By Audrey Elwood, Arts & Entertainment Editor
Rivalry week is always a heated one in college football, but when a fight broke out, The Ohio State University (OSU) and the University of Michigan took their rivalry to a new level.
The Michigan and OSU rivalry is one of the most contentious games in college football. Michigan and OSU are both in the top three of teams with the most national conference wins in the history of college football. The blue and scarlet rivalry is one of longest standing in college football. Their first face-off was in 1897, and they have since faced each other 120 times. The rivalry has since been dubbed “The Game” because of its importance within college football.
Before the match, OSU was No. 2 in the national standing, with Michigan going unranked despite being the defending national champions. OSU fell to No. 7 in the rankings after their loss to the Wolverines.
In one of the most contentious college football rivalries, The Ohio State University versus University of Michigan matchup this past Sunday was the fourth loss in a row for the Buckeyes.
Coming into the game, Ohio State had a 21-point spread on Michigan, the biggest favorite in the rivalry since 1978. As the statistical favorites, it was expected that the Buckeyes would blow the Wolverines out of the water.
The first half of the game presented very little action with both teams scoring only 10 points each. For most of the second half of the game, no points were scored. That was, until the last 45 seconds of the fourth quarter when Michigan made big advances into the Buckeyes’ half.
Michigan running back Kalel Mullings got the Wolverines a first down at OSU’s 17-yard line, inching them closer to a touchdown to secure the win. Following the play, the Buckeyes had an illegal substitution, bringing the Wolverines just five yards away from the endzone. The Wolverines weren’t able to get the ball into the endzone by running it, so the fourth down brought out kicker Dominic Zvada to bring the Wolverines the victory.
Michigan left the field with a 13-10 win, but not until some altercations took place.
After the game ended, Michigan defensive end Derrick Moore planted a Michigan flag in the middle of the O at center field. With a rivalry like the one OSU and Michigan have, an altercation began and quickly escalated.
Numerous players on both teams broke into a fight, throwing insults at one another. The fight was broken up by coaches as well as law enforcement, who pepper sprayed some players. Both teams have received $100,000 fines for the fight that took place.
After the Buckeyes lost to the Wolverines last year, it knocked them out of the playoffs and thus their chance at a Big Ten championship title and the national championship. This year’s loss to Michigan knocked them out of contention for the Big Ten championship, but with the new 12-team playoffs implemented this season, the Buckeyes still have a chance at the national title.