Fines continue to rise in the Southeastern Conference, with the SEC fining two more schools this week. The conference announced Monday that Ole Miss and LSU were hit with heavy fines as a result of fan behavior last weekend.
Ole Miss has been fined $350,000 for fans who stormed the field after a 28-10 win over then No. 2 Georgia. LSU was fined $250,000 after fans interrupted the Tigers’ 42–13 loss to Alabama by throwing trash on the field; LSU also risks losing alcohol sales privileges if it fails to meet a series of additional requirements, according to the SEC.
Fines for storming the field will be paid to the opposing school, meaning Ole Miss will have to pay the $350,000 to Georgia. Other fines – including littering – will be deposited into the SEC’s postgraduate scholarship fund.
It seems like there are a lot of questions about this, so just to clarify: SEC field storming fines go to the opposing school. For example, Georgia will pocket Ole Miss’ $350,000.
Other fines, including for littering, will go to the SEC’s postgraduate scholarship fund.
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) November 11, 2024
Ole Miss fans stormed the field (twice) after the win over Georgia. The No. 16 Rebels crushed a late comeback in Georgia to earn the school’s first-ever home victory over a team ranked in the top two of the AP poll. Fans also triumphantly took down both field goal posts.
According to the SEC, the school was fined $250,000 for the field storming itself because the incident was a second violation: Ole Miss fans stormed the field after a last-second win over LSU in September 2023.
Ole Miss was fined an additional $100,000 because fans disrupted the final seconds of the game: Supporters entered the field before the Bulldogs’ final play with 16 seconds left, and had to be removed from the field to allow Georgia one more moment could take.
Aside from the tough loss to Alabama, LSU’s trash-throwing fans may have caused a harsher punishment for the school. According to the SEC release, LSU will be required to identify individuals who threw objects and ban them from LSU athletic events for the remainder of the academic year, and to review the school’s game management and alcohol policies, in addition to a fine.
The SEC, which has the right to revoke a school’s right to sell alcohol at games, is not suspending LSU’s alcohol sales but said in the statement it will do so if LSU does not comply.
The SEC has handed out more than $1 million in fines so far this season. In October, both Vanderbilt and Arkansas were hit with six-figure fines for field storming after big wins, with Arkansas being flagged for a second offense.
The SEC has increased fines for fans storming fields and courts in 2023. Under current guidelines, a first violation results in a $100,000 fine, while a second will cost the school $250,000 and a third $500,000.