Big Ten Football

The fallout continues from this weekend after multiple Michigan State football players got into a postgame altercation with a Michigan player.

The Spartans announced they have suspended four additional players for their involvement in the altercation: Justin White, Jacoby Windmon, Malcolm Jones and Brandon Wright. The four of them join Angelo Grose, Itayvion Brown, Khary Crump and Zion Young, who were suspended Sunday.

Michigan State's announcement, which was jointly made by director of athletics Alan Haller and head coach Mel Tucker, stated that the suspensions were decided upon as university officials "continue to gather and review electronic evidence of the altercations." The university is also working with law enforcement and the Big Ten conference "to evaluate additional facts and evidence surrounding the events" that took place Saturday.

As Larry Lage of the Associated Press detailed, a fight broke out in the Michigan Stadium tunnel after the Wolverines' 29-7 win, and videos surfaced on social media showing multiple Spartans players "pushing, punching and kicking" Michigan defensive back Ja'Den McBurrows. His teammate and fellow defensive back Gemon Green was also seen on video surrounded by police and yelling toward Michigan State players.

"Two of our players were assaulted," Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh said. "I saw on the one video. Ten-on-one. It was pretty bad. It needs to be investigated."

Tucker said in a statement on Twitter that there was "no excuse" for the actions of Michigan State players. The university's president, Samuel Stanley, also addressed the matter.

"I'm extremely saddened by this incident and the unacceptable behavior depicted by members of our football program," Stanley said. "On behalf of Michigan State University, my heartfelt apology to the University of Michigan and the student-athletes who were injured. There is no provocation that could justify the behavior we are seeing on the videos. Rivalries can be intense but should never be violent."

Michigan State fell to 3-5 with Saturday's loss, and things won't get easier this week, as the team will be massively short-handed in a road matchup against the Illinois Illini, who are 7-1.

Michigan Wolverines cornerback Gemon Green has retained an attorney as the fallout from Saturday's altercation between Michigan and Michigan State continues.

Attorney Tom Mars confirmed to Tony Garcia of the Detroit Free Press that he will represent Garcia in a lawsuit against Spartans players stemming from a clash in the tunnel at the Big House after Michigan's 29-7 win.

In a statement, Mars said Green suffered a concussion and other injuries after being hit with a helmet.

Both teams were walking to their locker rooms after the game when a scuffle broke out.

Larry Lage of the Associated Press noted posts on social media showed multiple Michigan State players pushing, punching and kicking Wolverines cornerback Ja'Den McBurrows.

Green was seen going into the tunnel, skipping and appearing to go for a high-five with a fan in the stands when he was in a crowd of Spartans players.

Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh told reporters after the game that two of his players were "assaulted" and that athletic director Warde Manuel would speak to law enforcement about the situation.

Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker announced Sunday that linebacker Tank Brown, safety Angelo Grose, defensive end Zion Young and cornerback Khary Crump were all being suspended following a review of footage.

Harbaugh said in a press conference Monday: "There needs to be accountability. There needs to be a full, thorough, timely investigation." He added that based on the footage he's seen, "I can't imagine that this will not result in criminal charges."

According to Garcia, Mars did not provide specifics on who the charges will be filed against or the nature of the charges.

Green is in his fifth year at the University of Michigan. He has appeared in all eight games for the Wolverines this season. It's unclear if he will be available for Saturday's game at Rutgers.

Michigan head football coach Jim Harbaugh said he expects criminal charges after police complete an investigation into an alleged attack by Michigan State players on U-M players after Saturday night's rivalry game.

"I don't accept any excuses," Harbaugh told reporters Monday in regards to questions about what led up to the altercation.

Spartans head coach Mel Tucker suspended four players Sunday—linebacker Tank Brown, cornerback Khary Crump, safety Angelo Grose and defensive end Zion Young—after reviewing what he called "disturbing electronic evidence" of the situation.

