Mike Coppinger

USA TODAY

Conference USA handed out suspensions Monday in the aftermath of a brawl that erupted Saturday during Western Kentucky University's 59-24 victory against Old Dominion.

ODU safety Christian Bynum and WKU running back Anthony Wales have been suspended for the first half of their schools' respective games this week.

The conference reprimanded Old Dominion receiver Kesean Strong and defensive back Rob Thompson and Western Kentucky receivers Kylen Towner and Nicholas Norris.

"Conference USA takes sportsmanship and player safety very seriously," the league said in a statement, "and the conference appreciates the efforts of both coaching staffs and the game officials to restore order following the incident and play the remainder of the game without any additional issues."

Players from both sides spilled onto the field after a fracas on the WKU sideline, and soon, officials lost control completely as students wildly shoved and threw punches in a sea of humanity.

ODU defensive back Jamshyer McUmber was ejected during the contest, and every player involved received an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. There also was a much smaller scuffle in the first half.