This article has been updated to include remarks from the Big 12.

After Utah suffered a narrow 22-21 defeat to their fierce rivals BYU late Saturday night, Utes athletic director Mark Harlan publicly lambasted not just the officials of the game, but also the Big 12 Conference itself.

Harlan’s comments have come with a hefty price tag — a $40,000 fine imposed by the Big 12, which announced on Sunday that he would also face a public reprimand. The conference cautioned that “any similar behavior in the future will lead to more severe consequences.”

“Mark’s remarks were an irresponsible attack on our officials’ professionalism and the credibility of the Big 12 Conference,” stated Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark. “There’s an appropriate way to express concerns, and sadly, Mark opted for an inappropriate approach. Therefore, this incident necessitates both a public reprimand and a financial penalty. The Big 12 Conference is committed to upholding professionalism, integrity, and fairness.”

Prior to Coach Kyle Whittingham or any players addressing the media after the loss, Harlan made his comments, expressing his frustration that the game was “clearly taken from us,” while admitting that he was looking forward to being a part of the Big 12, though his feelings had soured following this game.

“We should have won this game,” Harlan stated. “It was stolen from us. I’m deeply disappointed. I plan to discuss it with the commissioner. What happened was unfair to our team. I’m appalled by the quality of officiating tonight.”

The Utes initially led 21-10 at halftime in their annual “Holy War” clash but conceded 12 unanswered points in the second half, culminating in a decisive 44-yard field goal with just three seconds remaining on the clock.

On that final drive, with Utah ahead 21-19, it appeared they had stopped BYU on two separate fourth downs, but both plays were reversed. BYU’s quarterback, Jake Retzlaff, threw an incompletion, but the officials blew the whistle, claiming BYU had called a timeout prior to the play. On the next fourth down attempt, Retzlaff was tackled, but a holding penalty against a Utes cornerback allowed BYU to continue their drive. They then advanced down the field to set up the game-winning kick.

The victory allowed BYU to remain undefeated and they advanced to No. 8 in the US LBM Coaches Poll, making them the only team in the Big 12 with fewer than two losses this season.

Harlan’s fine is notable, as it surpasses previous penalties in the Big 12, which hadn’t exceeded $25,000 in the last ten years.

Following the fine, Harlan acknowledged that his approach to voicing his disappointments was lacking.

“I understand that there are more suitable times and ways to express these concerns, and I accept the outcomes of my remarks,” Harlan said in a statement. “My comments were made immediately after leaving our locker room where our student-athletes were feeling hurt and upset. The University of Utah values its membership in the Big 12 Conference and looks forward to collaborating with fellow institutions to improve the league.”