The next time an opposing team’s fans rush the field after beating Alabama football, there won’t be any question as to the fine. After years of increasing penalties, the SEC is moving to a flat competition-area entry fine for the 2025 season, $500,000 per violation.

The league had previously fined teams $100,000 for the first offense, $250,000 for the second and $500,000 for the third and beyond. Had the 2025 rule change been in effect from the beginning, the Crimson Tide would have made $5 million through the years.

Speaking at SEC spring meetings in May, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey explained the change.

“If you’re the one getting rushed, it doesn’t feel good,” Sankey said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s the first time there, it might be your sixth time in a row.”

The SEC began fining for field and court-storming in 2004. Since then, it had upped the fines twice, changing the rule in 2023 so the money would go to the visiting team for conference games.

The Crimson Tide football program is the most-rushed against team in the league, with SEC schools incurring fines 10 times through the years.

The last time opposing fans didn’t rush the field after beating UA was 2010, at LSU. Alabama collected three checks after the rule change in 2023, all of which came in 2024, totaling $300,000 between Vanderbilt, Tennessee and Oklahoma.

Auburn would have paid out the most to UA, with field rushes in 2013, 2017 and 2019.

Kentucky men’s basketball would have been just behind the Crimson Tide. Opposing SEC fans have stormed the court eight times after beating the Wildcats since 2004, and UK hoops often flip-flops positions with UA football as the most-rushed against program.

The eight fines would have meant $4 million for Kentucky’s coffers. However, Wildcat fans have a penchant for rushing the field after football victories, having done so six times, which would have been $3 million in penalties.

Vanderbilt is the most-penalized program in the league, incurring eight fines across football and men’s basketball. In real life, that meant $1.48 million paid out by the Commodores.

Had the new rules always been in place, the field and court rushes would have meant $4 million in fines. Arkansas, Kentucky, LSU, Ole Miss and South Carolina make up a five-way tie for second place, having incurred six competition-area entry fines each through the years.

Vanderbilt incurred five of its penalties starting in 2022, including three during the most recent football and basketball seasons, demonstrating a point Sankey made when discussing the issue.

“It has increased in the last three years,” Sankey said at spring meetings. “From the beginning of our policy in (2004), to about 2021, it was pretty steady. I don’t know if it’s post-COVID, or what it is, it has increased. That provoked a meaningful conversation about policy change.”

The SEC has issued 28 competition area entry fines since 2021. From 2004 through 2020, it penalized schools just 26 times.

SEC competition-area entry fines by school

Arkansas

Feb, 18, 2006, men’s basketball (Florida), $5,000

Nov. 15, 2014, football (LSU), $25,000

Sept. 11, 2021, FB (Texas), $100,000 (2015 fine structure)

Feb. 8, 2022, MBB (Auburn), $250,000

Nov. 29, 2023, MBB (Duke), $100,000 (2023 fine structure)

Oct. 5, 2024, FB (Tennessee), $250,000

Auburn

Nov. 30, 2013, FB (Alabama), $5,000

Jan. 16, 2016, MBB (Kentucky), $100,000 (2015 fine structure)

Nov, 25, 2017, FB (Alabama), $250,000

Nov. 30, 2019, FB (Alabama), $250,000

Florida

Feb. 19, 2022, MBB (Auburn), $50,000 (2015 fine structure)

Kentucky

Nov. 4, 2006, FB (Georgia), $5,000

Sept. 15, 2007, FB (Louisville), $25,000

Oct. 13, 2007, FB (LSU), $50,000

Oct. 4, 2014, FB (South Carolina), $25,000

Sept. 22, 2018, FB (Mississippi State), $100,000 (2015 fine structure)

Oct. 2, 2021, FB (Florida), $250,000

LSU

Oct. 25, 2014, FB (Ole Miss), $5,000

Oct. 13, 2018, FB (Georgia), $100,000 (2015 fine structure)

Oct. 22, 2022, FB (Ole Miss), $250,000

Nov. 3, 2022, FB (Alabama), $250,000

Feb. 21, 2024, MBB (Kentucky) $100,000 (2023 fine structure)

Oct. 12, 2024, FB (Ole Miss) $250,000

Ole Miss

Nov. 24, 2012, FB (MSU), $5,000

Oct. 19, 2013, FB (LSU), $25,000

Oct. 4, 2014, FB (Alabama), $50,000

Sept. 30, 2023, FB (LSU), $100,000 (2023 fine structure)

Nov. 9, 2024, FB (Georgia), $250,000 (plus $100,000 for early storm)

March 5, 2025 MBB (Tennessee) $500,000

Oklahoma

Nov. 24, 2024, FB (Alabama) $100,000 (plus $100,000 for early storm)

Missouri

Nov. 20, 2013, FB (Texas A&M), $5,000

Nov. 28, 2014, FB (Arkansas), $25,000

Sept. 16, 2023, FB (Kansas State), $100,000 (2023 fine structure)

Dec. 8, 2024, MBB (Kansas), $250,000

South Carolina

Feb. 15, 2005, MBB (Kentucky), $5,000

Jan. 26, 2010, MBB (Kentucky), $25,000

March 1, 2014, MBB (Kentucky), $25,000

Nov. 19, 2022, FB (Tennessee), $100,000 (2015 fine structure)

Jan. 23, 2024, MBB (Kentucky( $100,000 (2023 fine structure)

Nov. 2, 2024, FB (Texas A&M), $250,000

Tennessee

Jan. 21, 2006, MBB (Florida), $5,000

Oct. 15, 2022, FB (Alabama), $100,000 (2015 fine structure)

Oct. 19, 2024, FB (Alabama), $100,000 (2023 fine structure)

Texas A&M

Nov. 24, 2018, FB (LSU), $50,000 (2015 fine structure)

Oct. 9, 2021, FB (Alabama), $100,000

Nov. 26, 2022, FB (LSU), $250,000

Vanderbilt

March 21, 2005, MBB (Wichita State), $5,000

Feb. 17, 2007, MBB (Florida), $25,000

Feb. 26, 2016, MBB (Kentucky), $100,000 (2015 fine structure)

Nov. 19, 2022, FB (Florida), $250,000

Feb. 8, 2023, MBB (Tennessee), $250,000

Oct. 5, 2024 FB (Alabama) $100,000 (2023 fine structure)

Jan. 18, 2025, MBB (Tennessee), $250,000

Jan. 25, 2025, MBB (Kentucky), $500,000