Revisiting Ohio State-Michigan brawl after Wolverines 2024 flag-planting

Flag planting.Pepper spray. $1000 fines. A brand new Ohio bill.

Those were all the consequences of Michigan football's upset victory over Ohio State on Nov. 30, 2024, at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.

REQUIRED READING:College football Week 14 predictions for Top 25 schedule on rivalry weekend

Ohio State — who went on to win the 2024-25 College Football Playoff — entered the game with massive expectations, not only its national championship aspirations, but its hopes of avoiding a four-game losing streak to theWolverines.

Those expectations are even bigger a season later, with the Wolverines in line to potentially make the Big Ten championship and CFP with a win in "The Game." Ryan Day and Co. may have won a national championship last season, but all Ohio State coaches are ultimately judged by how they fare against "That Team Up North."

One year removed from that scene in Ohio Stadium, here's what to remember of the brawl that immediately followed "The Game" between Michigan and Ohio State:

Golden Egg, few axes and a bucket. See college football's longest running FBS rivalries

Ohio State-Michigan brawl, revisited

Michigan entered the 2024 version of "The Game" as a19.5-point underdogvs. theBuckeyes, against whom they had won three straight games.

What was initially viewed as a likely beatdown for Ohio State quickly turned into a defensive struggle, with the Wolverines persevering and winning 13-10 with walk-off 21-yard field goal from kicker Dominic Zvada.

Following the field goal, BuckeyescoachRyan Day and Michigan coach Sherrone Moore shook hands at midfield. Everything seemed like a calm, normal postgame — that is, until Wolverines players walked toward midfield to celebrate with multiple Michigan flags in hand.

After Wolverines players planted a flag at the midfield "O" at the 50-yard line, a scuffle between both teams broke out involving multiple players, lasting about 30 seconds:

An on-field view of the Michigan flag plant and the altercation with Ohio State that followed ⬇️pic.twitter.com/If9Ng7ecW0

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX)November 30, 2024

During the calm, a Michigan player carried the flag, parading it around the stadium, when Ohio State linebacker Jack Sawyer ripped it away to a loud cheer from the Buckeyes fans. This, naturally, led to more fights.

Officers from multiple agencies ― Ohio State University Police, University of Michigan Police and Franklin County Sheriff's Office ― were called upon again to break up the fights, with the second breaking up of fights involving the usage of pepper spray,according to the Columbus Dispatch:

"In videos and photos reviewed after the incident, a Michigan officer is seen directing pepper spray at OSU players, and then a Franklin County Sheriff's deputy sprayed into the air toward Michigan players. Players were told to get back."

Following the fight — which lasted about four minutes — no charges were pressed and the usage of pepper spray was reviewed. The Big Ten fined both schools$100,000 for the fight.

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Before the 2025 season, Moore said he had a discussion with his team and that the flags would not be planted in the future. The 2025 matchup takes place in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

"There'll be no more flag-planting,"Moore said at Big Ten Media Days. "There'll be no more grabbing the flag."

Day said he has had discussions with his team as well about how to handle such a situation in the future.

"We're just going to talk about how we handle ourselves on and off the field to make sure everybody is prepared,"Day said.

Curiously, Michigan and Ohio State weren't the only teams to have issues with flag-planting during Rivalry Week 2024. A similar situation broke out in Tallahassee, Florida, later that evening after Florida took down rival Florida State at Doak Campbell Stadium. Florida defensive end George Gumbs Jr. planted the Gators' flag on the Florida State logo at midfield, leading to a brawl.

FSU coach Mike Norvell grabbed the flag and tossed it on the ground after exchanging words with then-Florida coach Billy Napier. Fights also broke out after North Carolina-North Carolina State and at Arizona State and Arizona, for similar flag-planting incidents.

In December 2024, following last year's Michigan incident,Ohio introduced a bill to make flag-planting illegalat Ohio State's stadium. Though it will be another year before "The Game" returns to Columbus, it will be interesting to see how Ohio State — and Michigan — players react should the Buckeyes win.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Ohio State-Michigan football flag planting brawl, revisited

byVaclav Urich

in

November 29, 2025

Revisiting Ohio State-Michigan brawl after Wolverines 2024 flag-planting

Flag planting.Pepper spray. $1000 fines. A brand new Ohio bill. Those were all the consequences of Michigan foot...

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Munetaka Murakami MLB landing spots: Where will 'Japanese Babe Ruth' sign?

Munetaka Murakamiis one of the more polarizing players available this winter, a record-setting Japanese power hitter set to cross the Pacific facing questions about his ability to translate his gaudy numbers toMajor League Baseball.