Video obtained by the Detroit News on Saturday showed a group of Michigan State players surrounding Michigan defensive back Ja'Den McBurrow. A source told the Detroit News that U-M defensive back Gemon Green was also part of the altercation.

"What happened after the game is completely unacceptable," Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel said. "This is not how we should interact after a game. This is not the way another team should grab a player and do what they did. It's completely and totally unacceptable. This is not what a rivalry should be about, not how it should be remembered. For that to happen is unacceptable."

Manuel added police are "addressing" the situation, and the school is leaving it in their hands.

Saturday's game took place at Michigan Stadium, home of the Wolverines. U-M scored a 29-7 win to remain undefeated at 8-0.

The postgame altercation has overshadowed the contest, however, and Harbaugh said Monday it seems like a "very, very open-and-shut" case.

"Right now, we have an ongoing police investigation. What happened in the tunnel was egregious," Harbaugh said. "It's sickening to watch the videos, the ones that are on social media right now, and also the ABC tunnel cam that's in a higher elevation and shows much more of what took place."

He added both U-M players involved suffered injuries and stated Green's status for Saturday's road game against Rutgers is uncertain.

"It's been a challenge. It's been traumatic," Harbaugh said. "But we're in it right now. So, we'll face the challenge head on and support our players in every way possible."

Michigan State, which stands at 3-5 after Saturday's loss, is also back in action Saturday, facing another road test against No. 14 Illinois.

The Michigan State Spartans lost more than just Saturday's game against the archrival Michigan Wolverines.

The postgame altercation between a number of Spartans and far fewer Wolverines made headlines, and Michigan State announced it suspended safety Angelo Grose, linebacker Itayvion Brown, cornerback Khary Crump and defensive end Zion Young.

Michigan State's announcement said it decided on the punishments "after reviewing the disturbing electronic evidence collected." It also said it is working with law enforcement to review the situation.

As Larry Lage of the Associated Press noted, the scuffle happened in the tunnel after the game, with social media posts capturing multiple Spartans getting physical with Michigan defensive back Ja'Den McBurrows. It's unclear at the moment what led to the altercation.

"I'm extremely saddened by this incident and the unacceptable behavior depicted by members of our football program," Michigan State president Samuel Stanley said. "On behalf of Michigan State University, my heartfelt apology to the University of Michigan and the student athletes who were injured.

"There is no provocation that could justify the behavior we are seeing on the videos. Rivalries can be intense but should never be violent."

Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker tweeted that there was "no excuse" for the incident:

"Two of our players were assaulted," Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh said. "I saw on the one video. Ten-on-one. It was pretty bad. It needs to be investigated."

Michigan State's announcement said the investigation is still ongoing even though it decided on the four suspensions.

The Spartans are 3-5 on the season and one of the most disappointing teams in the country after they went 11-2 last season and won the Peach Bowl against Pittsburgh. Next up is a road trip to face the 7-1 Illinois Fighting Illini, and they will presumably be without those players.

Grose is the most notable of the players who may be missing, as he has 53 tackles and four passes defended on the season. Young has 21 tackles and one sack.

Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh told reporters after Saturday's 29-7 win over the Michigan State Spartans that two of his players were assaulted in the tunnel after the game.

The Wolverines would not confirm which players were attacked. However, Brandon Brown of Sports Illustrated reported defensive back Ja'Den McBurrows is "100 percent" one of the victims.

"He is very clearly the player who is jumped by around 10 Spartans," Brown wrote in a tweet.

"Another team should not grab a player and do what they did," Michigan director of athletics Warde Manuel told reporters. "We will let the Big Ten and law enforcement handle it. This is not what a rivalry should be about."

The "trash talking and jostling" between Michigan and Michigan State players began while Harbaugh and Spartans head coach Mel Tucker were shaking hands after the game, per Andrew Hammond of the Detroit Free Press.

Tucker told reporters after the game that he is unsure how the situation in the tunnel unfolded, adding "things were heated, and we have to figure out what happened."

