Less than a day after Mark Harlan criticized game officials following BYU’s 22-21 comeback win over Utah late Saturday night, the Big 12 responded by issuing a hefty fine on the Utes athletic director. The league fined Harlan $40,000 and issued a public reprimand for his actions at the conclusion of the game at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

The Big 12 fine is considered stiff, as the three athletic director fines of note in the past decade were all $25,000.

After a nail-biting end to the "Holy War" rivalry game, where BYU clinched a last-second win over the University of Utah, a new question emerged: Who covers the

The Big 12 fined Utah athletic director Mark Harlan $40,000 and issued a public reprimand in the wake of his disparaging comments about officiating after Utah's home loss to BYU late Saturday. Harlan said the game was "absolutely stolen" from Utah and he was "disgusted by the professionalism" of the Big 12 officiating crew.

The Utah Utes are not having a good time in their first season in the Big 12, and that rough beginning was compounded by comments from their athletic director Mark Harlan that have resulted in a $40,000 fine.

Utah athletic director Mark Harlan’s post-game comments following the Utah Utes’ 22-21 loss to ninth-ranked BYU sparked significant controversy and a steep penalty from the Big 12. After the nail-biting 'Holy War' rivalry game,

Utah athletic director Mark Harlan went off after the Utes' controversial loss to BYU, and now he has to face the consequences.