The students began lining up before Malik Orsan even lined up for his 48-yard field goal. When Orsan’s kick spun through the uprights, sealing the Gamecocks’ 27-24 win over No. 11 Tennessee, a mass of humanity burst over the hedges.
The jubilation, though, comes at a cost.
An SEC-mandated fine of $500,000 will soon be coming to South Carolina for breaking the league’s access-to-competition-area policy. The Gamecocks will have to pay that half-a-million-dollar check directly to Tennessee.
Ironically, Tennessee was just fined $500,000 a week ago when the Vols defeated Alabama at Neyland Stadium and fans stormed the field.
The SEC used to operate with an escalating fine structure — $100,000 for first offense, $250,000 for the second and $500,000 for each subsequent court/field storming — but did away with that before the 2025 football season.
Now, schools are fined $500,000 each time a court/field storming occurs at one of their venues and is required to pay that money to the visiting school that had to navigate the court or field storming.
The SEC typically hands down these penalties on Sundays.
. Jordan Kaye/The State 
South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer celebrates with linebacker Kelby Collins (97) following the Gamecocks’ win over Tennessee in Columbia on Saturday, October 24, 2026. Sam Wolfe Special To The State 
Fans rush the field following South Carolina’s win over Tennessee in Columbia on Saturday, October 24, 2026. Sam Wolfe Special To The State
This story was originally published October 24, 2026 at 7:35 PM.
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