This wasn’t the kind of scoreboard action fans came for.
Back in October 2023, as fans filed into Spartan Stadium for the heated Michigan vs. Michigan State football clash, they were greeted by a massive image of Adolf Hitler staring back at them. Right there on the scoreboard, next to a trivia question asking which country the Nazi dictator was born in. You could hear jaws hitting the turf.
It wasn’t just a head-scratching moment, it triggered outrage. The timing couldn’t have been worse either, coming just weeks after Hamas launched violent attacks in Israel. Michigan State quickly issued an apology and called the incident “deeply regrettable,” but the damage had already taken root.
Michigan State Settles Lawsuit Over Unauthorized Use of YouTube Quiz
At first, the university pointed the finger at a third-party vendor, claiming they supplied the pregame trivia. That story didn’t hold for long. MSU then revealed an unnamed employee had approved the video clip containing the Hitler question and suspended them. The whole thing spiraled into a legal mess.
Turns out, the trivia came from a YouTube video made by Dutch creator Floris van Pallandt. He didn’t take the situation lightly. Van Pallandt sued the university for $150,000, citing intellectual property theft and reputational damage.
Hitler on the Jumbotron: Michigan State’s $30K Lesson in What Not to Stream at a Football Game
— Michigan News Source (@MINewsSource) May 20, 2025
Among the 40 questions was “Where was Adolf Hitler born?” – complete with a large image of Hitler himself.https://t.co/MuDuw5F7RU
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According to The State News, Michigan State quietly settled the matter for $30,000 without admitting guilt. But the school did acknowledge using five of van Pallandt’s quiz videos without permission.
This incident, bizarre as it was, stirred real questions about oversight and responsibility at live events. Trivia on scoreboards is usually harmless, guess the team’s all-time leading scorer, name the mascot, maybe win a T-shirt. Nobody expects to see history’s most infamous dictator looming over their popcorn and pregame beers.
Michigan State’s misstep became one of the strangest chapters in recent college football memory. It was part legal drama, part PR disaster, and a reminder that what goes on the big screen matters.
In the end, MSU cut a check and moved on. But for fans and the university community, that night won’t fade easily. You just don’t forget a scoreboard showing Adolf Hitler. Not during a football game. Not ever.
Also Read: Michigan Football Has Already Scored A Massive Win Over Ohio State Before The Season Even Started
