College football was a competitive sport on Saturday.

Rivalry matches during the week are always heated and there is tension and resentment. But four annual clashes ended with fights between opponents as the victorious road team attempted to raise a flag on its opponent’s home field to mark the victory.

Each brawl was notable for different reasons. But they were all provoked by similar feelings. The victors wanted to set an example, while the defeated wanted to protect their homeland and prevent further humiliation.

Pepper spray used in conflict between Michigan and Ohio State

The scuffle that drew the most attention occurred at the end of Michigan’s 13-10 victory over Ohio State in Columbus. Wolverines players brought a corn flag with the block “M” to midfield and threw it into the Ohio Stadium turf. The Buckeyes ignored the gesture and confronted their opponents, which resulted in several players pushing and shoving each other and throwing punches.

Unfortunately, what made the fight between Michigan and Ohio State so special was the intervention of coaches, security personnel and police to break up the conflict. Police officers used pepper spray to subdue players, which also affected several bystanders.

Ohio State University Police made a statement on social media said the matter was being investigated.

The NC State flag was almost thrown into the stands by UNC

A similar altercation occurred after North Carolina State’s 35-30 win over North Carolina in Chapel Hill. After the victory that qualified the Wolfpack Bowl, NC State players brought a red school flag to the center of the field with the intent of planting it in the turf.

However, Tar Heels players confronted their opponents to stop them from shooting the flag into the field at Kenan Memorial Stadium. A crush and crush quickly ensued, and North Carolina’s Tylee Craft eventually grabbed the flag and attempted to throw it into the stands. Wolfpack players DK Kaufman and Jacarrius Peak pushed Craft before coaches intervened.

UNC coach Mack Brown, who coached his final regular-season game with the Tar Heels after being fired earlier this week, shared his thoughts on the altercation.

“I don’t know what happened in the end,” Brown said, via The Fayetteville Observer. “Someone said they tried to fly their flag on our field. “I said two years ago that was disrespectful.”

The battle between Florida and Florida State brings the coaches into action

Coaches were more directly involved in the fray after Florida beat Florida State 31-11. Gators defensive end George Gumbs Jr. planted a black Florida flag in the turf at FSU’s Doak Campbell Stadium. Florida State players, led by Jeremiah Byers and Julian Armella, ran to midfield to pull out the flag, leading to fighting between the two teams.

Seminoles coach Mike Norvell grabbed the flag and tossed it aside. He then confronted Florida coach Billy Napier and let his opponent know that he didn’t like what had happened.

“I told him what I thought. They won the game – they have the right to celebrate, just like we have in years past,” Norvell said afterwards on Tomahawk Nation. “If you want to come and do that, that’s your decision that you can make within the team – but I told him what I think.”

Napier disagreed with the flag being erected and apologized for the incident.

Many of Napier’s coaching colleagues could be expressing similar sentiments to their players after what happened this weekend.

Forks, no flags in the state of Arizona-Arizona

Flags weren’t the only item the winning away team put up in a rivalry game Saturday. After No. 16 Arizona State’s 49-7 win over Arizona, Sun Devils defensive lineman Jacob Rich Kongaika — who played his final two seasons with the Wildcats — took their mascot’s signature pitchfork and stabbed it into the midfield logo at Arizona Stadium .

Arizona receiver Montana Lemonious-Craig ran over to pull the pitchfork out of the grass and away from Kongaika. That brought several other Arizona State players to help their teammate and protect the pitchfork.

Then talk to reportersWildcats running back Quali Conley said Kongaika’s behavior was “disrespectful.”

“This is our area of ​​expertise. Just doing that was disrespectful,” Conley said. “I just feel like it was inappropriate.”

Asked about the fight by PHNX SportsArizona State running back Cam Skattebo said, “I didn’t know that happened, but that’s great.”