The 2024 season has been somewhat disappointing for the defending national champion Michigan Wolverines.
However, last Saturday night was a highlight for Sherrone Moore’s squad as they took down in-state rival Michigan State in dramatic fashion.
Of course, what grabbed the most headlines was how the game ended.
After taking a final knee to preserve the 24-17 victory for the Wolverines, a scuffle ensued, and tempers flared on both sides.
In the midst of the fracas, Michigan running back Kalel Mullings found himself in the spotlight, as some Spartans fans accused him of going too far.
Allegations surfaced that Mullings had “stomped” on a Michigan State staff member during the skirmish, with some speculating the individual involved may have been a team staffer.
One clip circulating online captured the intensity of the brawl.
“I expect swift punishment on Mullings and whoever is involved in stomping on the MSU player/staff member. Just like 2 years ago, anyone involved deserves to be suspended for a significant amount of time. And according to UM, charges brought,” Daily MSU posted on X.
The alleged incident is stirring debate among fans, with some adamant that Mullings intentionally stomped on the staffer while others defend his actions as an attempt to free himself from the brawl.
As one fan put it, “The video is really hard to see, and there’s no irrefutable evidence that he did anything.”
Saturday’s melee resurrects memories of the infamous tunnel fight from two years ago, which ended in criminal charges for multiple Spartans players.
Video footage from that incident showed Spartans players kicking, punching, and even wielding a helmet against two Michigan players, ultimately leading to suspensions for eight Michigan State players.
As this latest brawl comes under investigation, both the Wolverines and the Spartans are facing increased scrutiny over discipline and player conduct.
While Michigan officials have yet to comment on the alleged actions of Mullings, tensions remain high in a rivalry that seems to be as fierce off the field as on it.
“It’s an emotional game,” Michigan State head coach Jonathan Smith said after the game. “Yeah, you don’t love finishing kind of that way, especially, I thought, the football game itself, it was physical, I think guys were playing really hard and I thought it was a pretty clean game. So it’s tough to finish that way.”
Moore echoed a similar sentiment, stating: “That’s disappointing. That’s not what Michigan football is all about. That’s not how we represent our program, this university. That’s uncalled for. That will be dealt with and handled. But that’s just very disappointing that our football team was a part of that.”
Michigan star tight end Colston Loveland, who was involved in Saturday’s scuffle, admitted that tempers are going to flare in heated rivalry games such as this one.
“Little bro stays doing little bro things,” Loveland told the Big Ten Network. “Michigan State is little bro. They can do whatever they want. We knew it was going to be chippy, but everything within the confines of the game we do right and then after, if they want to get busy, we’ll get busy.”
What are your thoughts on Saturday’s scuffle?
Do you think anything more comes from this? … Will there be any punishments handed down?
Or do you think Michigan State is trying to blow the story up into something it’s really not???
