SEC Cracks Down on Injury Faking in Football

The Southeastern Conference (SEC) has announced a crackdown on teams faking injuries to create timeouts, a tactic used to slow down opponents with hurry-up offenses. SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey issued a memo outlining new penalties, which include fines of $50,000 for a first offense, $100,000 for a second, and a one-game suspension for head coaches upon a third offense. The decision to penalize is based on a review by the national coordinator for football officiating, Steve Shaw, who will determine if an injury was likely feigned. The SEC emphasizes that genuine injuries will be given the benefit of the doubt, provided there is clear medical evidence to support them. The new rules aim to maintain fair play and respect for the game, urging teams to use existing timeouts when necessary rather than resorting to deceptive practices. The issue has been particularly noted with teams like Ole Miss, which has faced accusations and scrutiny over its practices.