The Big 12 and Southeastern Conference have responded to recent incidents where fans rushed the field following significant wins by their teams, with some of these celebrations occurring before the matches had officially concluded.
On Saturday, supporters of the 14th-ranked Arizona State team celebrated their 28-23 triumph over No. 19 BYU by storming the field after the final pass attempt by Sun Devils quarterback Sam Leavitt was deemed uncatchable. This play unfolded with just 7 seconds lingering on the clock, but officials later indicated that there was actually 1 second remaining when the field was cleared.
This evacuation of the field took about 15 minutes, delaying BYU’s attempt at a last-minute Hail Mary pass that ultimately fell incomplete, confirming what is considered one of the most significant home wins for Arizona State in the last decade.
Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark emphasized the priority of safety for athletes and everyone involved in games, stating, “The safety of student-athletes and all game participants is our foremost priority. We will continue to work with our institutions on event management policies at all Big 12 venues.”
The SEC levied fines against Oklahoma and Auburn on Sunday due to similar crowd actions. Fans from Oklahoma rushed onto the field early after their team secured a 24-3 victory over No. 7 Alabama, while Auburn supporters waited until after their thrilling 43-41 four-overtime win against No. 20 Texas A&M.
Auburn received a $100,000 fine for its initial offense, whereas Oklahoma faced a $200,000 penalty, which included a $100,000 fine for its first infraction and an additional $100,000 for the fans accessing the field while 28 seconds were still on the clock.
Additionally, fans from Nebraska and California also charged onto the field, with Cornhuskers fans celebrating a 44-25 win over Wisconsin that secured bowl eligibility for the first time since 2016. Meanwhile, supporters of the Bears celebrated their 24-21 victory against Stanford during the highly anticipated rivalry known as “The Big Game,” also marking their bowl eligibility.