The No. 4 Wolverines were dominant against the unranked Spartans. Quarterback J.J. McCarthy completed 15 of 25 passes for 167 yards and one touchdown while running back Blake Corum rushed for 177 yards and a score on 33 carries. Corum also scored a two-yard reception.

McBurrows, the player reportedly attacked in the tunnel, has yet to appear in a game for the Wolverines this season. He appeared in just four games during the 2021 campaign as a freshman.

Michigan improved to 8-0 on the season with the win, while Michigan State dropped to 3-5.

The Wolverines ended a two-game losing streak to their in-state rivals and improved to 72-38-5 all-time in the series.

The Wolverines move on to face Rutgers next weekend, while the Spartans will face No. 17 Illinois.

Michigan place kicker Jake Moody made five field goals en route to the No. 4 Wolverines' 29-7 win over rival Michigan State on Saturday from Ann Arbor's Michigan Stadium.

The Wolverines knocked on the doorstep of the end zone all night but only got there twice. That wasn't an issue, however, as Moody drilled field goals from 22, 25, 39, 33 and 54 yards out to finish off drives and keep MSU at bay.

The 54-yarder gave Moody 16 points on the evening and Michigan a 22-7 lead. He later tacked on another extra point to cap the scoring.

Moody has now made 18-of-21 field goals on the year, including all nine of his attempts over the past two games. His accuracy rate is more impressive when considering that one of the misses was blocked, and another was from 62 yards out.

He's a true weapon for the Michigan offense, which ground down the Spartan defense with the running game thanks largely to Blake Corum's 177 rushing yards.

On a night where there wasn't much offensive fireworks, Moody's performance caught the attention of Twitter, which jokingly posited that he should be in line for a Heisman Trophy.

Moody won't get a Heisman, but the Lou Groza Award as the nation's best collegiate kicker could certainly be in his grasp.

For now, the 8-0 Wolverines are marching ahead to face host Rutgers on Saturday.

On a day when Ohio State either trailed or barely led for much of the game, it was a dominant effort by sophomore defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau and sophomore wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. that helped the Buckeyes remain undefeated.

In a 44-31 win for No. 2 OSU over the rival No. 13 Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania, Tuimoloau had a hand in forcing all four turnovers PSU quarterback Sean Clifford committed.

During the first half, Tuimoloau deflected a pass that was intercepted by Zach Harrison and then recorded an interception of his own when he jumped a route:

As big as those plays were, his most significant play came in the fourth quarter with Ohio State leading by only two when he sacked Clifford, stripped him of the ball and recovered the fumble:

After Tuimoloau completed the hat trick, the Buckeyes scored on the next play via a 24-yard touchdown pass from C.J. Stroud to Cade Stover, extending the lead to nine points with the PAT.

As if that weren't enough, Tuimoloau iced the game for Ohio State with less than three minutes remaining when he picked off Clifford for a second time and returned it 14 yards for a touchdown:

With two interceptions, two sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery, Tuimoloau accomplished an exceedingly rare feat, per Jason Starrett of The Athletic:

Given how much of an impact Tuimoloau had on the outcome of the game, fans and experts alike showered him with praise on Twitter as the Buckeyes improved to 8-0:

Although the overall numbers look solid with more than 400 yards of total offense, the Buckeyes struggled on that side of the ball for much of the day because of the inability to get anything going in the running game.

The one offensive constant that kept OSU in the game until an outburst in the fourth quarter was the connection between Stroud and Harrison.

Harrison, who is the son of Pro Football Hall of Fame wideout and Indianapolis Colts legend Marvin Harrison, continued his spectacular season with 10 receptions for 185 yards.

Like Tuimoloau, Harrison was celebrated Saturday on Twitter for another spectacular showing that continued the legacy of great wide receivers at Ohio State:

Ohio State looked out of sync and in danger of getting upset at times Saturday, but the Buckeyes' elite talent level carried them.

