Punches thrown in Michigan-Michigan State sideline-clearing mess

The Michigan-Michigan State rivalry game ended with punches thrown and the sidelines clearing during the final seconds of the fourth quarter Saturday.

Everything started when quarterback Davis Warren took a knee with 28 seconds remaining and the Wolverines leading by a touchdown, sealing their third consecutive win in the Big Ten series.

Then, Michigan State defensive end Anthony Jones shoved Michigan tight end Colston Loveland in the face away from the play, Loveland headbutted him in return and then Jones responded by placing both hands on Loveland’s helmet and pulling his head down. 

That prompted the Wolverines and Spartans still on the field for the final play of Michigan’s 24-17 victory to join the scuffle.

And before the final seconds had ticked away, both sidelines emptied, too, and led to additional shoving and punches appearing to get thrown.

“Lil bro stay doing little bro things,” Loveland, a junior who caught six passes for 67 yards and two touchdowns, told Big Ten Network postgame. “So MSU is 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, if they want to get busy, we’ll get busy.”

Later, though, he described it as “heat-of-the-moment type stuff,” while Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore told reporters that it was “unacceptable,” according to the Associated Press.

Michigan head coach Jonathan Smith added that “you don’t love finishing that kind of way,” though it’s not the first time tempers have flared in the rivalry.

Two years ago, seven Michigan State players faced charges following a postgame tunnel fight where Michigan defensive backs Gemon Green and Ja’Den McBurrows were attacked.

In addition to the charges and suspensions for the Spartans players, Michigan State was also fined a record $100,000 for what transpired following Michigan’s win, which ended a two-year run of victories for the Spartans in the rivalry.

This year, the scuffle followed a game where Loveland’s touchdown catch — and an ensuing two-point conversation — gave the Wolverines a two-touchdown lead early in the fourth quarter, though Michigan State pulled within seven when Aidan Chiles and Nick Marsh connected with just over six minutes remaining.

The Spartans drove inside the Michigan 20-yard line and had a chance to tie inside the final two minutes, but they turned it over on downs after an incomplete pass on fourth down.