The ACC fined North Carolina and rival North Carolina State on Monday in the wake of a wild postgame skirmish that mirrored other ugly, unsportsmanlike endings across college football over the weekend.
After N.C. State’s 35-30 win over the Tar Heels on Saturday, Wolfpack players with their school's flag headed to the midfield logo at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill.
A brawl ensued just feet away from where outgoing North Carolina coach Mack Brown was exchanging pleasantries with N.C. State coaches and players.
The ACC also said it's penalizing Virginia and Virginia Tech for a pregame skirmish at their rivalry game in Blacksburg on Saturday, won by the Hokies.
The amounts of the fines were not disclosed. The ACC said the penalties will be the "maximum allowed by the league's bylaws."
Asked what the fine was by NBC News, two of the four schools declined to comment and referred questions to conference officials.
NBC affiliate WCNC of Charlotte reported the penalty was $25,000. And a 2020-21 ACC manual listed $25,000 as the top fine that could be assessed for a “violation of the sportsmanlike principle.”
The Big Ten Conference on Sunday fined Ohio State and Michigan $100,000 for the weekend’s most highly publicized college football brawl.
Moments after unranked Michigan stunned then-No. 2 Ohio State 13-10 on Saturday, Wolverine players with the school's flag converged at midfield of Ohio Stadium, where they were met by Buckeyes who took offense to the visitors' celebration.
Police used pepper spray to break up the melee. Big Ten Network reporter Stephanie Otey said she was among the bystanders hit with the irritant.
“Not only did the actions of both teams violate fundamental elements of sportsmanship such as respect and civility, the nature of the incident also jeopardized the safety of participants and bystanders,” the Big Ten said in statement.
The incident at OSU was among several that broke out Saturday when visiting teams beat bitter rivals on enemy turf.
After Florida's 31-11 win at Florida State on Saturday, Gators players took their school flag to midfield of Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, leading to a melee and a tense confrontation between Florida and FSU coaches Billy Napier and Mike Norvell.
Napier said his players shouldn't have celebrated in that manner, telling reporters after the game, "It’s embarrassing to me, and it’s a distraction from a really well-played football game."
After Arizona State won 49-7 at rival Arizona on Saturday, Sun Devils defensive lineman Jacob Rich Kongaika used the school's ceremonial pitchfork to stab Arizona's midfield logo.
That led a brief a confrontation with Arizona's Montana Lemonious-Craig, who tried to grab the pitchfork. Players from both teams rushed to midfield and appeared to be separated without any fists thrown.
The same couldn't be said of Arizona State mascot Sparky the Sun Devil and Arizona's Wilbur the Wildcat, who appeared to throw hands in a brief sideline scuffle during the Territorial Cup game.
