College Sports

SEC’s $1.6M Field-Storming Fiasco: Fines Pile Up After Celebrations

Field stormings have become commonplace after big victories in the SEC, despite harsh fines from the conference. Three incidents came against Alabama this year.

By David Rumsey

Dec 02, 2024 | 03:56 pm

Oklahoma coach Brent Venables celebrates with fans after a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Alabama Crimson Tide at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. Oklahoma won 24-3.

The Oklahoman

The SEC’s first college football season as a 16-team conference ended with $2.1 million in fines related to fans storming and throwing debris on fields.

While no SEC schools were involved in the flag-planting incidents that led to $100,000 fines for Ohio State and Michigan—and likely punishments for others—during Rivalry Weekend, the conference had plenty of costly celebrations and disruptions on campuses during the 2024 regular season.

SEC rules—the most expensive in college sports—dictate a $100,000 fine for a first-time field or court storming, $250,000 for a second-time offense, and $500,000 for a third. There is also a separate $100,000 fine for storming the field before the game is over. That money is paid to the opposing school.

Eight instances this fall after major home victories resulted in $1.6 million in fines:

Ole Miss: $350,000 (Georgia, Nov. 9)
South Carolina: $250,000 (Texas A&M, Nov. 2)
LSU: $250,000 (Ole Miss, Oct. 12)
Arkansas: $250,000 (Tennessee, Oct. 5)
Oklahoma: $200,000 (Alabama, Nov. 23)
Auburn: $100,000 (Texas A&M, Nov. 23)
Tennessee: $100,000 (Alabama, Oct. 19)
Vanderbilt: $100,000 (Alabama, Oct. 5)

Alabama takes home the most fine money, $400,000, as fans stormed the field after all three of the Crimson Tide’s losses this season. Georgia and Texas A&M are tied for second, receiving $350,000 each.

Additionally, Texas and LSU were each fined $250,000 for their fans throwing debris onto the field during losses to Georgia on Oct. 19 and Alabama on Nov. 9, respectively. That money was paid to the conference, not the opposing schools.