Near the end of the Michigan football win over rival Michigan State, both teams got into a scuffle as time was expiring. Colston Loveland explained what happened as it started between him and MSU edge rusher Anthony Jones as the Wolverines were coming out of victory formation, and Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore said after the game that his team would be held to account.
But the Spartan fan base and media have essentially Zaprudered the postgame video and pointed fingers claiming levels of culpability for the Wolverine contingent. MSU AD Alan Haller shared on Monday that they would be seeking punishment from the Big Ten as to Michigan’s side of the action in the skirmish.
However, the Big Ten released a statement on Tuesday, noting that the video evidence was inconclusive and that there would be no punishment for either side in the aftermath of the on-field fight.
Big Ten statement on the Michigan-MSU incident. Video was inconclusive to impose any discipline:
“The Big Ten Conference thoroughly reviewed video of the incident that occurred at the conclusion of Saturday’s Michigan-Michigan State football game. Amidst the confrontation,…
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) October 29, 2024
The Big Ten Conference thoroughly reviewed video of the incident that occurred at the conclusion of Saturday’s Michigan-Michigan State football game. Amidst the confrontation, student-athletes from both teams were on the ground and surrounded by so many individuals that both players were completely obscured from view. The video review was inconclusive as to whether individual discipline was appropriate for anyone in the immediate vicinity of the two players who were on the ground. While the confrontation was a disappointing conclusion to the contest, the Conference appreciates the efforts made by staff from both teams, security personnel, and game officials to rapidly de-escalate the incident, as well as the responses by both head coaches. The Big Ten discussed the situation with both institutions and determined that no further action will be taken.
As the MSU side has pointed fingers at Michigan running back Kalel Mullings, as the Big Ten sees it, there’s no evidence on video that Mullings conclusively was attempting to injure a Spartan staffer or player on the ground. As of yet, we do not know if there are any in-house suspensions by Michigan, but certainly we’ll know this week when Michigan hosts Oregon on Saturday.
MSU AD Alan Haller issued a statement after the Big Ten’s decision saying, “Regardless of whether I agree with the Big Ten’s determination, their decision is final. I will continue to work to make sure our student-athletes, coaches and staff are treated fairly.”