Does flag planting have a place in college football?

Michigan’s Flag Planting Sparks Chaos and Controversy in College Football

As the Michigan Wolverines hoisted their Block M flag and marched to midfield at Ohio Stadium following their dramatic 13-10 victory over archrival Ohio State on November 30, they likely had no idea they were about to ignite a firestorm that would dominate college football headlines for weeks.

In the heart of the celebration, a group of Michigan players waved the flag triumphantly before symbolically planting it at the 50-yard line. It was a bold statement, marking their fourth consecutive win over the Buckeyes and staking their claim on enemy territory. But if you’ve been paying attention, this wasn’t exactly a shocking move. Michigan had done the same thing in 2022 after a win in Columbus, a moment so cherished by then-coach Jim Harbaugh that the flag itself was enshrined in the team museum at Schembechler Hall.

“I love it, love seeing that,” said current Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore, who was the offensive coordinator at the time. “I think about that game every day, think about every moment. When you walk in the building, you see it as soon as you walk in. Obviously, you see all the things about the rivalry and what it is, and you think about that every day. It’s constantly on my mind.”

But this year, the aftermath was anything but routine. What followed was a five-minute brawl involving players and coaches from both teams, police intervention with pepper spray, and even a police officer requiring medical attention. The chaos was a stark contrast to the relatively tame reactions seen in 2022.

Flag Planting: A Growing Trend or a Problem?

Michigan’s flag-planting antics weren’t an isolated incident during rivalry week. Four other teams—South Carolina (at Clemson), NC State (at North Carolina), Florida (at Florida State), and Arizona State (at Arizona)—also planted their flags on rival fields after road victories. The trend has sparked heated debates across the college football world, with opinions ranging from enthusiastic support to outright condemnation.

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian, for one, wasn’t about to let his team join the fray. After the Longhorns defeated Texas A&M in their first meeting since 2011, Sarkisian quickly intervened to prevent his players from planting their flag at Kyle Field.

“I just watched Ohio State and Michigan get into a full-fledged brawl in my hotel room today, and I just didn’t think it was right,” Sarkisian said. “Rivalries are great, but there’s a way to win with class. And I just didn’t think that’s the right thing to do. We shouldn’t be on their logo.”

Why Does Flag Planting Hit So Hard?

To understand why flag planting stirs such strong emotions, you have to look at the tribal nature of college football. Rivalries in this sport go beyond the field—they’re about identity, pride, and regional loyalty. Dr. Francesco Dandekar, associate director for sports psychiatry at Stanford University, explained it best: “In some ways [a rivalry] kind of morphs into an identity thing where part of being a member of one team is a desire to beat a specific team or have distaste for that team.”

For Ohio State players, Michigan’s celebration wasn’t just a victory lap—it was a direct challenge to their identity. Defensive end Jack Sawyer summed up the sentiment perfectly when he was caught on video shouting, “They’re not f—ing planting the flag on our field again, bro.”

A History of Flag Planting

Flag planting isn’t new to college football. The tradition dates back at least 20 years, with notable examples like Michigan State’s celebration after upsetting Notre Dame in 2005 and Baker Mayfield’s infamous Oklahoma flag plant at Ohio Stadium in 2017. Mayfield’s act drew widespread criticism and even led to an apology, but it also cemented his place as the unofficial face of flag-planting celebrations.

“College football is meant to have rivalries,” Mayfield said recently. “That’s like the Big 12 banning the ‘horns down’ signal. Just let the boys play.”

What’s Next for College Football?

The fallout from Michigan’s flag-planting celebration has already led to consequences. Both Michigan and Ohio State were fined $100,000 by the Big Ten, though Alabama coach Nick Saban dismissed the penalty as trivial, saying, “I think to fine these schools $100K is worrying about mouse manure when you’re up to your ears in elephant s—.”

Meanwhile, Ohio state Rep. Josh Williams has taken things a step further, introducing a bill that would make flag planting at Ohio Stadium a fifth-degree felony. Whether this proposal gains traction or fizzles out remains to be seen, but it underscores the intensity of the debate.

As the College Football Playoff brings high-stakes games to campus stadiums for the first time, the question looms: Will we see more flag-planting drama, or will cooler heads prevail? For now, the debate rages on, and college football fans wouldn’t have it any other way.