CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Baker Mayfield is expressing hope that the NCAA will not impose a ban on flag planting in college football.
Mayfield gained fame for his action in 2017 when he marched onto the field and planted an Oklahoma flag at the center of Ohio State’s stadium after the Sooners secured a victory.
He commented on the recent incidents that erupted from similar flag-planting acts across the country, asserting that such confrontations are simply part of the rivalries that characterize college football.
“I’ll say this: OU-Texas does it every time they play,” Mayfield stated after he guided the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a thrilling 26-23 overtime victory over the Carolina Panthers.
“It’s not anything special. You take your ‘L’ and you move on. I’ll leave it at that.”
On the same day, the Big Ten Conference announced penalties of $100,000 each for both Michigan and Ohio State due to violations of the conference’s sportsmanship rules, following a brawl at the end of the Wolverines’ victory in Columbus, Ohio.
Players from Michigan attempted to stake their claim by planting the Michigan flag on the Ohio State logo at midfield, only to come face-to-face with players from Ohio State.
This confrontation escalated into a physical altercation, with Ohio State defensive end Jack Sawyer forcefully pulling down the Wolverines’ flag from its pole, leading to shoving and punches exchanged between players.
In an effort to disperse the fighting, police resorted to using pepper spray. An official from the local police union reported that one officer sustained a head injury during the chaos while attempting to separate the combatants.
The officer received treatment at a hospital and was subsequently released.
Similar flag-planting incidents occurred in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, where at least one North Carolina State player tried to plant a Wolfpack flag on the field of UNC after a 35-30 victory.
Additionally, there was a scuffle in Tallahassee, Florida, involving Gators edge rusher George Gumbs Jr., who planted a flag on the Florida State logo following a 31-11 triumph.
When asked about the possibility of the NCAA banning flag planting, Mayfield countered, “College football’s meant to have rivalries. It’s like the Big 12 banning the ‘Horns down’ signal.”
He concluded by saying, “Let the boys play.”