OSU has some of the best players in the nation on both the defensive and offensive sides of the ball in Tuiomoloau and Harrison, and they both proved why against the Nittany Lions.

Entering play Saturday, there were six undefeated teams with strong cases for the College Football Playoff, as well as some quality one-loss teams in Alabama, Oregon and USC.

That made winning of the utmost importance for Ohio State, and both Tuiomoloau and Harrison ensured that it happened against one of the program's chief rivals.

Pac-12 Commissioner George Kliavkoff believes USC and UCLA leaving the conference will be an unpopular decision.

"I think saying hundreds would be an exaggeration—dozens, more than a hundred," Kliavkoff said when talking about discussions he has had with people connected to the programs, per Myron Medcalf of ESPN. "And I have yet to talk to anyone in the UCLA and USC community who's in favor of the move. I will say that I probably hear from folks who are not in favor, not surprisingly."

As Medcalf noted, the Trojans and Bruins will become members of the Big Ten in 2024 as the landscape of college sports continues to change with conference realignment that will also see Texas and Oklahoma join the SEC from the Big 12 in July 2025.

While Kliavkoff is a biased source who would clearly benefit from the two major brands staying inside the conference, there is something to be said for the difficulties it will present.

USC and UCLA will be in for multiple long road trips in football, basketball and other sports as they travel to places such as Penn State, Maryland and Ohio State. The Big Ten is also based in the Midwest and operates its high-profile conference championships and tournaments in cities such as Indianapolis and Chicago.

USC and UCLA will also lose some long-standing rivalries within the Pac-12 as they play new schedules.

Kliavkoff suggested expenses that come from additional traveling and salaries with the move to the Big Ten will counteract the gains available from a financial standpoint, but Medcalf noted reports say "UCLA will reap an eight-figure gain annually" with the move.

Thuc Nhi Nguyen of the Los Angeles Times pointed out the Pac-12's "archaic TV deal" has hamstrung powerhouse programs from a financial perspective, with the conference giving $33.6 million to each school in 2019-20 when the Big Ten gave an average of $49.2 million to its schools in that same period.

The gap figures to only grow, considering the Big Ten agreed to a new television rights contract with CBS, Fox, NBC, NBCUniversal's Peacock, Big Ten Network and FS1 in August. It will start in July 2023 and run through the 2029-30 season and give the conference between $7 billion and $8 billion.

Escalators could even bring the value to $10 billion.

Money talks, and USC and UCLA are headed to the Big Ten even if some within the Pac-12 wish it wasn't happening.

Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh thought James Franklin played a role in the incident inside the tunnel at halftime of the Wolverines' 41-17 victory over Penn State.

Tensions were high when players from both teams occupied the tunnel on the way to their locker rooms.

"Like you saw, pretty clearly, that [Penn State players] completely stopped," Harbaugh told reporters Monday. "They weren't letting us get up the tunnel. And it just seemed like such a sophomoric ploy to try to keep us out of our locker rooms. And [Franklin] looked like he was the ringleader of the whole thing."

Franklin offered his thoughts on the matter last week and thought it was a result of the Michigan Stadium layout, which has one tunnel leading to each team's locker room.

Franklin told reporters, "It's a problem and has been."

"To me, we need to put a policy in place from a conference perspective in my mind that's going to stop—we're not the first team to kind of get into a jawing match in the tunnel," he said.

A similar situation unfolded when Michigan hosted Ohio State last year, when players engaged in a shouting match at halftime.

Michigan offensive lineman Trevor Keegan claimed Wolverines defensive back R.J. Moten was hit with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich during the Penn State episode.

If the Nittany Lions were attempting to intimidate their counterparts or gain any sort of mental edge in the tunnel, the tactic backfired in a big way. Michigan was only up two points, 16-14, after the second quarter before blowing Penn State out in the second half.

The Nittany Lions had no answer for the pair of Donovan Edwards and Blake Corum, who combined to run for 339 yards.