Utah Athletic Director Fined $40,000 by Big 12

The Big 12 Conference has fined Utah athletic director Mark Harlan $40,000 and issued a public reprimand following his critical remarks about officiating after Utah's 22-21 loss to BYU. Harlan described the game as 'absolutely stolen' from Utah and expressed disgust at the officiating crew's professionalism, which Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark condemned as irresponsible and detrimental to the conference's integrity. The fine is the largest imposed on an athletic director in the last decade, reflecting the seriousness of Harlan's comments, especially given that a repeat offense could lead to harsher penalties. Harlan's controversial remarks followed a pivotal holding call that negated a potential game-ending sack for Utah, allowing BYU to secure a last-minute victory. The situation highlights the challenges faced by Utah in its first season in the Big 12, now with a 1-5 conference record. Harlan acknowledged his misstep in addressing officiating concerns publicly and accepted the consequences of his actions.