Fight breaks out at midfield before Nebraska-USC during Cornhuskers’ midfield pregame ritual in Week 12 of college football

Cornhuskers announcer Ben McLaughlin reports that a brawl broke out between USC and Nebraska at LA Memorial Coliseum’s 50-yard line during the Cornhuskers’ typical pregame ritual.

“USC wasn't about the Nebraska prayer on the 50. Teams nearly started throwing hands. Uniformed police officers stepping in trying to separate. Skirmish last over 10 minutes,” McLaughlin reported.

HuskerOnline’s Sean Callahan reported some of the details from the scene.

“USC did not like Nebraska doing its pregame prayer at midfield of the Coliseum. Things got pretty chippy when the #Huskers were at midfield. Overhead a USC player walking up the Tunnel after saying, ‘The game hasn’t event started and they are starting sh**,’” Callahan reported.

“Quite an overreaction to something Nebraksa had done for every game all season.”

WeAreSC’s Erik McKinney added some extra context for the brawl’s second wave.

“A bit of a Round 2 as Nebraska players/staff leaving the field. USC analyst Bryson Allen-Williams mostly involved. Again, short of getting physical. Will be some extra energy for this one though,” McKinney wrote.

Nebraska-USC a game the Big Ten wished meant more in Week 12 of the college football season

Nebraska playing for bowl eligibility and USC playing to keep their hopes of a winning season alive is not how this Week 12 clash was supposed to look. The Cornhuskers have been on a three-game losing streak since beating Rutgers 14-7 on October 5. The Trojans have won once in their last five games.

Fighting at midfield is one way to generate interest in an otherwise unremarkable Big Ten game.