Flag planting has become one of the most notorious things in College Football. If you beat your rival or a team ranked higher than you on the road at their stadium then people plant their team’s flag right in the middle of the field. This first became a thing back in 2017 when Oklahoma Sooners’ quarterback, Baker Mayfield, beat Ohio State on the road and after the game, Baker Mayfield grabbed an Oklahoma flag from the band and planted it right in the middle of the 50-yard line. This caused many different reactions around the world of college football. Some believed that Mayfield was arrogant and cocky and that he had no right to do that. On the other hand, others thought that Mayfield had a right to plant the flag after beating Ohio State (a team that trash-talked Oklahoma all week) and show the College Football world how good Oklahoma truly was.
During this season, there were multiple instances where opposing teams would plant their flag in the middle of the field. This happened early in the year after Texas defeated Michigan in Ann Arbor. But, this became an increasingly larger problem during “rivalry week”. The first incident occurred after Michigan upset #2 Ohio State in Columbus, Ohio. After the game, Michigan players planted their flag in the middle of the 50-yard line. Ohio State players ran from the other side of the field to the middle and started a giant brawl in the middle of the game. Punches were being thrown and players were also being pepper sprayed by local law enforcement. After the brawl was broken up, it was released that only one referee was hurt, which was the only injury throughout the fight. This was only the first of many incidents on the day. Other teams such as Florida, Florida State, North Carolina, and North Carolina State. The same thing happened in every rivalry. The away team won and took their flag and planted it and then a fight between the teams broke out.
This problem will most likely end after the NCAA gets involved and stops teams from planting flags. Next year hopefully there will be no fights and the players can keep the game clean and safe.