Posted by the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, Murakami has until Dec. 22 to agree to terms with an MLB team.

The 25-year-old has been one of Japan'smost prolific hitterssince debuting as a teenager in 2018. His best year was 2022 when he hit 56 home runs with 134 RBIs, a .318 average and a 1.168 OPS. Murakami won his second Central League MVP award that season, going back-to-back after picking up the hardware – and a Japan Series title – in 2021.

His 56 home runs in 2022 remains the NPB record for a Japanese-born player, surpassing Sadaharu Oh's previous record of 55 set in 1964. Murakami has primarily played third base, but the left-handed hitter has 266 NPB games at first base and could be used at both corners in addition to designated hitter in MLB.

Murakami played only 69 games in 2025, but his 29.5% strikeout rate in 2024 would have ranked among the 10 worst in MLB, striking out 180 times in 610 plate appearances.

Here are four potential suitors for Murakami:

Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement

New York Yankees

There are question marks around the infield for the Yankees, who surely would love to upgrade over Ryan McMahon at third base. You probably don't want Murakami at the hot corner every day, but he wouldn't struggle for at-bats and could fit into a nice rotation with McMahon and Ben Rice at first base.

A nine-figure deal for Murakami would look pretty bad in the worst-case scenario, but the Yankees can afford to take the risk on a player who could also turn out to be one of the most prolific power hitters in the game in a best-case scenario.

Chicago Cubs

Matt Shaw and Moises Ballesteros may become good players but Chicago needs to seize on this window in the NL Central and add a high-upside power hitter.

The Cubs have had recent success with Japanese imports Seiya Suzuki and Shota Imanaga, meaning they may be less gun-shy on Murakami than other suitors. And Murakami may end up signing a deal similar to the five-year, $85 million contract the Cubs signed Suzuki to before the 2022 season.

San Francisco Giants

Buster Posey is doing something or other in San Francisco and bringing in another slugging-type would certainly take some of the pressure off Rafael Devers and Willy Adames - who struggled in his first year with the Giants but became the club's first 30-homer man since Barry Bonds.

Perhaps new manager Tony Vitello could have.Murakami and Devers split time at first base and DH? The Giants will probably continue to fail landing the most elite free agents, but Murakami is the tier that San Francisco needs to be targeting after a four-year postseason drought.

New York Mets

This is where Murakami's Dec. 22 posting deadline makes things interesting. Will the Mets have a resolution on Pete Alonso before Christmas? If he leaves, how will the club replace the Polar Bear-sized hole in the lineup?

David Stearns and Co. are making run prevention a priority this winter, but DH looks to be a huge need - with or without Alonso - and Murakami could slot in there.

How the Mets rate Mark Vientos also figures into the equation, with the 25-year-old coming off a disappointing season.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Munetaka Murakami MLB landing spots, best fits as rumors swirl

byVaclav Urich

in

November 29, 2025

Munetaka Murakami MLB landing spots: Where will 'Japanese Babe Ruth' sign?

Munetaka Murakamiis one of the more polarizing players available this winter, a record-setting Japanese power hitter set ...

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An injured star QB could play soon. Does that mean it's worth it?

The game's outcome had effectively been determined when star Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels trotted out for another possession with 12 minutes remaining on Nov. 2.

Down 31 points to Seattle, Washington chose to keep Daniels, last season's NFL offensive rookie of the year and the franchise's cornerstone, in the game rather than sit him to avoid the risk of injury. Ten plays later, Daniels fell awkwardly on the elbow of his left, nonthrowing arm, dislocating it.

The drumbeat began as soon as Daniels started writhing on the turf. Sure, he was healthy. But why was he still in the game?

Less than a month later, the Commanders' season now appears to be a lost cause. With their 3-8 record and less than a 1% chance of making the playoffs, accordingto one analysis, there's a new question in Washington. Though Daniels could be healthy enough to return by early December, does that mean the team should let him take the field and again risk injury?

"You're just got to try to do what's best for the player," Commanders coach Dan Quinn said this week. "We know what we're looking to do and how we want to do it, but by no means are we careless about that. It's important not just for Jayden, but important for our entire team."

What is best, in Quinn's view, is that Daniels continues to play, to benefit his long-term improvement. As Quinn said on Wednesday: "We would not put him out there if he's not able to fully express who he is as a player."

Daniels is one of the NFL's most exciting young players, but not all Washington fans want to see him play again in these circumstances.

"We know what Jayden can do. We saw it last year and we've even seen it in games this year against the Chargers. He looked fantastic," said Mark Manjardi, a lifelong fan of the franchise who was so dedicated he flew to Spain to watch the team face Miami in November, in a game Daniels missed.

