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Fans storming the field is a long standing tradition and highly marketable spectacle across college sports but recently many leaders across college football have expressed concerns of player and fan safety.
Alabama athletics director Greg Byrne has been one of those leaders voicing his concerns as the Crimson Tide has consistently been involved in field rushes following its losses. Byrne’s suggested fix at the time was as extreme as having the team forfeit the game right there if their fans rushed the field.
Although not quite as cutthroat, SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey shared during spring meetings on Thursday that adjustments had been made to try and discourage fans from entering the field. The adjustment comes in the form of a new uniform fine of $500,000 which universities will have to cough up in exchange.
SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey making some closing remarks at the SEC Meetings.
He said all field/court stormings will cost the home team $500,000. There will be no more escalating scale — $100k to $250k to $500k
— Jordan Kaye (@jordankaye_23) May 29, 2025
Only time will tell if the price will resonate with a lively college student body after a major upset, but judging from his comments back in February, Byrne is not confident it will do so.
“Kids aren’t going to be in the stands saying, ‘Oh, I don’t want to do this because this school is gonna get fined $200,000,” Byrne said. “That doesn’t enter their mindset.”
More must-reads:
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- NASCAR making major rule change for 2026 season
- The 'Most NFL QB two-rushing-TD games' quiz
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Auburn Looking to Snap Home Woes Against Georgia
AUBURN, Ala.- The Auburn Tigers host No. 10 Georgia Bulldogs this weekend in the 130th edition of the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry. The series is tied for the second most-played in college football, trailing only Minnesota vs. Wisconsin (134 meetings). Four of the last six meetings between Auburn and Georgia in Jordan–Hare Stadium dating back to 2013 have been decided by one score. This contest also marks the first night game between Auburn and Georgia at Jordan Hare-Stadium since 2009. Arguably the greatest recent win for Auburn against Georgia at home came in 2013, a miraculous win for the Tigers named the "Prayer at Jordan-Hare." Quarterback Nick Marshall heaved a deep pass to Ricardo Lewis, which was tipped up by a pair of Georgia defenders and caught by Louis, who scored a touchdown. Saturday’s matchup marks the 130th meeting in the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry, which dates back to 1892. It also marks the 81st straight season the two foes have matched up, dating back to 1944. The rivalry was not played in 1943, due to Auburn not fielding a team because of World War II. The two teams also did not match up in 1917 and 1918 because of World War I and the subsequent influenza outbreak. With those exceptions, Auburn and Georgia have played continuously since 1898. Auburn is 56-65-8 all time against the Bulldogs, including a 12-19-2 record at home. The Tigers are looking for their first win in the series since a 40-17 win on Nov. 11, 2017. Since 2017, Georgia has won three-straight at Jordan-Hare Stadium with two wins by a touchdown. The Tigers and the Bulldogs met twice in 2017, once in Jordan-Hare and once in the SEC Championship game, when the Bulldogs were able to avenge their earlier beatdown from the Tigers by winning the SEC Championship, 28-7. The Tigers are coming off of a bye week, and with a top-10 rival in town, will look to play spoiler. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. CST and will be televised on ABC. More From Florida Gators on SI
North Carolina reportedly considering nuclear option with Bill Belichick, and that's justified
Jayden Daniels takes firm stance on Dan Quinn's decision about elephant in the room ahead of Commanders and Bears rematch
The Washington Commanders are back home to take on the Chicago Bears in an anticipated rematch on Monday Night Football. This game had everything you could ask for last season, between the buildup of the number one and number two overall picks in the draft, and the most chaotic finish of the year. That was last year, though, and the Commanders know they can't reflect on the past as they prepare for this game. Jayden Daniels' mindset has always been one of his biggest strengths, and he showed it again when he agreed with head coach Dan Quinn's comments on the rematch. No reason to hang onto the Hail Mary The showdown between the Commanders and Bears last season had the biggest surprise ending of the season, and it was a massive momentum shift for both teams. The Commanders went on to make a run through the playoffs, while the Bears struggled the rest of the season and made major changes after the year ended. It's very easy to hold onto such an emotional moment as a football player, especially for Daniels, who threw the pass, but he's moved on from it and won't reflect on it anymore, because there's no reason to bring it into the rematch. "I just left that in last year. It speaks for itself," Daniels said. "Like, I mean, that Hail Mary ain't gonna help us win a game on Monday. So what's the point?" Dan Quinn won't bring it up with the team Quinn is on the same page with his quarterback, and the Hail Mary isn't even a topic that has been brought up to the team. "It's last year's story. You know?" Quinn said. "Like, it was awesome. We loved it, but like, it doesn't apply to this week's game at all unless we get into that exact scenario and that exact situation. So then we can talk about it, but until then, like we have a lot of stuff to get better at and work on, to get ready." The Commanders are facing a different Bears team that is coming off a bye week, while the Commanders are looking to bring the momentum from last week's win, and not the Hail Mary finish from the previous season. Every NFC game matters when it comes to the playoffs, so you can't afford to let this one slip away at home.
