The Associated Press

An Ohio politician has seen enough flag planting by visiting sports teams.

Republican state Rep. Josh Williams said Wednesday on social media he’s introducing a bill to make flag planting in sports a felony in the state. His proposal comes after the Nov. 30 fight at the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry football game when the Wolverines beat the Buckeyes 13-10 and then attempted to plant their flag at midfield. A fight ensued and police had to use pepper spray to disperse the players.

Similar flag-planting scuffles broke out across college football on that rivalry weekend.

Williams is calling it the O.H.I.O Sportsmanship Act.

“Behavior that incites violent brawls and puts our law enforcement officers in danger has no place on the football field,” Williams said.

Former Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield famously planted a flag in the middle of the field at Ohio State after the Sooners beat the Buckeyes in 2017.

Mayfield, who now plays for the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers, said he doesn’t think flag planting is a big deal.

“I’ll say this: OU-Texas does it every time they play,” Mayfield said on Dec. 1. “It’s not anything special. You take your ‘L’ and you move on. I’ll leave it at that.”

Ready for draft

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan cornerback Will Johnson has joined defensive tackle Mason Graham in the NFL draft.

Johnson declared for the draft on Wednesday, one day after Graham decided he would also skip his senior season with the Wolverines.

Both preseason All-America players are expected to be first-round picks.

Johnson was limited to six games this year due to an injury. He had two interceptions, returning them both for touchdowns to set a school record with three scores off interceptions. Johnson picked off nine passes in three seasons.

Graham played in all 12 games this season, finishing with 3 1/2 sacks and seven tackles for losses. He had 18 tackles for losses, including nine sacks, in his three-year career.

Michigan (7-5) will play No. 11 Alabama on Dec. 31 in the ReliaQuest Bowl in Tampa, Florida.

Portal movement

Former Tulane quarterback Darian Mensah has already found a new program in Duke, while Mississippi State’s Michael Van Buren Jr., Wisconsin’s Braedyn Locke and Cal’s Fernando Mendoza are exploring changes of their own in the transfer portal.

Mensah, a redshirt freshman with three years of eligibility remaining, told ESPN on Wednesday he has transferred to Duke. He attended the Blue Devils men’s basketball game against Incarnate Word on Tuesday night. The Blue Devils (9-3) will face Mississippi in the Gator Bowl, but without 2024 starting quarterback Maalik Murphy and backup Grayson Loftis, who also entered the portal.

Mensah, viewed as one of the top players in the portal, threw for 2,723 yards and 22 touchdowns and completed 65.9% of his passes. He led the Green Wave to a 9-4 record and the American Athletic Conference championship game, where they lost 35-14 to Army. Tulane will play Florida in the Gasparilla Bowl on Sunday.

Van Buren, Mendoza and Locke announced on social media they had entered the portal.

SEC hands out honors

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson and South Carolina defensive end Kyle Kennard have been picked as the Southeastern Conference offensive and defensive players of the year by league coaches.

The SEC awards are voted on by the 16 head coaches. South Carolina’s Shane Beamer was named coach of the year. Kentucky placekicker Alex Raynor was picked as special teams player of the year. Gamecocks quarterback LaNorris Sellers is the coaches’ pick as top freshman and Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia is newcomer of the year.

Texas’ Kelvin Banks Jr. and LSU’s Will Campbell shared the Jacobs Blocking Trophy.

Campbell sticking around

AMES, Iowa — Football coach Matt Campbell has agreed to an eight-year contract that would keep him at Iowa State through 2032.

Campbell led the Cyclones to their first 10-win season and became the program’s all-time leader in coaching victories this year. University president Wendy Wintersteen and athletic director Jamie Pollard made the announcement four days after the Cyclones lost to Arizona State in the Big 12 championship game.

The Cyclones won their first seven games for their best start since 1938. They are 10-3 heading into their game against Miami in the Pop Tarts Bowl.