The bill is in for Tennessee football fans storming the field following its 24-17 win over Alabama on Saturday evening at Neyland Stadium.
The SEC fined Tennessee $100,000 for fans entering the playing surface following the game. It was Tennessee’s first offense since the rule changed in the spring of 2023. A second offense is a $250,000 fine.
“Institutions shall limit access to competition areas to participating student-athletes, coaches, officials, support personnel and properly credentialed or authorized individuals at all times,” the SEC’s policy states. “For the safety of participants and spectators alike, at no time before, during or after a contest may spectators enter the competition area.”
A new wrinkle to the rule adapted in 2023 is that Tennessee has to pay the fine directly to the University of Alabama. The good news is that Arkansas had to pay Tennessee $250,000 earlier this month for storming the field following their 19-14 win over the Vols.
Tennessee has stormed the field in each of its last two home wins against Alabama. It was a much more emphatic field storm against the Crimson Tide in 2022 with the recruits leading the charge this Saturday and students and the rest of fans quickly following suit.
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It was following the Vols’ win over Alabama in 2022, that University of Tennessee President Randy Boyd joyfully joked that he would pay the fine every two years if it meant a win over Alabama.
That’s exactly what happened two years later as Josh Heupel and the Vols earned their second win over Alabama since 2006. After totaling just one win over the Nick Saban led Alabama program in 17 tries, Tennessee’s earned one win over the Kalen DeBoer led Alabama program in one try.
Tennessee didn’t receive the biggest fine of the day in the SEC with the conference fining the University of Texas $250,000 for fans throwing trash on to the field during the Longhorns loss against Georgia.
The Vols grounds crew has already had a busy month repairing the field to playing condition following the Morgan Wallen concert late last month. Now, they’re in for even more work after the field was largely destroyed with fans on the field.
Tennessee returns to the field in two weeks when the Vols host Kentucky at Neyland Stadium. The SEC will announce kickoff times and broadcast details for the game on Monday morning. Tennessee has its second open date of the season this coming Saturday before having five straight games to end the season.