Officiating Crew For Steelers-Browns Game Gives 1 Team Clear Advantage
The Pittsburgh Steelers have been dominant against the Cleveland Browns under Head Coach Mike Tomlin. However, an AFC North contest coming off a bye week is never something Steelers fans overlook. With the Browns sitting at 1-4 and the Steelers at 3-1, a victory in this matchup is pivotal for Pittsburgh to start AFC North play on the right foot. The Steelers are looking to carry momentum from a strong start to the season, and continuing their winning ways against a divisional rival would set a positive tone for the months ahead. The Browns will be starting rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who will be making just his second-ever NFL start. The Steelers' defense will look to make life extremely difficult for the rookie on Sunday. One area that is always important in these matchups is the officiating crew. According to NFL Ref Stats, the Steelers appear to have a significant advantage in this contest against the Browns. Historically, Pittsburgh has fared well under certain officiating crews, particularly those with tendencies that favor defensive schemes and physical play at the line of scrimmage. This statistical edge may not guarantee a win, but it certainly provides a subtle advantage that could tip critical calls in Pittsburgh’s favor during a tightly contested game. Beyond the numbers, the Steelers will need to execute clean football on both sides of the ball. Protecting the quarterback, establishing the run, and maintaining discipline on defense will be key to neutralizing Cleveland’s biggest playmakers. While the Browns are struggling this season, divisional games often bring out unexpected performances, making preparation and focus essential. If Pittsburgh can combine their historical dominance, officiating edge, and disciplined execution, they have a strong chance to assert control early in AFC North play and keep their division hopes alive. Ron Torbert will serve as the officiating head for this contest, and the numbers clearly favor the Steelers. In games Torbert has officiated, Pittsburgh has gone an impressive 10-1, showing a consistent trend of success under his oversight. Even more striking, the Steelers are a perfect 8-0 at home in games where Torbert is the head referee, highlighting a significant home-field advantage when he is on the crew. Steelers Should Have Edge In Week 6 Against Browns Expect the officials to focus heavily on offensive penalties, as Torbert has a reputation for calling more infractions on the offense than the defense. According to NFL Ref Stats, he assesses 52.5% of all penalties against the offense, ranking fourth in the league for offensive penalties per game. This suggests that both teams will need to maintain discipline, but it could particularly benefit Pittsburgh, a team built around physical play and disciplined execution. For the Steelers, this officiating angle could be an advantage they can capitalize on, especially early in the game. By staying sharp and minimizing mistakes, Pittsburgh can force Cleveland into difficult situations while maintaining momentum. With Torbert on the field, the historical trends and penalty tendencies both point to a scenario where the Steelers have an extra edge in controlling the pace and flow of this crucial AFC North matchup. The Steelers sit as -200 favorites in this contest and it seems like a lot is on their side.
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Red Wings under pressure to end historic playoff drought
There's no team facing more pressure to win during the 2025-26 season than the Detroit Red Wings. While some can always bring up the perpetual pressure on Edmonton to win a Stanley Cup for Connor McDavid, the expectations on Winnipeg to finally embark on a deep playoff run or even the Pittsburgh needing to win enough to make Sidney Crosby happy, the Red Wings are the ones who have to put an end to their run of futility. Reds Wings are in the middle of a playoff drought Detroit enters the new season looking to avoid a full decade without playoff hockey in a city that labels itself "Hockeytown" and decided to put that iconic phrase back on center ice as part of celebrating the franchise's 100th anniversary season. The 11-time Stanley Cup champion Red Wings currently own the second-longest active postseason drought of nine years, which sits only behind the Buffalo Sabres' 12. And to put Detroit's drought in historical context, this nine-year stretch is the longest any Original 6 organization has ever endured. Simply put, the Red Wings need to stop rebuilding and find a way to get into the playoffs. After just missing out two years ago, many expected last season to be the year. But it was not to be, as Detroit fell out of contention far sooner and crawled to a 39-35-8 record, which was only good enough for 86 points, a five-point drop off from the 91 they posted for the 2023-24 campaign. Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman made a big move to help get back on track Maybe feeling the hunger of the fans, team vice president and general manager Steve Yzerman pulled the trigger on a move that could be the missing piece to get the Red Wings over the hump and at least play further into the spring. Yzerman sent backup Petr Mrazek, a 2026 second-round pick and a 2027 fourth-round pick to Anaheim for veteran goalie John Gibson. It's a package the Red Wings will be more than happy to part with if Gibson can be that steady force the Red Wings have been looking for in net. The move signaled a change in mentality for the Red Wing legend, who has been very patient, maybe too patient, since taking over for Ken Holland in 2019. Before the trade for Gibson, Yzerman was hesitant to go all in, something that became most evident by failing to add anything of note at the trade deadline in either of the past two seasons. But now with Patrick Kane back in the fold for another year, Dylan Larkin still carrying the torch as captain and Lucas Raymond fresh off the best season of his career — he scored 27 goals and totaled 80 points, the Detroit fan is sick of waiting around for next year, and undesirably so at this point. Once the stars of their most recent Stanley Cup teams aged out, a rebuilding period was expected and even necessary, but it's time for the next step in that process is a return to the playoffs. Only then can fans dream of the success the Red Wings once enjoyed back when Yzerman was a player. The pressure will officially begin to mount on Thursday when the Red Wings drop the puck on the new season at home against Montreal.
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