Big 12 college football fans can now directly impact the results of games more than ever before, but not in a good way.
Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger reported Thursday morning that Big 12 athletic directors voted this week to “solidify” a conference game management policy that penalizes teams for their fans throwing items onto the field.
Teams will receive two warnings before any penalties ensue, but after that teams can be assessed 15-yard penalties whenever fans throw things onto the playing field.
Per Dellenger, 15 of 16 Big 12 ADs voted in favor of the rule change/solidification.
Dellenger noted that the Big 12 team most affected by the rule will likely be Texas Tech, due to a pregame tradition among Red Raiders fans that involves throwing tortillas onto the field, particularly during the opening kickoff.
“The policy will allow for tortillas to be thrown at opening kickoff but will result in a warning,” Dellenger wrote. “A third incident may result in a penalty.”
In general, college football fans throwing things onto the playing field has always been viewed as a problem.
Last year, the SEC fined Ole Miss $350K and LSU $250K for fan activities involving the field. LSU was specially fined, according to ESPN, for “fans throwing bottles and other debris on the field.”
LSU was also required to “use all video resources to identify those who threw objects onto the field at the opposing team. Those identified will be prohibited from attending LSU athletic events for the 2024-25 academic year. LSU also must review its game management and alcohol availability policies, and report to the league its plan for penalizing violators. If requirements are not met, the SEC could eventually suspend LSU’s ability to sell alcohol at its athletic events.”
The Big 12 rule has the chance to directly affect games as they happen, though. With fan behavior potentially altering their favorite team’s chances of winning.
