South Carolina could face a $500,000 SEC field-storm fine after fans rushed the field following its 27-24 win over No. 11 Tennessee, CFB-HQ On SI reported. The conference policy directs the flat penalty to the visiting team, which would mean payment to Tennessee.
Malik Orsan’s 48-yard field goal as time expired secured the win, and fans entered the field immediately after the kick. Under the SEC’s updated access-to-competition-area policy, schools can avoid the penalty by keeping fans off the field until the visiting team and game officials have exited.
Key Takeaways
- South Carolina beat No. 11 Tennessee 27-24 on Orsan’s 48-yard kick as time expired.
- The SEC policy sets a flat $500,000 field-storming fine, payable to the visiting team.
- USA TODAY Sports reported that Tennessee linebacker Jeremiah Telander appeared to throw a punch during the celebration.
Why South Carolina Faces a $500,000 Field Storm Fine
The SEC updated its access-to-competition-area policy ahead of the 2025 season, CFB-HQ On SI reported. The revised rule sets a flat $500,000 penalty for field storming, replacing a graduated schedule.
Under the earlier schedule, a first offense brought a $100,000 fine, a second brought $250,000 and subsequent violations brought $500,000. The updated policy applies the same $500,000 amount regardless of a school’s position in that sequence.
The penalty goes to the visiting team. For South Carolina’s game against Tennessee, the policy therefore points to Tennessee as the recipient if the fine is imposed.
The rule gives schools a way to avoid the fine: keep spectators off the playing area until the visiting team and officials have left. South Carolina fans entered the field immediately after Orsan’s winning kick, CFB-HQ On SI reported.
That timing is central to the policy’s stated condition. The rule focuses on access to the competition area while visiting players, coaches and officials are still on the field, rather than on the size of the celebration or the result of the game.
Recent SEC Field Storming Fines Set the Context
Kentucky and Tennessee each received a $500,000 SEC field-storming fine after home victories, CFB-HQ On SI reported. Kentucky’s penalty followed an overtime win over LSU, while Tennessee’s came after a win over Alabama.
| School | Game context | Visiting team receiving fine | Fine |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | Overtime win over LSU | LSU | $500,000 |
| Tennessee | Win over Alabama | Alabama | $500,000 |
Both cases involved the same amount and the same payment structure: the visiting team received the fine. Those penalties illustrate how the SEC policy has been applied in comparable field celebrations.
Fans Flooded the Field as Tennessee’s Game Ended
USA TODAY Sports reported that fans entered the field as the game ended. The outlet also reported that Tennessee coach Josh Heupel was restrained from crossing the field to shake hands with South Carolina coach Shane Beamer.
USA TODAY Sports reported that Telander appeared to throw a punch at a South Carolina player during the celebration. An officer and a Tennessee staffer pulled the linebacker back, the outlet reported.
USA TODAY Sports reported that South Carolina’s roster lists No. 23 as either freshman defensive back Triston Lewis or freshman receiver Sequel Patterson. The outlet connected that roster listing to its account of the apparent altercation.
South Carolina led 14-0 after the first quarter, USA TODAY Sports reported. Tennessee scored 21 unanswered points in the second quarter and held a 21-17 lead at halftime.
Neither team scored in the third quarter, and South Carolina added 10 points in the fourth, according to USA TODAY Sports. Dylan Stewart sealed the win with a strip-sack fumble with 33 seconds remaining, before Orsan’s field goal ended the game.
South Carolina’s Next Game Is at Oklahoma
The win moved South Carolina to 2-3 in SEC play, USA TODAY Sports reported. Tennessee has its lone bye of the season in Week 9.
South Carolina is scheduled to play at Oklahoma on Saturday, Oct. 31, USA TODAY Sports reported. The game is the Gamecocks’ next scheduled step after the Tennessee win.
