During the altercation, an ECU player shoved an NC State player from behind, and the NC State player's helmet hit the ref in the face.

The fight on the field between players from N.C. State and ECU took place with 33 seconds remaining, after a late interception sealed a comeback win in the Military Bowl for the Pirates.

NC State entered the Military Bowl looking to snap its four straight bowl loss streak against in-state foe East Carolina. But instead of completing another fourth-quarter comeback, the Wolfpack lost 26-21 after the Pirates won on an 86-yard rushing touchdown with 1:33 to play.