Texas A&M fined $50,000 for faking injury

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama (October 21, 2025) – The Texas A&M University football team has been found in violation of the NCAA playing rule governing feigned injuries. This determination was made after review by the National Coordinator of Football Officiating of game video from the Texas A&M football game against the University of Arkansas on October 18.

A feigned injury is considered to have occurred when the National Coordinator for Football Officiating states in his finding that a player attempted to feign an injury or that it is more likely than not that a feigned injury occurred.

Video of the questionable action, submitted to the National Coordinator by the Southeastern Conference office, occurred with 12:55 remaining in the game after Arkansas completed a pass for a first down just outside the Texas A&M 10-yard line.  After the ball is spotted by officials, No. 7 for Texas A&M goes to the ground, creating the appearance of an injury. Just prior to the player going down, a Texas A&M staff member can be seen in the video standing in the team area near the 25-yard line signaling demonstratively to the player, pointing to the ground. It was noted that the Texas A&M player had no contact during the play and returned to the game on the second play of the ensuing defensive possession.

As determined by the National Coordinator, the action by player, especially with the concurrent action by the coach in the team area, is a clear attempt to gain an unmerited advantage by stopping the game to be awarded an injury time out. The action violates the spirit of the injury timeout and fair play and was conducted in a manner that appears to attempt to circumvent the NCAA’s injury time out rule to avoid the team being charged a time out.

Consistent with SEC policy, when the National Coordinator determines a feigned injury has occurred, the SEC is issuing a reprimand to Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko and assessing a financial penalty of $50,000 for a feigned injury violation.

According to SEC policy as approved in August 2022 by a unanimous vote of Conference athletics directors, for a team’s first feigned injury finding by the NCAA, the head coach will receive a public reprimand from the Commissioner issued by the Conference office. In addition, a $50,000 financial penalty will be assessed for this violation.

For a second feigned injury, a public reprimand and $100,000 fine will be assessed, and any further violations will result in suspension of the head coach for the team’s next contest. Similar penalties may be assessed to other involved staff members.

SEC policy provides that further similar findings by the NCAA will result in additional fines and possible suspension of the head coach, assistant coaches, and student-athletes.

**Press Release