Texas fined $250,000 by SEC for fans throwing objects on field after controversial call
The pass interference call was reversed while the field was cleaned up
Texas is facing financial ramifications for its fans’ actions during the Longhorns’ loss to Georgia on Saturday night.
Texas fans threw objects onto the field with less than three minutes to go in the third quarter after officials called a pass interference on Jahdae Barron after Barron made an interception. The SEC announced Sunday that Texas would be fined $250,000 and ban anyone who threw something onto the field from attending a Texas sporting event for the rest of the school year.
Texas fans threw bottles on the field before the refs overturned a controversial PI call 😬 pic.twitter.com/CgIVbqrmcF
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) October 20, 2024
“The throwing of debris and resulting interruption of play that took place Saturday night cannot be part of any SEC event,” SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said in a statement. “The SEC is assigned responsibility by its membership to enforce its sportsmanship and game management policies and these actions are consistent with that oversight responsibility, including the financial penalty and mandated reviews.”
The situation was one of the most bizarre penalty-related instances in recent college football history. As the field was being cleared of debris, officials conferred and decided that the pass interference penalty should be rescinded and Texas should keep the ball. The Longhorns scored two plays later to cut Georgia’s lead to 23-15, but the Bulldogs went on to win 30-15.
In the hours after the game, Georgia administrators said they wanted answers from the SEC about the process of overturning the call. In a statement posted to social media, athletic director Josh Brooks said he wanted to know when officials realized the call was wrong.
It is my privilege and duty to serve the University of Georgia and part of that responsibility is to stand up for my coaches, student-athletes, staff, and all of Dawg Nation.
As proud as I am of the resolve our team had, I am also equally disappointed and frustrated in some of…— Josh Brooks (@Brooks_UGA) October 20, 2024
"What I cannot accept is the manner in which this specific call was reversed," Brooks wrote. "The official claimed he erred in the call. My question is when did he realize the error? If it was before the delay that occurred due to fans throwing objects on the field, what stopped him before the head official made the announcement and spotted the ball?"
Hours before the SEC announced that Texas would be fined, the school apologized for what took place on Saturday night.
"While we deeply appreciate the passion and loyalty of our fan base at The University of Texas at Austin, we do not condone the unsportsmanlike conduct that was exhibited by some individuals throwing objects onto the field during last night's game and sincerely apologize to the University of Georgia players, coaches, and fans, as well as the Southeastern Conference and officiating crew," a statement from Board of Regents chair Kevin Eltife, Texas president Jay Hartzell and athletic director Chris Del Conte said.
The SEC said there are other guidelines for Texas to meet as part of its punishment for the objects being thrown on the field. If the conference doesn't find that Texas sufficiently fulfills those obligations, it said it has the right to revoke the school's ability to sell alcohol at sporting events.