Ole Miss has been fined $75,000 for fans throwing debris on the field during the Rebels’ win over LSU, the SEC announced Wednesday.

A portion of the fourth quarter of the LSU-Ole Miss football game was delayed when fans threw objects onto the playing field, interrupting the game.

“The disruption and delay of Saturday night’s game must never be part of any SEC event,” SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said in a release. “These actions are consistent with the oversight assigned by the membership to the SEC office, including the financial penalty and mandated reviews.”

LSU’s Brian Thomas Jr. hauled in a 34-yard touchdown in the corner of the end zone. Ole Miss fans believed Thomas didn’t have possession, but officials upheld the touchdown. Fans threw trash from the stands toward the Tigers sidelines as beer cans and water bottles were seen on the field.

Under the sportsmanship, game management and alcohol availability policies established by the SEC, Ole Miss will:

• Be assessed a financial penalty of $75,000, which will be deducted from the University’s share of SEC revenue distribution;
• Be required to use all available resources, including security, stadium and television video, to identify individuals who threw objects on to the playing field or at the opposing team. All individuals identified as having been involved in disrupting the game shall be prohibited from attending Ole Miss Athletics events for the remainder of the 2023-24 academic and athletic year;
• Review and update its Athletics Department game management procedures and alcohol availability policies to prevent a recurrence of Saturday night’s disruption, which shall include an evaluation of agreed upon SEC Sportsmanship, Game Management and Alcohol policies to verify full compliance with existing standards, and
• Following completion of this review, the University shall provide a report to the Conference Office to summarize its efforts to identify and penalize offenders and its plan to enact policies to prevent future similar incidents while ensuring compliance with Conference standards.

Sankey’s regulations related to the availability of alcoholic beverages states, “If cans or plastic bottles are used as projectiles or otherwise cause game management issues, the institution is subject to an immediate fine and suspension of the alcohol sales privilege.”

According to the release, the SEC isn’t suspending alcohol sales at Ole Miss but reserves the right to do so if the requirements outlined above are not met.

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.