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SEC announces Vanderbilt avoided fine due to 'delayed' field rush vs. LSU

Barkley-Truaxby: Barkley Truax7 hours agoBarkleyTruax
NCAA Football: Louisiana State at Vanderbilt
Oct 18, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores quarterback Diego Pavia (2) runs with the ball against the Louisiana State Tigers during the first half at FirstBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

The Southeastern Conference will not fine Vanderbilt after its “delayed field rush” after defeating LSU 31-24. The conference permits fans to celebrate on the home team’s playing surface once the away team is already back in the locker room.

“The school must submit the plan to the Conference office in advance and communicate the policy to fans,” the conference wrote, per release. “If all visiting team personnel and game officials are safely off the playing surface prior to fans entering the field or court, then the home institution may avoid the prescribed penalty.”

As the end of regulation approached, Vanderbilt communicated to the fans on-hand that it would permit its fans onto the field once LSU’s entire team cleared the field. The fans wishing to celebrate remained in the stands until then, allowing the Commodores to bypass any fine the SEC could have levied.

Per SEC policy, the league required a $500,000 to be paid out to the opposing institution for a violation of the league’s access to competition area policy. That rule is enforced for all sports throughout the conference.

Last season, the SEC levied a $100,000 fine against the Commodores after their fans stormed the field after knocking off then-No. 1 Alabama in the now infamous upset in Nashville. However, the SEC amended the rule following the conclusion of the 2024-25 college basketball season, increasing the base level fine to $500,000.

Previously, the SEC enforced an escalating fine structure for field rushes. The first offense cost $100,000, the second being $250,000 and the third incident and beyond hits $500,000.

“The motivation was ‘field rushing is field rushing, the first time or the 18th time,'” commissioner Greg Sankey said in May. “The random nature of, if you’re the one getting rushed, it doesn’t feel good. It might be the first time (it happened) there, but it might be your sixth time in a row, literally.”

The victory improved Vanderbilt to 6-1 on the season — the first time the Commodores have reached that mark in consecutive seasons since the 1950s. They’ve also found themselves ranked inside the top 10 in the latest AP Top 25 poll, coming in right at No. 10.

The Commodores are on a bye week during Week 9, but will return during Week 10 with a home stand against what will likely be a ranked Missouri squad.