College football player’s stomp on rival’s foot goes viral during Tennessee-UAB game

A college football moment from Saturday’s Tennessee–UAB game drew swift backlash after UAB safety Sirad Bryant appeared to stomp on Tennessee kicker Max Gilbert’s foot during a first-quarter play. Bryant was seen approaching Gilbert and seemed to stomp on his foot as the kick unit prepared, prompting immediate reaction from Tennessee players and a stoppage as three officials threw flags on the field.

Bryant was assessed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for the act. The clip quickly circulated on social media, where fans labeled the move as dirty and bush league.

Tennessee went on to a convincing victory after scoring three first-quarter touchdowns, and Bryant’s incident came as a factor in the flow of the game. UAB was also flagged for targeting later in the contest, resulting in cornerback Donald Lee’s ejection.

The incident arrives amid a broader discussion about on-field conduct in football, echoing recent criticism of aggressive acts in the sport. In the NFL, for example, Eagles defensive lineman Jalen Carter spat at Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and was fined $57,222; he did not appeal the decision. Carter was ejected from Philadelphia’s Week 1 win over Dallas just six seconds into the game, and the league said the ejection should be treated as already served as part of a one-game suspension.

There was no immediate information on additional sanctions beyond the on-field penalties announced during the game. The episode has renewed conversations among coaches, players and fans about sportsmanship and discipline in college football, particularly in high-stakes conference games where emotions run high.