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'No more flag planting' for Michigan, but introducing a bill to make it illegal, well, 'that's Ohio for you'

clayton-sayfieby: Clayton Sayfie07/25/25CSayf23
NCAA Football: Michigan at Ohio State
Nov 30, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Michigan Wolverines defensive end Derrick Moore (8) attempts to plant the flag on the Ohio State Buckeyes logo as Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end Jack Sawyer (33) rips the flag down after the game at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images

LAS VEGAS — Ohio State didn’t beat Michigan in the 60 minutes of game time Nov. 30, 2024 — losing 13-10 on its home field — and it turned to violence after the game. The Buckeyes were upset mostly that they lost as 19.5-point favorites over a team that was 6-5 entering the game but also because Michigan was celebrating with its ‘M’ flag on the field at Ohio Stadium.

Ohio State started a scuffle, which included pushing and shoving between the two teams, after Michigan marched the flag around the field and planted it at the 50-yard line.

Weeks later, state of Ohio representative Josh Williams introduced a bill that would make it a felony offense to plant a flag in the center of Ohio Stadium.

On3 went viral for its tweet with a graphic that showed Michigan EDGE Derrick Moore with the flag and text that read ‘FELONY’ underneath.

“I was one of the guys that was involved in it,” Moore, now a senior, said at 2025 Big Ten Media Days in Las Vegas. “A lot of people think I was trying to actually plant the flag. I wasn’t trying to plant the flag. I was actually trying to just run around the field with the flag, and as I ran around with the flag, I got pushed and things like that. So, ended up talking trash. Next thing, the flag ended up coming out of my hand, and a whole scuffle turned out.”

Ohio State captain and linebacker Jack Sawyer — who was seen crying on the field after the game — was one of the instigators. He was beside himself when reality hit that he’d end his Buckeye career with zero (0) wins over Michigan, and thus no coveted pairs of gold pants.

“They’re not f—ing planting the flag on our field again, bro,” Sawyer was caught on video saying. “F— that s—, man. F— these guys.”

Michigan did win the game. Michigan did plant the flag. There was nothing Sawyer could do about it.

Derrick Moore has since reflected on the incident.

“Looking back on that, I probably got like two views on it,” he said. “I feel like I could’ve done a better job as a leader of not letting that get out like that, pretty much just celebrating with my teammates and things like that. But at the same time, I feel like that right there is why people come to Michigan or Ohio State, because of the rivalry and atmosphere like that. That right there is gonna be a good lead going into this year.”

As for the bill that would make flag planting (which isn’t really planting since Ohio Stadium features artificial turf) illegal, Moore laughed it off.

“It’s actually crazy, for like a whole month straight, they had a picture of me with the flag on the field, and they pretty much just said like ‘criminal’ or something like that under the picture,” Moore said. “I’m like, bro, wow. I’m a criminal now just because I tried to run around with a flag or plant a flag. I feel like that’s actually crazy.”

The only explanation Moore could give: “All I gotta say, man, is hey, that’s Ohio for you. That’s Ohio for you — that’s all I can say.”

Sherrone Moore comments on flag celebrations

Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore said last December that the Wolverines will prominently display the flag from the Ohio State game in its museum in the lobby of Schembechler Hall.

At the same time, he said he’s told his players not to celebrate with it after games, and he reiterated that stance at media days.

“We definitely addressed it,” the Michigan coach noted. “There will be no more flag planting. There will be no more grabbing the flag. 

“We talked about our new tradition and what we do when we win a game is: go meet the band, go sing our victors and stay over there until the other team departs and that’s how we’ll operate. Shake hands after the game, show sportsmanship, be cordial.

“A lot of guys in college football know each other. All of these guys are kids, at the end of the day. They’re 17- to 22-year-old kids, and most of them are friends. A lot of them talk before the game. So, let them have that. But then as a team, go be together as a team and leave as a team.”

But most importantly, win the game — and Michigan has done a heck of a job doing that against the Buckeyes this decade, 4-0.

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