Each of Tennessee's and Vanderbilt's field-storming celebrations in wins against Alabama football came with a cost.
The Crimson Tide is set to collect $100,000 from both the Volunteers and the Commodores after fans rushed the field after wins against Alabama , per SEC regulations. According to the conference, there is "no particular deadline" for each payment as long as it happens before Sept. 30, 2025.
"Payments resulting from fines for field storming may be paid directly from one institution to another, or it may be transferred during the revenue distribution process by the Conference Office," a statement from the SEC reads. "There is no particular deadline for the payment or transfer of funds, as long as it takes place before the end of the current fiscal year."
Vanderbilt incurred a $100,000 fine after the Commodores ' 40-35 win against Alabama on Oct. 5, while Tennessee's came after a 24-17 win against the Crimson Tide on Oct. 19.
The SEC put these rules in place in June 2023 when announcing the 2024 conference schedule. The $100,000 fine is for a first offense, with steeper fines for more offenses: $250,000 for the second time and $500,000 for the third.
Before the start of the 2023 season, the SEC mandated that each school would provide a detailed field- or court-rush management plan that includes communication to encourage fans to stay off the field of play.
SEC schools were also required to have security and uniformed law enforcement around each team and game officials to prevent contact with spectators and secure a path for the visiting team.
Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@gannett.com or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: How and when do Tennessee, Vanderbilt have to pay Alabama football for field-storming?
