Miami's Mike Rumph says Tyrique Tucker talked about Mark Fletcher Jr.'s father before punch
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Miami running back Mark Fletcher Jr. threw a punch at Indiana defensive lineman Tyrique Tucker after the Hoosiers’ 27-21 win over the Hurricanes in the national championship game on Jan. 19.
Both sides appear to have different versions of the altercation.
Miami recruiting director Mike Rumph claimed in an Instagram comment late Jan. 19 that Tucker was talking about Fletcher father, who died in 2024.
“Dude was talking about Mark’s dad who passed away last year,” Rumph commented on a video of the altercation, posted by CBS Sports. “Mark is and always will be one of the most classy people you will meet. RIP Mr. Fletcher.”
Rumph did not specify when Tucker allegedly spoke about Fletcher’s father — either during the game or after. Tucker said after the game he was trying to congratulate Fletcher Jr.
“I was just trying to congratulate him on the game,” Tucker told The Herald-Times. “He tried to sneak me, everybody kind of held me back. That was a cheap punch, luckily we got the win, I’m not really too worried about it. He’s salty, he going home with the L.”
Fletcher has yet to comment on the situation.
The ESPN broadcast featured Fletcher Jr. in a brief segment during the game, showing the star running back texting his late father, “Good morning dad be with me boss man I love you” before the game. ESPN sideline reporter Holly Rowe also shared a post of Fletcher after the game noting she was excited for his return next season because he’s a “total class act” and “I truly love that kid.”
Fletcher Jr. ran for 112 yards and two touchdowns in Miami’s loss, moving his rushing total in the College Football Playoff to 507 yards in four games. Tucker, a first-team All-Big Ten interior lineman, had one tackle in the game.
Mark Fletcher Jr. throws punch at Tyrique Tucker
Fletcher Jr. swung at Tucker after the game, before pointing at Tucker and attempting to grab him. Fletcher Jr. was then held back by a Miami staffer to deescalate the situation.
Miami’s Mark Fletcher Jr. and Indiana’s Tyrique Tucker had to be separated after the CFP National Championship game. pic.twitter.com/pXja5LtGt8
— ESPN (@espn) January 20, 2026
Neither player has shared publicly what was said during the brief altercation.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Miami’s Mike Rumph says Tyrique Tucker commented on Mark Fletcher Jr.’s father
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