One Ohio lawmaker hopes to push through legislation what the Ohio State Buckeyes couldn’t do on the gridiron against Michigan: Protect their house.
Ohio state Rep. Josh Williams has introduced the O.H.I.O. Sportsmanship Act, a bill proposing that flag planting during Ohio State football games be classified as a fifth-degree felony, ESPN reported.
The legislation follows Michigan’s flag-planting attempt after a November 30 win at Ohio Stadium, which triggered a brawl requiring police intervention and pepper spray to disperse the crowd.
The incident is under investigation, and both Ohio State and Michigan received $100,000 fines from the Big Ten, though no further penalties were issued. Williams criticized the fines as insufficient and argued that the bill is necessary to address safety concerns and ensure sportsmanship.
“That’s pennies, that’s nothing,” Williams said, according to ESPN.
The bill explicitly prohibits flag planting at Ohio Stadium on game days and prescribes penalties including up to 12 months in prison, a $2,500 fine, and up to five years of probation.
Williams, representing Ohio’s 41st district near the Ohio-Michigan border, stated that the legislation signals universities to establish better policies to prevent such incidents. He highlighted the broader safety risks, including potential harm to law enforcement and fans, and criticized Michigan for encouraging similar behavior during other events.
A longtime advocate for sportsmanship, Williams emphasized that the law would apply to all teams, including Ohio State players.
He noted that recent flag-planting incidents during rivalry week across college football underscored the need for stronger deterrents. While Williams described himself as a passionate Buckeye fan, he expressed disappointment in the lack of poise shown by both teams and called for refocusing on the spirit of the rivalry.
“We have a great rivalry. I enjoy the rivalry, win, lose or draw,” Williams said, according to ESPN. “That was a tight game. It wasn’t a blowout victory. You know, Michigan should have taken its victory, and we take our loss on the chin and live to fight another day, concentrate on the next week and the next year, the next recruitment period. But instead, we have to have this conversation.”