"I just think the the worst-case scenario far, far, far outweighs the best-case scenario, which is, 'Oh, he looks like his old self again,' and we still have no chance of doing anything this year anyway. … Even if Jayden wants to play, which she obviously does, think long term. Think next year. This is a lost season. It sucks but it is what it is."

The Commanders aren't the only team who could, theoretically, place their franchise star in proverbial bubble wrap and tank the rest of the season with the aim of earning a better draft pick.

The practice is common late in NBA seasons by teams already far from playoff consideration. Though NBA teams do not explicitly say so, team executives, agents and players have long shared their belief that shelving a promising player for the remainder of a season often has more to do with improving a team's odds of landing a high draft pick than it does with the severity of an injury.

NFL teams this season, however, seem to be deferring to players. Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow suffered a turf toe injury in Week 2 and missed the next nine weeks as his team cratered to a 3-8 record, with commentatorsmaking their casefor why neither the Bengals, nor Burrow, were best-served by continuing to play him. Yet Burrow said returning on Thanksgiving would be meaningful to him.

"He's a football player. He wants to play football," Bengals coachZac Taylor said earlier this week. "We want to win football games. That will lead into that decision."

It's safe to say the Bengals were glad they made the decision to start Burrow, who threw two touchdowns in Thursday's 32-14 win against Baltimore.

Angst around the risk of Daniels hurting himself again has grown because his elbow dislocation was his third injury this season, after he previously missed three games for a sprained knee and tweaked hamstring.

Matthew Berry, a fantasy football expert for NBC Sports,posted on X,"begging my beloved Commanders. This is not our year. We should not risk further injury to our franchise QB in a lost year. He shouldn't have been playing at the end of a blow-out loss and he shouldn't play again this season. We are 3-8."

Daniels isn't wired that way, said Herm Edwards, the former NFL coach who also briefly coached Daniels in college at Arizona State.

"You're going to have to tie him down for him not to play," Edwards told aD.C. radio show recently."You want a guy like that. If he would sit there and say, 'Well, I'm done. We're 3-8 now' — that ain't who he is."

But, Edwards was pressed by a radio host:ShouldDaniels play when the playoff upside is so remote?

"The season is now, and he got to play now. Are you kidding me?" Edwards said. "That's what they do. Football players play football. They don't do anything else. That's their job. He's not going to say, 'Hey man, you know' — he don't care. He wants to play, he wants to compete."

Daniels confirmed that sentiment whentelling reportersTuesday, "If I'm healthy and ready to go, I want to be out there."

Washington ranks in the league's bottom half in sacks allowed. Its next two opponents, meanwhile — Denver and Minnesota — are known for harassing defenses to a degree that borders on maniacal. Denver, which faces Washington on Sunday, has 49 sacks, seven more than the league's second-place team. The Vikings, who await on Dec. 7, blitz more often than anyone.

Still, Daniels could soon be suiting up again anyway. If, or when, that happens, some fans will be watching through their fingers.

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What else we're watching for in Week 13

49ers (8-4) at Browns (3-8):Cleveland defensive end Myles Garrett is threatening to break the NFL's single-season sack record of 22.5, with 18 sacks in just 11 games. Those 18 sacks are more than Carolina, San Francisco and Cincinnati have recorded as teams this season.

Jaguars (7-4) at Titans (1-10):Tennessee's home losing streak currently sits at 10 games. Jacksonville is 5-1 against the Titans since 2022. If the No. 1 pick and Titans quarterback throws for multiple touchdowns Sunday, it would be the first instance of his career.

Texans (6-5) at Colts (8-3):The league's No. 1 scoring offense (Colts, 31.0 points per game) faces the No. 2 scoring defense (Texans, 16.6 points per game). The Colts are 6-0 at home.

Saints (2-9) at Dolphins (4-7):Tua Tagovailoa's 13 interceptions are one away from tying his career high. Miami's last two opponents have been held to 13 points each.

Falcons (4-7) at Jets (2-9):New York is the first team in NFL history with one or fewer turnovers through 11 games in a season since turnovers were first tracked in 1933. Kirk Cousins is 8-8 as a Falcons starter since last season.

Cardinals (3-8) at Buccaneers (6-5):Tampa's final six games are against teams that do not currently have a winning record. Cardinals tight end Trey McBride's 301 career receptions are tied with Jimmy Graham for the most by a tight in their first four seasons in NFL history, per NBC Sports research.

