• Loading stock data...
Friday, October 24, 2025
Want a chance to win $250 and FOS merch? Take a few minutes to complete our survey and help us improve with your feedback! Take the survey Today

SEC Increases Court Storming Fine to $500K—With Caveat

The conference is doing away with its old system of increasing fines for each school’s offense and will instead fine schools a flat $500,000.

Mar 28, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; Mississippi Rebels forward Jaemyn Brakefield (4) rebounds over Michigan State Spartans center Carson Cooper (15) and Mississippi Rebels guard Matthew Murrell (11) in the second half of a South Regional semifinal of the 2025 NCAA tournament at State Farm Arena.
Brett Davis-Imagn Images

In the SEC, storming the field just means more money. 

On Thursday, the conference announced it was raising its fines for field or court storming to $500,000, doing away with its previous policy, which increased the fine for multiple offenses. However, the school won’t be subject to the fine if it prevents contact between fans and opposing players, staff, and game officials. 

The SEC implemented the original policy in 2023 over safety concerns of field storming, with a first offense costing a school $100,000. A repeat offense increased the fine to $250,000, and it rose to $500,000 for a third. The fine wasn’t paid to the conference, either—it was paid to the school on the receiving end of the court or field storm. 

The system did little to prevent storming as multiple schools, including Ole Miss and Vanderbilt, incurred fines totaling $350,000 over the course of this past college sports season. Vanderbilt athletic director Candice Lee could be seen telling students not to storm the court: “Let us use the money for NIL,” she said. But Vanderbilt got hit with a third fine in January—$850,000 in total. 

As the college sports world awaits approval of the House v. NCAA settlement, which will allow schools to revenue-share with players, the $500,000 penalty could be seen as especially costly.  

The SEC schools affected by the fines also helped the conference change the way it looked at its own policy. During basketball season, Vanderbilt and Ole Miss started announcing fans could storm the court 90 seconds after the game ended to allow the opponents to leave the court to avoid injury and another fine. In the middle of the season, the SEC signed off on the 90-second policy. 

Others took it a step further, such as Missouri coach Dennis Gates, who called timeout in the final seconds of an upset win over No. 1 Kansas to give the Jayhawks time to clear out. 

In a way the pressure to get it right worked well,” SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said Wednesday.

Sankey was noncommittal about applying the 90-second rule to football, which is played in bigger venues than basketball and comes with different logistics.

“Some of the things that happen in football, you’ve got officials on the opposite end of the field trying to swim, climb their way through,” Sankey said. “I’ve watched video all the way through to count the eight [officials] get off and you just lose sight of people. We have to be continually attentive on those matters.”

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

exclusive

Some ESPN Producers Fed Up With McAfee’s ‘Diva’ Behavior: Sources

The “College GameDay” host has powerful allies.
Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia (2) celebrates following the game between Vanderbilt University and Louisiana State University at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025
exclusive

Diego Pavia Is Trying to Kill NCAA JUCO Eligibility Rules for Good

Vandy’s QB is amending his own lawsuit to encompass all NCAA athletes.
Oct 11, 2025; Tallahassee, Florida, USA; Florida State Seminoles head coach Mike Norvell after losing the game to the Pittsburgh Panthers at Doak S. Campbell Stadium.

CFB’s Chaotic (and Pricey) Coaching Carousel Only Getting Started

Firings have already accounted for roughly $116 million.

Featured Today

Christie's

Lou Gehrig’s $4M Jersey and the Exploding Sports Memorabilia Market

An ultra-rare sports collection is about to hit the auction block.
@chef__tezz/Instagram
October 19, 2025

Inside the NFL’s Private Chef Network

Private chefs are the unsung architects of player performance.
October 18, 2025

How Vanderbilt Went From SEC Doormat to Dark Horse CFP Candidate

After beating LSU, Clark Lea said: “Internally, we expect to win.”
May 27, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell (9) shoots a three point basket over New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) during the third quarter of game four of the eastern conference finals for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse
October 18, 2025

NBA Stars Swap Wine With League Friends and Foes

A wine-exchange tradition emerged from the bubble season’s close quarters.
Jun 10, 2025; Eugene, OR, USA; A NCAA logo flag at the NCAA Track and Field Championships at Hayward Field.

College Athletes Can Bet on Pro Sports Starting in November

An NBA player and coach were charged Thursday in a sports betting investigation.
Texas Tech tortillas
October 22, 2025

Texas Tech Is Attempting a Tortilla Crackdown 

Rebellious students are known to smuggle the tortillas in their underwear.
Tony Vitello
October 22, 2025

Tony Vitello’s Stunning MLB Jump Comes With $3M Tennessee Buyout

Vitello heads to San Francisco after winning a national championship in 2024.
Sponsored

How HOKA is Reimagining the NIL Relationship

Fans can now follow their favorite golfers and experience every marquee moment at the Ryder Cup — thanks to innovation from T-Mobile.
Tom Izzo
October 22, 2025

Tom Izzo Rips ‘Ridiculous’ NCAA Move Allowing Former G Leaguers

Michigan State didn’t know an eligibility change had been made, he said.
October 22, 2025

Big 12’s Yormark Defends Slow NIL Go Approvals: ‘That’s Not a Glitch’

Collectives have been starting to pay players without approvals.
BYU
October 20, 2025

BYU Lost Its Star QB This Summer. Now It’s One of the..

The Cougars are thriving with a true freshman at quarterback.
Indiana
October 20, 2025

Indiana Is the Center of the Sports World—Again

After successful NBA and WNBA seasons, Indiana’s football teams are thriving.