Alabama Gets $500K from Tennessee as SEC Fines Vols for Storming Field After Upset Win

Alabama lost to Tennessee 26-10 in upset fashion on Saturday, marking its third loss to the Vols in the last five years.

The silver lining in losing to their rival is that the Crimson Tide will get a hefty payment from the Vols. Since Tennessee fans stormed the field at Neyland Stadium, the school will have to pay Alabama $500,000.

In May, the SEC upped its fine for field and court storming to $500,000 per incident. Previously, schools were fined $100,000 for their first offence, $250,000 for their second offence, and $500,000 for their third offence.

"The motivation was 'field rushing is field rushing, the first time or the 18th time,'" commissioner Greg Sankey said about the decision to change the fine. "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."

In 2022, Tennessee beat Alabama at Neyland Stadium to snap a 15-game losing streak to the Crimson Tide, and fans poured onto Shields-Watkins Field, celebratory cigars in hand.

After beating Alabama again in 2024, Vols fans once again celebrated the victory by coming onto the playing surface. Despite having several wins over the Tide in the last few years, the victory over their bitter rival led to another field storming on Saturday.

"This is without a doubt the best fan base in America," Tennessee coach Josh Heupel told reporters after the win. "They show up in an elite way every Saturday."

Alabama dropped to 5-2 with the loss, and the Tide are officially on a regular-season losing streak for the first time since 2007, which was Nick Saban's first year at the helm. They'll look to get back on track next week against Texas A&M.

Tennessee, meanwhile, improved to 6-1 and is building a solid College Football Playoff resume, with its only loss coming to Texas in September. The Vols will take on South Carolina on the road next week.