By james art 
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina was fined $250,000 by the Southeastern Conference for fans who stormed the field after the Gamecocks’ 44-20 victory over then-No. 10 Texas A&M at Williams-Brice Stadium on Saturday night.
The school was fined by the league for its second violation under its policy, which was last amended in 2023. The Gamecocks were fined $100,000 in January when the men’s basketball team beat No. 6 Kentucky 79-62.
The final fine, according to SEC rules, will go to Texas A&M.
The SEC policy says institutions must limit access to competition areas to participating athletes, along with coaches, officials and authorized support personnel “for the safety of both participants and spectators.”
A subsequent violation would cost South Carolina $500,000.
As the clock expired, fans climbed out of the stands and through a hedge between the student section and the field to celebrate with the team.
The win was South Carolina’s first over a top-10 opponent since beating Tennessee and Clemson in back-to-back weeks to end the 2022 regular season.