Michigan’s “Soft” Gesture Post Ohio State Loss Adds Fuel to Flag Planting Debacle

Ohio State defeated Michigan after six years.

Michigan’s “Soft” Gesture Post Ohio State Loss Adds Fuel to Flag Planting Debacle

Michigan players protect their turf after losing to Ohio State on the final day of the season and Buckeyes WR Jeremiah Smith (Image via X/IMAGO)

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Ohio State’s plan to stab their flag in the middle of the Big House did not come to fruition. The Michigan players stood their ground and protected their dignity.

#1 Ohio State Buckeyes arrived in Ann Arbor a day after witnessing #2 Indiana blow out Purdue 56-3 the day earlier. Purdue may not have had a stellar year, but their performance pales in comparison to the Wolverines.

Michigan, led by freshman star quarterback Bryce Underwood, raced to be the 15th-ranked college team in the country. Saturday marked Underwood’s first taste of ‘The Game,’ a fixture the Wolverines hadn’t lost since 2019.

However, Underwood failed to have a positive impact. The five-star recruit threw just 8 completions from 18 pass attempts for 63 yards and conceded 1 interception. His ground game was also ineffective, racking up just 1 yard from 6 carries.

Ohio State freshman QB and Heisman front-runner Julian Sayin threw 19 completions from 28 attempts for 233 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 1 pick. Projected top ten pick in the 2026 NFL draft, WR Carnell Tate caught 5 passes for 82 yards and scored 1 touchdown, while Jeremiah Smith and Brandon Inniss scored the other two.

The Buckeyes won 27-9. With that result, the Buckeyes improved to a 12-0 record and remained the number one team in the nation.

Moments after coaches Ryan Day and Sherrone Moore shook hands, the once joyous atmosphere inside Michigan Stadium quickly shifted to one of fear and confusion. Michigan players lined up in the center circle to protect the giant M painted on the turf. They had zero intention of allowing any Ohio State player to plant their flag on it.

Fans react to Michigan players defending their turf from Ohio State

These scenes are nothing out of the ordinary. More often than not, big college football rivalries end with the victor planting its flag on the loser’s turf to display its dominance. Michigan players planted their flag on the Buckeyes’ ground after beating them 13-10 in 2024.

Michigan's "Soft" Gesture Post Ohio State Loss Adds Fuel to Flag Planting Debacle
Ryan Day and Jeremiah Smith during CFP 2024 final (Image via IMAGO)

Of course, the Buckeyes went on to claim the college football championship, while the Wolverines had to settle for a bowl game victory.

Saturday’s win confirmed the Buckeyes’ participation in the Big 10 Championship game and the opportunity to defend their CFP crown. The only task remaining on their agenda was planting the flag, which they failed to accomplish due to the heroics of the young Wolverines.

However, social media viewed the heroic stand differently.

During the post-game presser, Michigan RB Bryson Kuzdzal revealed that they prevented Ohio State from potentially planting a flag.

We can’t let that happen. We didn’t know if they were going to, but we weren’t going to let that happen.

Michigan ended the 2025 campaign with a 9-3 record. They are bowl eligible, while the Buckeyes look forward to playing Indiana in the Championship game.

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