Vanderbilt Avoids $500K Fine from SEC After 'Delayed Field Rush' Following Win vs. LSU

Vanderbilt will not be fined $500,000 by the SEC after its fans stormed the field on Saturday following the team's 31-24 win over LSU, with the conference noting the fans performed a permitted "delayed field rush."

SEC rules allow fans to "celebrate on the playing surface once all visiting team personnel and game officials have safely exited the field or court. The school must submit the plan to the Conference office in advance and communicate the policy to fans. 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."

Led by quarterback Diego Pavia (160 yards and a touchdown through the air, 86 yards and two touchdowns on the ground), Vanderbilt beat LSU for the first time since 1990 and moved to 6-1 on the season.

Vanderbilt is now ranked No. 10 in the nation, while LSU (5-2) dropped from No. 10 to No. 20 after the defeat.

"Ultimately we have a lot of season left, and we're going to celebrate this win," Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea told reporters. "I think we've earned the right to celebrate it. But this game won't define our season. And there's a lot more for this team to accomplish."

The schedule doesn't get much easier for the Commodores, with matchups against Missouri on Saturday, Texas after that and Tennessee to close the regular season. Win out, however, and Vanderbilt will have a legitimate shot at playing in the SEC Championship Game and would assuredly be in the College Football Playoff, both stunning potential accomplishments for a school that has hardly been a football powerhouse in its history.

There's plenty of football left to be played, of course. But with Pavia and the Vanderbilt offense cruising, it wouldn't be surprising if we saw another "delayed field rush" from the Commodores fans this season.