SEC fines Kentucky $500,000 after fans storm field, flip off LSU's Lane Kiffin

The Southeastern Conference has fined the University of Kentucky $500,000 after fans stormed the field at Kroger Field and directed obscene gestures at LSU coach Lane Kiffin following the Wildcats' 35-34 overtime upset of the Tigers on Saturday, The Big Lead reported.

According to The Big Lead, Kentucky students rushed the field after the final play, and some were seen flipping off Kiffin. LSU was ranked No. 10 at kickoff. The penalty puts a large price on what was otherwise the biggest win so far for first-year coach Will Stein at Kentucky.

Kiffin has been a target for opposing teams and fans since leaving Ole Miss during its College Football Playoff run last season to take the LSU job. The Big Lead wrote that the Wildcats went into the game feeling disrespected and that the Tigers were going to get Kentucky's best effort.

They did. For the second week in a row, Kentucky won 35-34 in overtime. Stein kept his offense on the field and played for the win rather than settling. Kentucky spread out the LSU defense, and quarterback Kenny Minchey, a transfer from Notre Dame, ran up the middle for the winning touchdown.

After the game, Stein gave LSU's offense its due, telling reporters it is "just tough to stop those guys" and singling out quarterback Sam Leavitt and the Tigers' big running backs. He also credited his own defense for forcing takeaways while dealing with injuries.

The turnaround has come quickly. Kentucky went 5-7 last season. Now the Wildcats are 5-1 and back in the AP Top 25 at No. 15. Stein came from Oregon, where he was offensive coordinator, and he built his first Kentucky offense around Minchey.

The road gets harder this week. Kentucky plays at Oklahoma (3-2) on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. EDT on SEC Network. The Sooners are favored at -223 on Novig, one of the venues pricing the game, and they are 6.5-point favorites with a total of 43.5. BetMGM has Oklahoma at -235. Markets for the game are on the Kentucky at Oklahoma odds page.

LSU dropped to 4-2 and No. 22 after the loss. The Tigers have a quick chance to recover at home against No. 16 Mississippi State (4-1) at noon EDT Saturday on ESPN. LSU is favored at -441 on Novig and by 12.5 points, with a total of 58.5, and DraftKings lists the Tigers at -470. See the Mississippi State at LSU page for more.

Kiffin's old program is also busy this week. No. 9 Ole Miss hosts No. 13 Missouri at 3:30 p.m. EDT, and the Rebels are favored at -212 on Novig and by 5.5 points (Missouri at Ole Miss).

Kentucky's next test is whether it can follow two straight overtime escapes with a win on the road in Norman, where the market expects a low-scoring game.