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.

North Carolina announces 5-year deal with Belichick >> Six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach Bill Belichick has agreed to a five-year deal to become the next coach at North Carolina.

The school announced the hiring Wednesday night, roughly a week after the 72-year-old Belichick’s name surfaced as an unlikely candidate to replace the program’s winningest all-time coach in Mack Brown.

The deal requires approval by UNC trustees, though that board hadn’t announced a new meeting as of Wednesday night. An introductory news conference has yet to be scheduled.

Campbell agrees to 8-year contract with Iowa State >> Matt Campbell, who led Iowa State to its first 10-win season and became the program’s all-time leader in coaching victories, has agreed to an eight-year contract that would keep him with the Cyclones through 2032.

The Cyclones won their first seven games for their best start since 1938 and are 10-3 heading into their game against Miami in the Pop Tarts Bowl in Orlando, Florida, on Dec. 28.

NFL

Raiders QB back at practice, but status is undetermined >> Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell, who injured his left knee in Sunday’s loss at Tampa Bay, went through a walkthrough practice Wednesday and hopes to play against Atlanta.

Las Vegas coach Antonio Pierce wasn’t ready, however, to declare that O’Connell would start Monday night’s home game against the Falcons.

If O’Connell doesn’t play, Desmond Ridder will start against his former team. Ridder started 13 games for the Falcons last season before he was traded to Arizona.

NFL will play its first regular-season game in Berlin in 2025 >> The NFL will play its first regular-season game in Berlin in 2025, the league’s fifth game ever in Germany.

The game will be played at the Olympic Stadium as part of a multiyear commitment announced Wednesday at the league’s winter meetings. The NFL has played regular-season games in Munich and Frankfurt since 2022.

League executive Peter O’Reilly said the league’s goal is to play eight international regular-season games in 2025 and an annual game in Germany is expected. The NFL already has committed to playing two regular-season games in London at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and one game in Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, home to Real Madrid.

MLB

All-Star left-hander Crochet acquired by Red Sox >> All-Star left-hander Garrett Crochet was acquired by the Boston Red Sox from the Chicago White Sox for four prospects: catcher Kyle Teel, infielder Chase Meidroth, right-hander Wikelman Gonzalez and outfielder Braden Montgomery.

Chicago announced the trade. Crochet was 6-12 with a 3.58 ERA in 32 starts for a White Sox team that went 41-121, the most losses for any club since 1900. The 25-year-old was picked for the AL All-Star team in his first season as a starter.

Bieber re-signs with Guardians >> Shane Bieber re-signed with the Guardians, a reunion that seemed unlikely when he became a free agent. However, the 29-year-old former Cy Young winner decided to stay with the AL Central champions after making just two starts in 2024 before undergoing Tommy John surgery.

Bieber agreed last week to a one-year, $14 million contract. The deal includes a $16 million player option for 2026.

It seemed like a long shot that Bieber, who is 62-32 with a 3.22 ERA in 132 starts, would return to Cleveland.

Rangers get Burger from Marlins >> The Texas Rangers acquired slugging corner infielder Jake Burger from the Miami Marlins in a trade for three minor league players.

Burger hit .250 with 29 home runs and 76 RBIs in 137 games for the Marlins last season, with 150 strikeouts in 535 at-bats with 31 walks. He started 59 games at third base and made 50 starts at first.

Soccer

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE >> Manchester City plunged deeper into trouble in the Champions League by losing 2-0 at Juventus, the latest setback in a scarcely believable run of poor results for the ailing English champions.

City dropped to 22nd place in the 36-team standings, with only the top 24 advancing. Progressing to the next round of the new-look format looked a certainty before the season for a team that was European champion in 2022 and has won the last four Premier League titles.

Barcelona jumped into second place in the league standings with a 3-2 win at Borussia Dortmund, with Raphinha and Ferran Torres, twice, scoring. Arsenal beat Monaco 3-0 mainly thanks to two goals by Bukayo Saka to move into third place.