Just like the last time the in-state rivals met at the Big House, a fight took place between Michigan and Michigan State players at the end of the game between the Wolverines and Spartans on Saturday night. In 2022, it took place in the tunnel. This time, the opponents got into it on the field as the clock ticked to 00:00 following the final kneel-down by the Wolverines in their 24-17 win.
Michigan hoisted the Paul Bunyan Trophy after a scuffle with Michigan State pic.twitter.com/LvrTR0IDkq
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) October 27, 2024
Michigan tight end Colston Loveland and Michigan State's Anthony Jones began the fight between the two teams. Jones pushed Loveland's facemask before the Michigan tight end proceeded to headbutt Jones, which turned into the Michigan State defensive end grabbing Loveland by the helmet and pulling him down before a bunch of other players joined in.
As the fight continued, Michigan star running back Kalel Mullings was seen stomping on a Michigan State player inside a big circle of Wolverines.
Im curious what is happening on the ground where Mullings is at? Is there a coach or player from MSU getting curb stomped? pic.twitter.com/YyWtq7mEJI
— Southeast Michigan Podcast (@SEMIPOD_) October 27, 2024
"Little bro stay doing little bro things," Loveland told Big Ten Network immediately after the game and scuffle. "MSU, the little bro. They can do whatever they want. We knew it was going to get chippy. Everything within the confines of the game, we do right, and then after the game, they want to get busy, we'll get busy."
"Lil bro stay doing lil bro things."
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 27, 2024
Colston Loveland chimes in on the exchange after the final whistle between Michigan and Michigan State pic.twitter.com/nUbXJIqCHT
Loveland addressed those comments and the fight during his postgame press conference after taking some time to calm down.
"I know how much this rivalry means to everyone, You know it always gets chippy but I kind of got carried away there at the end," Loveland said during his postgame press conference. "We were just talking back and forth. Kind of did some shoving and stuff but that's how the rivalry gets. It's all just heat of the moment coming off two losses, really needed this one, so just kind of got excited. We respect every opponent we play, they are a great football team obviously, it came down to the wire."
Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore was disappointed that his team’s win ended with a fight.
"I told the team it’s unacceptable, regardless of what happened and how it started," Moore said after the game. "There’s guys chirping at us and us responding. The guy headbutted Colston at the end, and our job is to represent this university, not to respond to that, is to let the refs handle that. So something that we’ll handle internally and make sure we take care of. But that’s not Michigan football. That’s not who we are."
