SEC slaps Texas with stiff fine for debris-slinging episode

What started with a single beverage container thrown onto the field quickly escalated into a barrage. Numerous articles of debris, mostly plastic bottles, rained down on the field. Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian took to the field to implore the audience to stop, as play came to a stop. 

Meanwhile, officials huddled to discuss the controversial call, and in an unusual, albeit apparently correct move, reversed the call. (It was not a replay reversal, as pass interference calls are not subject to replay review.) Ironically, were it not for the delay caused by the actions of the crowd, it seems unlikely that the officials would have conferred to reassess the pass interference call.

After the reversal, the Longhorns went on to score, narrowing the Bulldogs lead to 23-15. 

Although Georgia controlled the fourth quarter and eventually secured a 30-15 victory, the controversial pass interference call/reversal and the crowd reaction it engendered have yielded ongoing fallout. 

The SEC announced Sunday the imposition of a $250,000 fine against the University of Texas for the actions of the attendees in DKR Memorial Stadium.

Texas has apologized to Georgia for the debris-tossing incident. 

A similar fine was assessed against the University of Tennessee when fans in Knoxville engaged in similar behavior in 2021.

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey articulated the conference's justification for the heavy monetary penalty.

"The throwing of debris and resulting interruption of play that took place Saturday night cannot be part of any SEC event," Sankey said.