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.

Mark Harlan’s emotional comments following Utah’s 22-21 loss to BYU came with a hefty price tag. The Utah athletic director, who has been at the helm for six years with the Utes, received a $40,000 fine from the Big 12 Sunday and a “public reprimand,

The Big 12 conference fined Utah athletic director Mark Harlan $40,000 and issued a public reprimand for his actions after the team’s 22-21 loss to Brigham Young University on Saturday.

I’ve been an athletic director for 12 years. This game was absolutely stolen from us,” Harlan told reporters. “We were excited about being in the Big 12, but tonight I am not.” He continued: “We won this game.

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

The Big 12 Conference has 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.

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.