The tortilla toss is one of the Big 12’s most iconic traditions, but its future is now in doubt after the conference warned Texas Tech it could face a $100,000 fine if the practice continues.
According to The Athletic, “A first offense will result in a warning and a second offense will result in a 15-yard penalty and a $100,000 fine.”
Specifically, any object that lands in or beyond the end zone would constitute a violation, which could result in penalties or fines assessed against the program.
“So you get one chance, opening kickoff, tortillas come out, it’s a warning,” Texas Tech Athletic Director Kirby Hocutt told The Athletic.
He went on to note that if people throw the tortillas a second time, the team would receive those penalties. Hocutt said that it would be a “big financial penalty.”
The Red Raiders were fined $25,000 following last weekend’s win over Kansas, stemming from an altercation where fans continued to throw objects onto the field.
As the Big 12 places greater emphasis on fan conduct and game-day enforcement, Texas Tech is facing a pivotal moment. While the tortilla toss remains a cherished tradition in Lubbock, continued violations could force the school to leave it behind.
Texas Tech may become the first program to learn that some traditions, no matter how beloved, come with a cost.
This season, the Red Raiders sit at the top of the Big 12 at 6-0 and matchup with the Arizona State Sun Devils on Saturday, Oct. 18 at 4 p.m. ET on FOX.
The program has not finished with 10 or more wins since 2008.
