworks.
As the clock wound down on Michigan’s 24-17 win over the Spartans — which saw jawing and animosity throughout — things boiled over when Wolverines tight end Colston Loveland and MSU defensive end Anthony Jones began pushing and shoving after the final kneel down.
Footage from the Big Ten Network broadcast shows Loveland “headbutt” — or at least put his facemask to Jones’ helmet — before Jones grabs him by the head and begins wrestling.
A majority of the Michigan bench then rushed onto the field, leading to a skirmish at midfield that has been highly scrutinized by social media users. Some have pointed out that it appears a Michigan player may have stomped or kicked someone from the MSU program.
MSU Athletic Director Alan Haller said he contacted Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti about the incident and requested the conference to investigate the altercation.
Big Ten officials on Tuesday afternoon announced they had reviewed footage of the incident and determined the video review was "inconclusive as to whether individual discipline was appropriate." The conferences released the following statement:
"The Big Ten Conference thoroughly reviewed video of the incident that occurred at the conclusion of Saturday's Michigan-Michigan State football game. Amidst the confrontation, student-athletes from both teams were on the ground and surrounded by so many individuals that both players were completely obscured from view. The video review was inconclusive as to whether individual discipline was appropriate for anyone in the immediate vicinity of the two players who were on the ground. While the confrontation was a disappointing conclusion to the contest, the Conference appreciates the efforts made by staff from both teams, security personnel, and game officials to rapidly de-escalate the incident, as well as the responses by both head coaches. The Big Ten discussed the situation with both institutions and determined that no further action will be taken."
Haller had said he wanted Michigan to be “held to the same standard” as MSU following the 2022 tunnel fight, though he noted he doesn’t believe this situation should be investigated criminally.
Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit filed criminal charges against seven MSU players following their involvement in that fight and eight total were suspended.
First-year Michigan coach Sherrone Moore said on WWJ’s Inside Michigan Football show Monday night that the program will handle the situation “internally,” noting some players have already apologized and “know what they did was wrong.”
“Being there, seeing it, it was just a lot of jawing, a lot of pushing, shoving, pulling each other... something that's not called for. We don’t represent Michigan like that, we don’t represent the ‘block M,’ the winged helmet. We’ll definitely address that,” Moore told show host Jon Jansen, a former Wolverine and current 97.1 The Ticket host.
After looking at some of the footage, Moore said the “talking and chipping” that was going on throughout the game boiled over when Jones pulled down on Loveland’s helmet.
“That was the main thing, and then the film cut off after that,” Moore said.
For new Michigan State coach Jonathan Smith, a former player and coach at Oregon State, that was his first taste of the rivalry. During his Monday press conference, he said “we will not forget Saturday night, I promise you that, but we’re moving forward.”
“And so I can see. You hear about the former players and how much this thing means. After experiencing this thing one time, this thing is different. And that crystallized for me on Saturday,” Smith said.
University of Michigan police officials said Monday 55 people were removed from the Big House Saturday night, 34 of them for disorderly conduct. Officials said two fans were removed for assault, five fans were removed for fighting, and seven were removed for intoxication.
The Wolverines return to action Saturday, hosting No. 1 Oregon at 3:30 p.m. Pregame coverage begins at 12:30 p.m. on WWJ.