‘We shouldn’t be on their logo’: Old quote from Ohio State’s next opponent re-emerges as anticipation builds
Texas planted a flag in Ann Arbor after beating the Michigan Wolverines early last year, but that doesn’t mean Steve Sarkisian wants his Longhorns to try it again. After seeing Ohio State start a fight in the aftermath of The Game last November, Sarkisian made it clear he’s not a fan of bringing the battle […]
Texas planted a flag in Ann Arbor after beating the Michigan Wolverines early last year, but that doesn’t mean Steve Sarkisian wants his Longhorns to try it again. After seeing Ohio State start a fight in the aftermath of The Game last November, Sarkisian made it clear he’s not a fan of bringing the battle beyond the 60-minute contest. The quote he provided later that night should squash a question that’s emerged in the hours before Week 1.
“I just watched Ohio State and Michigan getting into a full-fledged brawl from my hotel room today,” Sarkisian said on Nov. 30. “Rivalries are great, but there’s a way to win with class, and I just didn’t think that’s the right thing to do. We shouldn’t be on their logo.”
Ohio Stadium has witnessed its share of postgame drama. One of the most memorable incidents occurred on September 9, 2017, when Oklahoma’s star quarterback Baker Mayfield, fresh off a victory over Ohio State, seized a Sooners flag and planted it into the turf at midfield. The act incensed Buckeyes fans, players, and coaches, cementing its place in college football lore as a bold display of dominance.
More recently, the Michigan Wolverines escalated this trend after their 13-10 upset over Ohio State on December 3, 2024. Attempting to plant a block ‘M’ flag on the block ‘O’ at midfield, the Wolverines sparked a brawl. Ohio State’s defensive end Jack Sawyer tore the flag away, preventing its placement, in a moment that symbolized the raw intensity of the rivalry. Police intervened, deploying pepper spray to quell the chaos, an incident that caught the attention of Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian as he prepared for his team’s rivalry clash against Texas A&M.
A Growing Trend in College Sports
Flag-planting and logo-stomping have surged in college sports, becoming a provocative way for teams to assert supremacy. Beyond the Ohio State-Michigan clash, last season’s final week of college football saw similar incidents ripple across rivalries.
Florida players drove their school’s flag into the turf after defeating Florida State on the road. Arizona State players planted a trident on Arizona’s field, while North Carolina State players staked a flag on North Carolina’s logo. These acts, while celebratory for the victors, often inflame tensions, turning postgame handshakes into potential flashpoints.
The trend isn’t limited to football. Michigan’s basketball team stirred controversy during Michigan State’s senior day at Breslin Center, when two Wolverines players refused to move off the Spartan head logo as MSU seniors participated in their tradition of kissing it before their final home game. Such actions, whether intentional or not, amplify rivalries and fuel debates about sportsmanship.
The Road Ahead at Ohio Stadium
As Texas and Ohio State prepare to clash, the specter of flag-planting looms large. Both teams boast passionate fanbases and storied traditions, and the outcome of the game could set the tone for their seasons. A Longhorns victory at the Horseshoe would be a statement win, but how the players conduct themselves afterward could resonate just as loudly. Will they follow Sarkisian’s lead and avoid inflammatory gestures, or will the heat of the moment spark another headline-grabbing incident?
The broader trend of flag-planting in college sports shows no signs of slowing, but it remains a double-edged sword. It can galvanize a team and its supporters, but it also risks turning triumph into turmoil. As the Longhorns and Buckeyes take the field, the hope is that the game itself—rather than what follows—takes center stage.
