The Southeastern Conference (SEC) handed down a $250,000 fine to the University of Texas after fans disrupted the October 19, 2024, football game against Georgia Bulldogs.
The SEC cited a “significant breach of sportsmanship” after some fans threw debris onto the field, causing a lengthy delay and potentially endangering both players and officials. Although the game itself took a dramatic turn in Texas’s favor, with an officiating reversal leading to a touchdown, the aftermath of the incident is where the real consequences lie.
With fans upset by a pass interference call, water bottles, beer cans, and other objects began raining down onto the field, forcing a halt in play. Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian personally had to intervene, heading to the end zone to calm the crowd and ask for the behavior to stop. Although the call was eventually reversed, allowing Texas to score and close the gap with Georgia, the damage had been done…