SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey announced the change during the league’s spring meetings, emphasizing the importance of allowing visiting teams and officials to exit the field or court safely before any fan celebrations commence. “We’ll welcome your celebration,” Sankey stated. “Let’s let the team, the visiting institutions depart.”
Under the new policy, if a school ensures that the visiting team and officials have completely exited without any interaction with fans, the fine may be waived. “There must be no interactions ‘period’ between a visiting team and the rushing team’s fans,” Sankey clarified.
Previously, the SEC employed an escalating fine system: $100,000 for a first offense, $250,000 for a second, and $500,000 for subsequent violations. However, the increasing frequency of such incidents prompted a reevaluation. “Field rushing is field rushing, the first time or the 18th time,” Sankey remarked. “We’ll offer an outlet of a delayed field rush where let the visitors exit, let the officials exit. Then you go. That goes to zero.”
The fines collected will continue to be allocated to the visiting team if the incident occurs during a conference game. For non-conference games, the fines will be directed to the SEC’s post-graduate scholarship fund.
This policy shift comes in response to several high-profile incidents in recent seasons. Notably, Vanderbilt faced multiple fines totaling $750,000 during the 2024-25 academic year after fans stormed the field following significant victories, including an upset over Alabama. Similarly, Ole Miss incurred a $500,000 fine after fans rushed the court following a basketball win against Tennessee. These events highlighted the potential risks associated with uncontrolled celebrations, including safety concerns for players, coaches, and officials.
While the tradition of storming the field or court is deeply ingrained in college sports culture, the SEC’s renewed focus is on ensuring the safety and security of all participants.