The next time an opposing team’s fans rush the field after beating Alabama football, there won’t be any question as to the fine. After years of increasing penalties, the SEC is moving to a flat competition-area entry fine for the 2025 season, $500,000 per violation.
The league had previously fined teams $100,000 for the first offense, $250,000 for the second and $500,000 for the third and beyond. Had the 2025 rule change been in effect from the beginning, the Crimson Tide would have made $5 million through the years.
Speaking at SEC spring meetings in May, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey explained the change.
“If you’re the one getting rushed, it doesn’t feel good,” Sankey said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s the first time there, it might be your sixth time in a row.”
The SEC began fining for field and court-storming in 2004. Since then, it had upped the fines twice, changing the rule in 2023 so the money would go to the visiting team for conference games.
The Crimson Tide football program is the most-rushed against team in the league, with SEC schools incurring fines 10 times through the years.
The last time opposing fans didn’t rush the field after beating UA was 2010, at LSU. Alabama collected three checks after the rule change in 2023, all of which came in 2024, totaling $300,000 between Vanderbilt, Tennessee and Oklahoma.
Kentucky men’s basketball would have been just behind the Crimson Tide. Opposing SEC fans have stormed the court eight times after beating the Wildcats since 2004, and UK hoops often flip-flops positions with UA football as the most-rushed against program.
The eight fines would have meant $4 million for Kentucky’s coffers. However, Wildcat fans have a penchant for rushing the field after football victories, having done so six times, which would have been $3 million in penalties.
Vanderbilt is the most-penalized program in the league, incurring eight fines across football and men’s basketball. In real life, that meant $1.48 million paid out by the Commodores.
Had the new rules always been in place, the field and court rushes would have meant $4 million in fines. Arkansas, Kentucky, LSU, Ole Miss and South Carolina make up a five-way tie for second place, having incurred six competition-area entry fines each through the years.
Vanderbilt incurred five of its penalties starting in 2022, including three during the most recent football and basketball seasons, demonstrating a point Sankey made when discussing the issue.
“It has increased in the last three years,” Sankey said at spring meetings. “From the beginning of our policy in (2004), to about 2021, it was pretty steady. I don’t know if it’s post-COVID, or what it is, it has increased. That provoked a meaningful conversation about policy change.”
The SEC has issued 28 competition area entry fines since 2021. From 2004 through 2020, it penalized schools just 26 times.
SEC competition-area entry fines by school
Arkansas
Feb, 18, 2006, men’s basketball (Florida), $5,000
Nov. 15, 2014, football (LSU), $25,000
Sept. 11, 2021, FB (Texas), $100,000 (2015 fine structure)
Feb. 8, 2022, MBB (Auburn), $250,000
Nov. 29, 2023, MBB (Duke), $100,000 (2023 fine structure)
Oct. 5, 2024, FB (Tennessee), $250,000
Auburn
Nov. 30, 2013, FB (Alabama), $5,000
Jan. 16, 2016, MBB (Kentucky), $100,000 (2015 fine structure)
Nov, 25, 2017, FB (Alabama), $250,000
Nov. 30, 2019, FB (Alabama), $250,000
Florida
Feb. 19, 2022, MBB (Auburn), $50,000 (2015 fine structure)
Kentucky
Nov. 4, 2006, FB (Georgia), $5,000
Sept. 15, 2007, FB (Louisville), $25,000
Oct. 13, 2007, FB (LSU), $50,000
Oct. 4, 2014, FB (South Carolina), $25,000
Sept. 22, 2018, FB (Mississippi State), $100,000 (2015 fine structure)
Oct. 2, 2021, FB (Florida), $250,000
LSU
Oct. 25, 2014, FB (Ole Miss), $5,000
Oct. 13, 2018, FB (Georgia), $100,000 (2015 fine structure)
Oct. 22, 2022, FB (Ole Miss), $250,000
Nov. 3, 2022, FB (Alabama), $250,000
Feb. 21, 2024, MBB (Kentucky) $100,000 (2023 fine structure)
Oct. 12, 2024, FB (Ole Miss) $250,000
Ole Miss
Nov. 24, 2012, FB (MSU), $5,000
Oct. 19, 2013, FB (LSU), $25,000
Oct. 4, 2014, FB (Alabama), $50,000
Sept. 30, 2023, FB (LSU), $100,000 (2023 fine structure)
Nov. 9, 2024, FB (Georgia), $250,000 (plus $100,000 for early storm)
March 5, 2025 MBB (Tennessee) $500,000
Oklahoma
Nov. 24, 2024, FB (Alabama) $100,000 (plus $100,000 for early storm)
Missouri
Nov. 20, 2013, FB (Texas A&M), $5,000
Nov. 28, 2014, FB (Arkansas), $25,000
Sept. 16, 2023, FB (Kansas State), $100,000 (2023 fine structure)
Dec. 8, 2024, MBB (Kansas), $250,000
South Carolina
Feb. 15, 2005, MBB (Kentucky), $5,000
Jan. 26, 2010, MBB (Kentucky), $25,000
March 1, 2014, MBB (Kentucky), $25,000
Nov. 19, 2022, FB (Tennessee), $100,000 (2015 fine structure)
Jan. 23, 2024, MBB (Kentucky( $100,000 (2023 fine structure)
Nov. 2, 2024, FB (Texas A&M), $250,000
Tennessee
Jan. 21, 2006, MBB (Florida), $5,000
Oct. 15, 2022, FB (Alabama), $100,000 (2015 fine structure)
Oct. 19, 2024, FB (Alabama), $100,000 (2023 fine structure)
Texas A&M
Nov. 24, 2018, FB (LSU), $50,000 (2015 fine structure)
Oct. 9, 2021, FB (Alabama), $100,000
Nov. 26, 2022, FB (LSU), $250,000
Vanderbilt
March 21, 2005, MBB (Wichita State), $5,000
Feb. 17, 2007, MBB (Florida), $25,000
Feb. 26, 2016, MBB (Kentucky), $100,000 (2015 fine structure)
Nov. 19, 2022, FB (Florida), $250,000
Feb. 8, 2023, MBB (Tennessee), $250,000
Oct. 5, 2024 FB (Alabama) $100,000 (2023 fine structure)
Jan. 18, 2025, MBB (Tennessee), $250,000
Jan. 25, 2025, MBB (Kentucky), $500,000
Auburn would have paid out the most to UA, with field rushes in 2013, 2017 and 2019.
