SEC AD: Home Teams Must "Forfeit" Win if Fans Storm Field, Court

Sankey considers putting an end to conference's fans field, court rushes because of potential harm to athletes

Arkansas Razorbacks fans celebrate in front of the downed goal posts after the game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Arkansas won 19-14. \ | Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — As the SEC reviews ways to halt field and court storming, Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne has come up with a proposal, according to a recent interview.

"I truly believe [in forfeiting wins] — if we said that the home team, if they storm the field or the court, they're going to lose that game right then and there, that will stop it."

Alabama AD Greg Byrne told ESPN

The league has seen rise in recent years of fans taking celebration to playing surfaces and Arkansas is one of them. After upsetting then No. 4 Tennessee in Razorbacks Stadium Oct. 5, fans rushed the field for the first time since defeating Texas in 2021.

To this point of the 2024-25 athletic calendar, the SEC has collected $2.6 million from league members who don't comply with league parameters. Razorbacks athletics director Hunter Yurachek voiced his indifference about these types of fines before, encouraging fans to bask in the glory of unforgettable moments.

Even football coach Sam Pittman doesn't mind field parties as he shared with ESPN reporter Holly Rowe following Arkansas' 19-14 win over the Volunteers.

“That's two [field rushes] now," Pittman said. "I think the AD’s gonna be mad. Maybe he won’t be. But right now I don’t care."

None of the fines come out of any of the institutions' pockets right away. The SEC pulls what is owed when the conferences revenue is dispersed to each athletic department.

While Arkansas will have $500,000 missing, Vanderbilt faces a fine that is a bit more expensive. The Commodores currently owe a portion of its $850,000 fine to Alabama after rushing FirstBank Stadium following the football team's monumental upset of then No. 1 Crimson Tide under first year coach Kalen DeBoer.

Vanderbilt has also experienced a major bounce back year in basketball. Victories over AP Top 10 wins over Kentucky and Tennessee resulted in court storms.

Field and court storming is dangerous, especially when visiting teams and coaches are seeking to venture to the locker room following the game. SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey is looking for ways to make the event of postgame celebrations safer in the future.

"Our players deserve to be respected, both the home and the visiting teams," Sankey said. "They deserve to be allowed to congratulate each other, say hello to friends and exit, that's the basis, and do that uninterrupted and without being insulted directly in their face or being approached by people whose motives they don't know or understand as part of this postgame field rushing or court storming."

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey to ESPN

Sankey also put much of the blame on TV broadcasters who glorify these moments of lore.

"I've had conversations with folks at ESPN. It would be helpful if our media partners didn't glorify the moment repeatedly," Sankey said. "We've had candid conversations about that. That certainly hasn't stopped our media partners from showing those moments."

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey to ESPN

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