Arkansas fined $250,000 by the SEC for fans storming the field after beating Tennessee

Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium was filled with a sea of red Saturday night as fans stormed the field after Arkansas football 's defense came up with the stop to knock off then-No. 4 Tennessee.

But the celebration came at a cost, a hefty one.

On Sunday afternoon, the Southeastern Conference announced that Arkansas would be fined $250,000 for violating the conference's access to competition area policy. The press release mentioned that it is the second time that Arkansas has violated the league's policy, explaining why the Razorbacks were fined more than Vanderbilt, who also had a field storming after knocking off then-No. 1 Alabama.

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As noted by The Athletic, Arkansas' first violation of the SEC's access to competition area policy came during last year's men's basketball season when the Razorbacks defeated No. 9 Duke 80-75 in the SEC/ACC Challenge.

By the rule of the conference's policy, which was revised in 2023 at the SEC Spring Meeting, the Razorbacks will pay $250,000 to Tennessee.

Behind Andrew Armstrong's game-high 132 receiving yards on nine receptions, the Razorbacks not only picked up their biggest win of the Sam Pittman era in Fayetteville but also their first win over an AP top-five team since 1999, which ironically also came against Tennessee.

SEC football field storming violation policy, fines

Here's the SEC's access to competition area policy, i.e. the conference's field storming 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. "

As noted by the SEC, financial penalties range from $100,000 for a first offense, $250,000 for a second offense and $500,000 for a third and more offenses.

This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Arkansas fined $250,000 by the SEC for fans storming the field after beating Tennessee