Rams (9-2) at Panthers (6-6):The Rams own the best outright record in the NFC. Carolina has been outscored by 53 points in the aggregate, which is the worst mark by a .500-or-better team through 12 games since the 2019 Raiders, per NBC Sports research.

Vikings (4-7) at Seahawks (8-3):Seattle wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba has a league-leading 1,313 receiving yards, which is only 290 yards fewer than the entire Jets roster. Minnesota's three-game losing streak is one shy of its longest under coach Kevin O'Connell.

Bills (7-4) at Steelers (6-5):Josh Allen is 4-1 in his career against the Steelers. Buffalo, however, has failed to score 20 or more points in all three of its road losses.

Raiders (2-9) at Chargers (7-4):Raiders coach Pete Carroll has never lost six straight games in his career, but his current team is riding a five-game losing streak.

Broncos (9-2) at Commanders (3-8):Denver QB Bo Nix has five game-winning drives this season, tied with Chicago's Caleb Williams for most in the league. Denver has won eight straight games while Washington has lost six consecutive.

Giants (2-10) at Patriots (10-2) Monday:When the Giants lost last week in Detroit, it was their fifth time this season blowing a double-digit lead on the road, the most in a single season in NFL history.

byVaclav Urich

in

November 29, 2025

An injured star QB could play soon. Does that mean it's worth it?

The game's outcome had effectively been determined when star Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels trotted out for another p...

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Israeli fire kills 2 Palestinian children in the latest test of Gaza ceasefire

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli fire killed two Palestinian children in the southern Gaza Strip on Saturday, a hospital reported, marking the latest deaths of Palestinians as a shaky ceasefire with Hamas held.

The two brothers, aged 11 and 8, died when an Israeli drone struck close to a school sheltering displaced people in the town of Beni Suhaila, according to staff at Nasser Hospital, which received the bodies. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the killings.

At least 352 Palestinians have been killed across the territory since the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect on Oct. 10, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. The ministry, part of a Hamas-run government, does not differentiate between civilians and combatants, though it is staffed by medical professionals and maintains detailed records viewed as generally reliable by the international community.

Israel says the strikes are aimed at militants violating the truce, but the deaths have increasingly tested the fragile ceasefire. Both Israel and Hamas have accused the other of violating the deal.

Hamas once again called mediators on Saturday to pressure Israel to stop what it called ceasefire violations in Gaza following the killing of the two children.

Israeli forces have also pushed forward on a number of other fronts in recent weeks.

Syrian officials saidIsraeli forces raided a Syrian villageon Friday and opened fire when they were confronted by residents, killing at least 13 people. Israel said it conducted the operation to apprehend suspects of a militant group planning attacks in Israel, and that the militant opened fired at troops, injuring six.

Israel also has escalated strikes in Lebanon, saying it was targeting Hezbollah sites as the militant group attempted to rearm.

In the occupied West Bank, Israeli soldiers wereaccused by Palestinians of executing two Palestinian menon Thursday after footage aired by two Arab TV stations showed troops shooting the men after they appear to surrender. The Israeli military said it was investigating.

Israeli settler violence has also continued to shoot up in the West Bank. On Saturday the Palestinian Red Crescent reported that 10 Palestinians were injured from beatings and live ammunition during settler attacks in the Khallet al-Louza village, close to Bethlehem.

At the same time, a U.S. blueprint outlining the future of Gaza, which has been devastated by two years of war,is still in its early stages.The plan to secure and govern the territory authorizes an international stabilization force to provide security, approves a transitional authority to be overseen by U.S. President Donald Trump, andenvisions a possible future pathto an independent Palestinian state.

Magdy reported from Cairo.

Find more of AP's Israel-Hamas coverage athttps://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war

byVaclav Urich

in

November 29, 2025

Israeli fire kills 2 Palestinian children in the latest test of Gaza ceasefire

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli fire killed two Palestinian children in the southern Gaza Strip on Saturday, a h...

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A Christmas tree in Mexico carries the faces of loved ones who never came home

MEXICO CITY (AP) — It's been 10 years since Verónica Rosas set up a Christmas tree. The sorrow brought on bythe disappearanceof her son in 2015 has been too overwhelming.

Before the 16-year-old vanished in a Mexico City suburb, mother and son yearned for the winter season. They loved buying natural Christmas trees. To brighten them up, they hung Diego's favorite decorations: figurines of Mickey and Minnie Mouse.

"It's been too hard and I have not been able to set up a tree," said Rosas, who recently met with othergrieving relativesto make Christmas ornaments in remembrance ofmissing lovedones.

The gathering was hosted by the Catholic Diocese ofEcatepec, near the capital, where residents endure robbery,femicideand other crimes.

