SEC fines South Carolina $500,000 for allowing fans to storm the field after beating Tennessee

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — The Southeastern Conference fined South Carolina $500,000 on Sunday for allowing fans to storm the field following a 27-24 victory over then-No. 11 Tennessee.

The fine will be paid to the Volunteers in accordance with SEC policy.

South Carolina was one of at least four schools whose fans rushed the field after a win on Saturday. Minnesota did so after beating rival Iowa 13-10. UCF did so after stunning then-No. 2 BYU 39-31 in double overtime. And Cincinnati did so after shocking then-No. 8 Texas Tech 37-24.

Appalachian State fans also poured onto the field after the Mountaineers’ 34‑31 overtime upset of James Madison on Friday night.

But South Carolina landed the heftiest fine.

The SEC policy states that “institutions shall limit access to competition areas” for “the safety of participants and spectators alike.”

The policy permits schools to establish procedures that would allow fans to celebrate on the playing surface after all visiting team personnel and game officials have safely exited the field or court.

Commissioner Greg Sankey may reduce the fine to $100,000 if South Carolina can prove that a full attempt to prevent the field rush was instituted, few individuals breached the competition area and minimal interaction with the visiting team occurred.

Tennessee was fined $500,000 a week earlier for allowing fans to storm the field following a 26-10 victory over then-No. 6 Alabama. So now the Volunteers have broken even after giving up $500,000 one week and getting that same back the next.

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