Major punishments could be coming for SEC football field stormings

There may be some serious punishments coming for SEC teams if their fans decided to storm the field following future victories.

Sports Illustrated's Pat Forde released an article detailing potential penalties for field stormings in the Southeastern Conference.

Forde begins the article with something that may grab Auburn fans' attention:

"Picture this potential scenario in the Southeastern Conference this fall: On Sept. 30 in Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn takes down undefeated, No. 1–ranked, two-time reigning national champion Georgia. Tigers fans celebrate their first victory over the rival Bulldogs since 2017 by storming the field.

And in response, the SEC moves Auburn’s next home game against Georgia, in 2025, to Athens. The Tigers would play the Bulldogs between the hedges three straight seasons, 2024 to ’26. That would be the price for storming the field."

It's a serious penalty for what the SEC has long considered a serious offense, and the league is mulling over implementing punishments, per Forde.

The "working group, headed by Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne, Georgia AD Josh Brooks and Kentucky AD Mitch Barnhart, has been gathering input and weighing options for several months," according to Forde. "Proposals for a new policy to deal with fans rushing the field or court are expected to be presented to the league’s full roster of athletic directors soon for discussion. From there, options for a revamped policy are likely to be advanced to the conference’s presidents and chancellors at SEC spring meetings May 30 to June 2 in Destin, Fla. Approved changes could be implemented for the 2023–24 athletic year."

Fines have not deterred schools from allowing fans to storm the field. So, Sankey & Co. are taking things to the next level.

“The fact that field-rushing still happens means that the fine structure hasn't solved all of our problems,” Sankey said at the Associated Press Sports Editors southeast region meeting in Birmingham last Monday, according to the Tuscaloosa News. “I would expect some level of updates as we go into the year ahead, one of which is a higher expectation for security around the visiting team when those field incursions take place.”

Loss of a future home game and larger fines may be in store for Southeastern Conference teams who rush the field.

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