Big 12 announces policy change on throwing objects onto field, sets $100,000 fine for 2nd offense

The Big 12 sent a memo to schools this week announcing a refined sportsmanship policy with regard to throwing objects on the field, according to Yahoo! Sports’ Ross Dellenger. The league introduced a $100,000 fine for the second offense if a team is flagged.

This week’s memo comes after a situation at the Texas Tech vs. Kansas game in Lubbock last week. The Red Raiders have a tradition of throwing tortillas onto the field, though the Big 12 announced a change in policy before the year attempting to curb it.

In the memo, the Big 12 said multiple punishments would be in play after the second offense. Teams could receive a 15-yard penalty, the league could clear the playing surface until it’s safe to resume play, it could clear the section of the stadium where the object was thrown, or officials can stop play and allow the home team’s coach or AD to address the crowd to stop throwing objects.

In a memo this week to all 16 schools, the Big 12 announced a refined sportsmanship policy related to throwing objects on the field, introducing a fine of $100,000 for a second offense (if a team is flagged) or the ability to pause the game or “clear” a section of the stadium. pic.twitter.com/5nKB9vEVBk

— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) October 17, 2025

“It is the responsibility of each Big 12 member institution to maintain a secure venue for the safety of the participants, staff, fans, and game officials. … As such, please be informed that the Conference is refining its Sportsmanship Policy to address objects being thrown onto the playing enclosure (which includes team benches and playing surface,” Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark wrote in the memo, dated Oct. 13.

Texas Tech athletics director Kirby Hocutt confirmed the memo in a video released Wednesday. He walked fans through the ramifications if they were to throw tortillas onto the field during a game at Jones AT&T Stadium.

“They changed it, it’s not the field, it’s the playing enclosure,” Hocutt said. “So even if it hits the sideline, if it hits behind the endzone, if it hits the playing enclosure, that second strike is a 15-yard penalty and an $100,000 fine. … So you get one chance (during the) opening kickoff, the tortillas can come out, it’s a warning. The second time, it could be that first series, if people keep throwing tortillas into the second and third play, that could cost us 15 yards right there and a $100,000 fine. That’s a big financial penalty that’s associated as we go forward.”

Both Texas Tech and Kansas received $25,000 fines after multiple issues that played out during last Saturday’s game, a 42-17 Red Raiders victory. Texas Tech was fined for “repeated instances of objects being thrown onto the playing surface” while the Jayhawks were fined for head coach Lance Leipold’s “disparaging comments” about the league and another member institution.