The University of Alabama is set to secure a payout from the University of Tennessee after Tennessee's 26-10 upset win against the Crimson Tide Saturday, Oct. 17.
The Southeastern Conference announced that Tennessee violated the league's access to competition area policy during Saturday's game. A $500,000 penalty will be paid to Alabama in accordance with SEC policy.
According to the policy, “institutions shall limit access to competition areas to participating student-athletes, coaches, officials, support personnel and properly credentialed or authorized individuals at all times. For the safety of participants and spectators alike, at no time before, during or after a contest may spectators enter the competition area.”
According to the SEC, commissioner Greg Sankey may reduce Tennessee's fine to $100,000 if the home institution, Tennessee, can prove it made a full attempt to prevent the field rush, few fans breached the competition area and had minimal interaction with the visiting team, Alabama.
Tennessee fans appeared on the field while Alabama players were still exiting.
Previously, there was an escalating fine structure where schools were fined $100,000 for the first offense, $250,000 for the second and then $500,000 for the third and any other subsequent incidents.
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 or Instagram @colingaytnews.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Tennessee violates SEC policy with field storm, fine paid to Alabama