Miami’s Mark Fletcher Jr. throws punch at Tyrique Tucker after CFP Championship

Miami Hurricanes player Mark Fletcher Jr

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Matthew Couden

By Matthew Couden

Contributing Writer

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The College Football Playoff National Championship Game featured a dramatic finish with the Indiana Hoosiers intercepting Miami's Carson Beck on a pass attempt to get closer to the endzone.

That sealed the championship win for the Hoosiers, 27-21, and brought the Hurricanes' season to a disappointing end. It also caused emotions to spill over to the postgame activities on the field.

Caught on camera and lost amid the Indiana championship celebration was Miami's Mark Fletcher Jr., throwing a punch at Tyrique Tucker, and the two players needing to be separated by personnel on the field.

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Miami Hurricanes player Mark Fletcher Jr

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ESPN shared video footage of the incident, showing Fletcher, still wearing his helmet, swinging at Tucker, who isn't wearing his.

Tucker then backs away from Fletcher and seems to either taunt him or call for assistance to prevent a further incident. From there, Fletcher lunges at Tucker several times, attempting to grab him.

Personnel eventually get involved to separate the two players, with members of Miami's staff walking Fletcher away from Tucker.

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According to The Indianapolis Star, Tucker indicated he was attempting to congratulate Fletcher after the game, and Fletcher was being "salty" with a "cheap punch."

"I was just trying to congratulate him on the game. 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," Tucker said.

Fletcher Jr. didn't speak on the incident immediately after the game, and most of the postgame coverage focused on Indiana's celebration.

That incident marred an otherwise great performance from Fletcher Jr. on the field. Miami's star running back had 117 yards and two touchdowns to help keep his team competitive in the game.

That included one awe-inspiring highlight run in which he broke away from the Hoosiers' defense and took off down the field for 57 yards.

He also drew attention for finding Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza after the game to congratulate the Heisman Trophy winner and projected No. 1 NFL Draft pick on his championship win.