Mark Harlan’s actions after the BYU-Utah game and his statement on Sunday sparked debates about Utah football’s place in the Big 12.

Mark Harlan, Utah's athletic director, was fined $40,000 by the Big 12 for criticizing officials after Utah's loss to BYU.

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 league announced. The conference said Harlan violated its "sportsmanship policies" for his comments directed toward game officials.

Utah’s athletic director was reprimanded after criticizing the officials following the Utes’ 22-21 loss to BYU.

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 went scorched earth after the Utes’ heartbreaking loss to BYU on Saturday night.

The Big 12 has fined Utah athletic director Mark Harlan $400,000 after he blasted Big 12 officials for a controversial defensive holding call in the Utes' 22-21 loss to rival No.

Utah athletic director Mark Harlan was publicly reprimanded and fined $40,000 by the Big 12 on Sunday after blasting a conference officiating crew following BYU’s 22-21 win over the Utes for controversial calls on the Cougars’ winning drive.