Rosas and a dozen more families showed up carrying pictures of their relatives. For a few hours, they pasted the images onto old CDs and circles of cardboard, and sprinkled them with glitter.

A priest celebrated Mass and blessed their work. Afterward, the ornaments were hung from a "tree of hope" inside the cathedral, where they will remain untilFeb. 2.

"We want to draw attention to the crisis that we're living," said Rosas, who founded an organization providing support for Mexicans sharing her pain. "It's a symbolic gesture that keeps what's happening in plain sight."

The mark of a disappearance

Official figures indicate that more than 133,000 people have disappeared in Mexico since 1952. Human trafficking, kidnapping,acts of retaliationand forced recruitment bycartel membersare among the causes.

The phenomenon has affectedLatin Americafor decades. In each country,many mothers, sons and sisters have made life-altering choices to search for their relatives — often because authoritiesfail to actor deliver answers.

"This has been a Way of the Cross," said Marisol Rizo, referencing the biblical account of Jesus carrying the cross before his crucifixion. She has searched for her mother since 2012. "Thirteen years have passed and we can't make authorities do their jobs."

She said her children were little when her mother vanished, and juggling motherhood while searching for her took a toll.

"My mom always told me to take care of them," she said. "But as I searched for her, I forgot about my children."

Rizo believes her father was responsible for her mother's disappearance in a country where at least 10 women or girlsare killedbecause of their gender every day. He has denied any involvement.

Like numerous other relatives of the disappeared, Rizo navigates the winter season with sorrow rather than joy. She still remembers how, years ago, she spent days round Christmas posting flyers on the streets.

It's a common practice among people with disappeared relatives in Mexico. Each poster contains contact information, as well as the photo, name, distinguishing features and the date a person went missing.

"On Dec. 24, I used to cry a lot," Rizo said. "I could see happy people pouring out of shopping centers while I was posting flyers, dragging my sorrow."

Rizo's daughter, now 17, joined her in crafting round ornaments at the Ecatepec cathedral. Yet the memories sparked by seeing photos of her vanished mother felt almost unbearable.

"These spheres represent a deep sadness to me," Rizo said. "This is not the place where I would have wished to see a picture of my mom."

A long wait for compassion

In some cases, relatives of the disappeared have been dismayed by lack of support from religious leaders.

Catholic mothers like Rosas, overwhelmed with fear, sought comfort at their local parishes after their children vanished. But long-trusted priests sometimes rebuffed them.

"I remember when I arrived in a church five years ago, requesting a Mass for my daughter, and I was told 'We don't celebrate Mass for disappeared people,'" said Jaqueline Palmeros, who recently found her child's remains in Mexico City.

"But I believe that the Church, which closed its doors to us for a long time, is an alternative path to access truth, justice, memory and repair," she added.

During a recent encounter with relatives of the disappeared, Bishop Javier Acero asked for forgiveness. Representing Mexico City's archdiocese, he has publicly supported victims of disappearances and holds a monthly meeting with relatives in need of spiritual support.

"As church leaders, we recognize that at times we have not acted as we should — out of fear or out of not knowing how," Acero said. "If we failed to receive you with the care you needed, if we did not pray as you asked us to, please forgive us."

A ministry of presence

Rosas attended the meeting alongside members of an ecumenical group that has offered spiritual shelter for years. Known as "the church circle," it brings together nuns, an Anglican priest and several other pastors from different denominations.

Holding the mothers' hands, the faith leaders routinely celebrate Mass in public squares ahead of protests demanding answers from the government. They dress up in gloves and rubber boots to dig up pits where human remains may be. All year round, they post flyers of missing sons and daughters throughout Mexico's streets.

The Rev. Luis Alberto Sánchez is among them. With open arms, he welcomed relatives at the Ecatepec cathedral. There they shared breakfast and he sprayed lacquer on the newly made ornaments.

"We can't remain silent," said Sánchez, whose own brother was kidnapped and killed. "The voice of the disappeared, of those who have perished, needs to resound and say 'no more.'"

Rosas treasures his blessings and regards all members of the church circle as friends. She, too, has spent mournful Christmases searching for Diego, and they have supported her the whole time.

"I wish for people belonging to all faith communities to congregate and replicate our model everywhere," she said. "In that way, all families could get this constant presence of the church and the hope that we carry within our hearts."

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP'scollaborationwith The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

byVaclav Urich

in

November 29, 2025

A Christmas tree in Mexico carries the faces of loved ones who never came home

MEXICO CITY (AP) — It's been 10 years since Verónica Rosas set up a Christmas tree. The sorrow brought on bythe disap...

Read More